Child Protection Counsellor

About the role:

Are you looking for a job where you can work autonomously yet be heavily supported by a close knit team? Join the Hunter Child Protection Counselling Service (CPCS) to make an impact in the lives of vulnerable families.

Due to one of our valued team members taking a secondment, we have a short-term opportunity for someone who is interested in gaining some therapeutic skills and experience in Violence Abuse and Neglect (VAN). In this role, you'll work alongside a dedicated team of Child Protection Counsellors and an Aboriginal Health and Family Worker, providing therapy, care coordination, and advocacy for families facing child protection concerns. Our focus is on enhancing safety and parenting capacity, with an emphasis on placement stability, restoration, and family preservation. You will be valued for your expertise, knowledge and experience in assessment, formulation, collaboration and skills in therapeutic work.   

As an outreach service, you'll engage with families in their communities - we aim to work with families in the community where they live, working to keep children safe and to help families heal from trauma. 

Where you'll be working:

At the CPCS, part of the VAN stream within the Children, Young People, and Families network, you'll be based at the Harker Building within the Wallsend Health Campus – at the end of the Hunter Expressway. You’ll benefit from a blend of formal orientation and hands-on learning, working closely with a dedicated team to enhance your skills. Our connections with Child Protection Counsellors throughout the District ensure continuous professional development, with access to training through ECAV and both individual and group supervision.

We pride ourselves on fostering a team culture that values knowledge sharing, mutual support, and maintaining a focus on fun and family-centred care. You’ll benefit from a blend of formal orientation and hands-on learning, working closely with a dedicated team to enhance your skills. Our connections with Child Protection Counsellors throughout the District ensure continuous professional development, with access to training through ECAV and both individual and group supervision.

About you: 

• You possess strong therapeutic skills for working with families
• You are an enthusiastic team player dedicated to supporting vulnerable families who have faced trauma.
• You have an understanding of child protection, domestic and family violence, and trauma, with a strong desire to expand and deepen this knowledge.
• You will have a strong commitment to Closing the Gap and enjoy working Aboriginal families and communities.  

Benefits: 

• You will never be bored! We do different work each day, all families are different. 
• You will receive support from the team leader, and link closely with other VAN services, and other services located at Wallsend. 
• High value of ongoing education and training including monthly group supervision, and regular training and support to access external and relevant areas of interest and benefiting from ongoing professional development, clinical review, and evidence-based training.
• Work closely and even directly with the Aboriginal Family Health worker.
• Enjoy free onsite parking.
• Flexibility in work practices to benefit staff and the families we work with.

Requirements:

• Must hold Level 3 tertiary qualifications and relevant experience in Social Work, Psychology or Clinical Psychology which provides eligibility or membership with the relevant professional association and/or holds general registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. 
• Eligibility to drive in NSW and willingness and ability to travel for work purposes.

Additional information:

• We strongly encourage applicants who identify as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander to apply.
• An eligibility list will be created for future permanent full or part time and temporary full or part time vacancies.
• This position is full time; however, part time/job share arrangements or secondments may also be considered.
• Casual opportunities may be available for recommended applicants. If you are currently employed with HNE Health in a position of the same grade, you may not need to submit an online application to be considered. Please contact the hiring manager to discuss your options first.
• We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.
• Hunter New England Health is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health’s commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All current and prospective staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and well-being of children and young people, actively working to protect them from harm and abuse. 

Need more information?

  1) Click here for the Position Description
  2) Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Teresa Perram on Teresa.Perram@health.nsw.gov.au