Restart Practitioner

About the Opportunity

MCM (Melbourne City Mission) is a leading community services organisation that innovatively works alongside thousands of Victorians and their communities to overcome barriers experienced through Homelessness, Disability, Palliative care, Early Childhood Intervention Services and Education.   

The Restart Practitioner will be a member of the Restart Program and sit within the Youth Early Intervention and Homelessness portfolio (YEI&H). YEI&H provide innovative and responsive support to young people and families to address their immediate support needs to prevent their required engagement with child protection, youth justice and homelessness services.

MCM and CMY’s Restart Program is a trauma-informed, healing-focused and flexible program designed to support young people using violence in the home to recognise the violence and adapt their behaviours; to deal with the triggers and reasons they are using violence; and support their family members to be safe. Restart recognises that the drivers of the use of family violence by young people is different to those of adults, and that young people require different approaches to managing this behaviour.  

The Restart Program is structured to provide specialist expertise in the areas of multicultural communities and disability which are particular areas of need in the Brimbank Melton region. The service breadth and depth of the partner agencies means that we can support the specialist focus while also offering a broad based program. 

About you

We are looking for someone who can:

• Provide effective early intervention strategies for young people using family violence in the home and their families in partnership with CMY, collaboration with care teams and service providers.
• Provide effective case management utilising best practice principles whilst working with the young people we support to recognise the violence and adapt their behaviours; to deal with the triggers and reasons they are using violence; and support their family members to be safe.
• Provide secondary consultation to youth, housing and multidisciplinary workers within HFS that support young people experiencing family violence.
• Provide professional development and capacity building opportunities, including guidance on risk assessment, safety planning, MARAM and best practice.
• Maintain an up-to-date knowledge of multidisciplinary youth support programs including services that provide family mediation and therapy, mental health, AOD, legal and family violence responses to young people.

Benefits of working with MCM include:

• Inclusive Employer by the Diversity Council of Australia
• Attractive Salary Packaging benefits
• Supportive learning and development environment
• Culture of continuous improvement

Essential:

• Bachelor of Social Work, Bachelor of Youth Work, or a related discipline with experience working with young people that have experienced adverse childhood experiences (particularly family violence) and at least 3 years in a similar practitioner or case management role
• Significant experience in working with and providing case management to young people and their families, particularly within the context of early intervention and family violence. 
• An understanding and experience with the family violence service sector including knowledge of patterns, trends and systemic issues. 
• Clear knowledge of risk assessment, safety planning and the use of MARAM, particularly with young people.
• A comprehensive understanding of current government family violence policy, and demonstrated ability to participate effectively in sector reform and implement change.
• Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively with other organisations in formal and informal partnerships to achieve outcomes. 
• Demonstrated capacity to deliver group work programs. 
• Demonstrated high level written and verbal communication, conflict management and resolution, negotiation and mediation skills.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships and communicate with people of diverse backgrounds and abilities. 
• Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team. 
• Provide First Aid certificate (formerly First Aid Level 2).
• Computer literacy, including proficiency in using databases and client management systems.
• An understanding of the requirements for ensuring child safety. 

Screening Criteria:

• National Police check
• Working with Children check
• Valid Victorian Drivers licence
• Right to Work in Australia

Applications for this role will close on 24th February 2025 (or Applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early).  Please include your current resume and cover letter.
Please review the position description to understand more about the role and responsibilities. If you have any needs throughout the recruitment process that have not already been catered for, we encourage you to contact recruitment@mcm.org.au to let us know how we can better support you to apply.

About MCM

MCM is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to safety. MCM embraces differences because we know that diversity and inclusion help us to attract, recruit, engage and retain talented people. 
We are a leading not-for profit-for-purpose organisation that offer a broad range of services in Disability, Homelessness, Palliative Care and Education.

Our commitment to Safety

MCM is committed to the safety of its clients and employees, taking a zero-tolerance approach to violence within the workplace and abuse, including child abuse and abuse of people with disability. All employees are required to comply with the Child Safe Standards.

Our commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Equity of Access

At MCM we embrace our differences because we know that diversity helps us to innovate and make the biggest impact possible. Our DEI Strategy supports and drives an inclusive workplace culture. We embrace the learning opportunities that come with authentic commitment to equity of access for all. We particularly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.