Carer Assessor

Child Welfare, Youth & Family Services (Community Services & Development) Full time Foundations Care is seeking a Carer Assessor for our South West Region. As an Assessor, you will play a crucial role in facilitating safe and stable pathways for children in out-of-home care. You will provide direct support to prospective foster and kinship carers, empowering them to make informed decisions about foster care and the approval process. With your specialist knowledge and expertise, you will help our clients navigate the foster/kinship care process and complete high-level assessments including recommendations for support. The Carer Assessor will facilitate carer (foster and kinship) assessments, including provisional approval assessments across the South-West Region. The Carer Assessor will be contributing to ensuring carers and home environments are approved. You will have a role in training and enabling carers to gain competency and maintain currency of carer expectations and knowledge. The position will be based in either Toowoomba or Ipswich office and travel in the surrounding areas will be a requirement. Duties and Responsibilities:

• Complete Provisional Carer Approval assessments as requested by the Department and/or Foundations Care.
• Respond to Carer enquiries and maintain accurate records of all enquiries and the progress towards becoming an authorised Carer.
• Undertake and complete initial, general, kinship and occasionally re-approval assessments of carers and document lodgment with the Department.
• Promote the safety, welfare, and wellbeing of the Children and Young People and ensure that these are paramount considerations in all decision-making and practices.
• Manage carer administration database and meet carer data and reporting requirements.
• Provide advice and support to carers as they progress through the approval process, including a seamless transition and handover to the caseworker.
• Lead and undertake initial household safety studies and other documentation as required.
• Build and maintain strong relationships and positive partnerships within the wider community.

Knowledge and Experience:

• Assessment and risk assessment experience is essential to be able to demonstrate capacity to appropriately and accurately determine carers' suitability.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and building positive rapport with a range of stakeholders, including community members, young people, carers, fellow staff, and department officials.
• Sound knowledge of complex trauma, trauma-informed care and practice, neglect and other factors related to why children and young people are placed in out-of-home care.
• Experience in working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and culturally diverse people.
• Skill, knowledge, capability and competency development/training in adult/family population.
• Understanding or direct experience in child protection or similar industry.

Training/Qualifications - Desirable

• A qualification in related fields of Human Services, Community Development and relevant experience.
• Experience in completing Carer assessments and renewals.
• Certificate IV in Training and Assessment (desirable).

Please note appointment to this role is subject to the following compulsory screening checks:

• National Police Check.
• QLD Working with Children Check – Blue Card.
• LCS Suitability Check.

What we can offer you: At Foundations Care you will be able to access a range of benefits:

• Salary packaging.
• Ongoing training and career development opportunities.
• Flexible working and family-friendly environment.
• Professional supervision and support.
• Employee Assistance Program.

How to apply: Please click APPLY NOW and include in your application a copy of your resume and a cover letter addressing your suitability for the role. Foundations Care is committed to adhering to the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, where children's safety and wellbeing is at the centre of our thoughts, values, and actions. We welcome applications from First Nations people as well as those from diverse backgrounds! Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately and the position may close earlier than the date stated if a suitable candidate has been found in that time. We thank you in advance for your time, only shortlisted applicants will be contacted. #J-18808-Ljbffr