Advanced Child Protection Practitioner

Advanced Child Protection Practitioner (mid Dec 2024 assessment centre, mid Feb 2025 commencement)

To be an effective Advanced Child Protection Practitioner, you will bring your suitable experience and relevant qualifications to strengthen your strong sense of social justice and understanding that families are complex, with their own unique histories. Importantly, you will be able to build relationships with children, young people and their families. The work is interesting, challenging, busy and fulfilling and involves therapeutic and analytical skills. 

Being an Advanced Child Protection Practitioner means making real change to the lives of others – keeping children safe and families strong. Child protection is a career that grows with you, offering a range of professional pathways and leadership development opportunities. If you are passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of children, then a career in child protection is for you.

Benefits of a career in Child Protection Include:

As a Victorian government employee, you will have access to a broad range of benefits and entitlements. These include access to professional development opportunities through training programs, peer support networks and health initiatives. Working in child protection you will have access to a dedicated and free wellbeing and a support program which has been specifically designed to support our child protection employee's mental health and wellbeing.

In addition to this, Advanced Child Protection Practitioners receive:

• An additional five days of paid annual leave after 12 months of service.
• Salary packaging options and 11.50% employer super contribution. 
• Retention payments of up to $15,000 paid over three years to eligible applicants.
• Ongoing training, supports and highly rewarding career opportunities.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Assessing children and young people who need protection
• Conducting risk assessments and investigations
• Working collaboratively with families, community services organisations and other professionals to develop and implement effective plans for children
• Managing complex cases, problem solving and presenting matters to the Children's Court of Victoria as required
• Being responsible for supporting and developing Child Protection Practitioners in the integration of theory and practice while demonstrating your expertise through case practice
• Working collaboratively with the Team Manager to strengthen case practice
• Providing effective service delivery and support other practitioners
• Determining case plans (including stability plans, cultural plans and therapeutic treatment plans) for the safety and wellbeing of children, and
• Delivering case practice and case management services for children and young people who are either living with family or placed in out of home care

Make the decision to pursue a fulfilling professional career and make a difference in vulnerable children's lives.           Go Where You're Needed – Do a Job that Matters.

Salary:

• Advanced Child Protection Practitioner (CPP4) $95,102 to $107,905

Locations Available

Please note, this current CPP4 intake is only for positions in the following locations:

• Preston
• Swan Hill
• Mildura
• Bendigo
• Frankston
• Bairnsdale
• Sale
• Warragul
• Morwell
• Dandenong
• Geelong
• Footscray
• Portland
• Hamilton
• Seymour - specialised role in Contracted Case Management. This role will manage the statutory aspects for children and young people whose case management has been contracted to a Community Service Organisation.)

   

 Key Dates

Candidates who have progressed through the selection process, will be required to attend an online assessment centre via Zoom on Thursday 12 December 2024 for approximately 2.5 hours. Alternatives to this date are not possible.

All new child protection employees to the department are required to complete one week of mandatory online training modules from 17 February 2025 and then attend a mandatory full time five-week Practice Induction Program (PIP) on Tuesday 25 February 2025.   PIP is designed to provide new staff to the child protection program with some necessary practice knowledge and skills. Successful candidates will be required to attend PIP in person, in Melbourne with accommodation, travel and meals included. 

Qualification and Experience Eligibility

The ideal candidate would have a minimum of two years suitable work experience in child protection and/or child, youth and family welfare, and hold a relevant qualification. Refer to Qualifications and requirements | Child Protection Jobs - DFFH before applying. 

 Work Rights Eligibility 

• Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Australian Permanent Resident, New Zealand Citizen with valid NZ Passport, or hold a valid work rights visa. 
• If you are a current visa holder, please ensure you attach a pdf copy of your visa and a pdf copy (in colour) of your passport to your application as the department will complete a Visa Details Check (VEVO).  Photos are not accepted.                                                                                                                                                                        

Safety Screening

• Preferred candidates will be required to complete pre-employment screening, including national police check, international police check (if required), misconduct screening and two professional reference checks. 
• Successful candidates must hold or be prepared to obtain a Victorian Employee Working with Children Check card and a valid Victorian Driver Licence prior to commencement with the department. 

How to Apply:

• Only applications received online and by the closing date will be considered.   
• You must attach a current resume and a cover letter outlining why you are interested in the position, include your Official Academic Transcript or Unique Student Identifier Statement if you completed a Diploma post 2015.
• If applicable, attach a copy of your visa and passport (in colour)
• Attachments can only be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf. Photos are not accepted.
• Applicable Victorian government employees must apply via JSE.

Click 'Apply Now' below to submit your application for this this role. 
 
For further information please visit the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing website: https://childprotectionjobs.dffh.vic.gov.au/ and refer to the attached position description.

Please note: For this role, you are not required to address each of the key selection criteria in a separate written document. Applicants are strongly encouraged to review our Careers Page. This page provides information on the department's recruitment and pre-employment screening processes.