Case Manager, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court (DATC), County Court

About Us

Court Services Victoria provides corporate services and facilities to support the performance of the judicial, quasi-judicial and administrative functions of Victoria's courts and tribunal, Judicial College and Judicial Commission. 

Collectively, Victoria's Supreme, County, Magistrates', Children's, and Coroners courts, the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT), the Judicial College of Victoria, the Judicial Commission of Victoria, and Court Services Victoria (CSV) are referred to as the ‘Courts Group'. 

Our people enable the Courts Group to deliver on each jurisdiction's own strategic priorities while also pursuing strategic opportunities that are interconnected and deliver benefits more broadly.

CCV

The County Court of Victoria is established pursuant to the County Court Act 1958. It has original and appellate jurisdiction and is the principal trial court in the State of Victoria. The Court hears over 12,000 criminal, common law, and commercial cases each year. The County Court has unlimited monetary jurisdiction in common law and commercial matters. In its criminal jurisdiction, the Court hears all indictable offences except treason, murder, and related offences.

There are a total of 80 Judges of the Court and over 300 staff, including judicial support staff. The County Court regularly conducts circuit sittings at 12 circuit courts situated in major centres throughout regional Victoria.

The County Court is committed to continuous improvement in accordance with the International Framework for Court Excellence. The Court's vision is to be a leader in court excellence, delivering the highest standard of justice to the community and inspiring public confidence in the rule of law.

The County Court Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court (DATC) is an innovative therapeutic justice program. The foundational purpose of the DATC is to promote recovery and, through the rehabilitation of the person, to protect the community from further substance-driven offending.

The DATC is an alternative to traditional sentencing options in the CCV. Case Managers are part of a multidisciplinary team including Clinical Advisors, AOD Counsellors and  legal representatives, who work with individuals at high risk of recidivism and who have committed offences serious enough to warrant an immediate servable custodial term.

About the Role

Reporting to the Court and Case Management Services Manager, Drug and Alcohol Treatment Court (DATC), the Case Manager (CM) provides support to participants on a Drug and Alcohol Treatment Order (DATO) made in the County Court of Victoria (CCV).

The CM is responsible for applying evidence-based case management practices to participants with complex needs and those who have committed serious offences.

The purpose of the role is to manage a case load of participants on a CCV made DATO. This involves conducting risk assessments, preparing case plans, providing interventions, proactively challenging offending behaviours, addressing the underlying factors in offending whilst directing and monitoring compliance with Court order obligations. This role proactively supports participants to successfully complete their DATO, while balancing risks to community safety.

Key accountabilities include:

• Providing dynamic case management to CCV DATC participants with a range of complex needs, with a focus on clients presenting with a high level of risk in a way that is responsive to and inclusive of diverse needs and backgrounds
• Identifying and evaluating factors that relate to individual offending behaviour and providing individualised risk assessment, case planning, service coordination, identification of interventions to reduce risk, and use of brokerage funds, where required, to ensure engagement of participants responsive to interventions
• Supporting the identification and implementation of practice improvements that will enhance the quality of the CCV DATC program's response to participants with substance use disorders, who may have the co-occurring risk factors to offending – i.e. family violence, disability, mental health.
• Managing a caseload and developing rapport with participants to effectively engage them to participate in interventions and successfully complete their orders, and developing relevant plans with targeted interventions addressing the offending behaviours
• Motivating and influencing participants in the CCV DATC case management process, modelling pro social behaviours and drawing on participant strengths-based approaches
• Applying sound professional judgement in the ongoing identification and assessment of individual risk and apply harm minimisation strategies, escalating matters where necessary

About you

• A tertiary qualification in social work, psychology, welfare or another relevant field is required.
• A minimum of 3 years case management experience with a high-risk forensic cohort, with drug and alcohol related treatment issues.
• Experience or training in evidence based therapeutic approaches such as motivational interviewing and cognitive behavioural therapy.

How to Apply

Click the apply now button ensuring you include the following in your application:

• Resume
• A cover letter (no more than 1 page)

Other information

CSV is the employer of staff at Courts Group. CSV has a firm commitment through its Koori Employment Plan to increase participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across our workforce.

We value the unique backgrounds, experiences, and contributions that each person brings to our community and encourage and celebrate diversity. Those from the LGBTQIA+ community, women, people of all ages, with disabilities, culturally and linguistically diverse people, and those who are neurodiverse, are encouraged to apply.

We aim to create a workforce that reflects the community in which we live.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to email the contact person listed in the advertisement.

As part of our commitment to a safe and respectful workplace, CSV conduct pre-employment checks, including reference checks, police checks and misconduct screening. These checks are handled confidentially, with care and are a standard part of our hiring process to ensure the right fit for both candidates and Court Services Victoria.