Case Worker

Case Worker

CVE Engagement and Support Unit

Location:  Parramatta with flexible/hybrid options

Employment type – Ongoing - Full Time

Clerk Grade 5/6. Salary – $97,027 - $107,059 plus superannuation and annual leave loading.

Are you passionate about developing your experience in case work? Be in a role with continuous learning and achieving quality outcomes? Do you want to be part of a team dedicated to making a difference? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you!

The Engagement and Support Unit (ESU), part of the NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ), is a specialised team dedicated to the prevention and early intervention of violent extremism. Recognised both nationally and internationally for its work in countering violent extremism (CVE), the DCJ ESU contributes to national best practices in CVE interventions. The unit collaborates closely with Commonwealth and NSW agencies in delivering programs such as the Engagement and Support Program (ESP) and the Step Together Helpline.

The ESU aims to reduce the risk of violent extremism by providing early intervention and support to address the causes, social, psychological, and/or behavioural issues leading to an escalation into violence. Our primary focus is on diversion and maintaining disengagement, involving active collaboration with key stakeholders, including law enforcement, government agencies, medical and mental Ill-health practitioners, families, non-government organisations and services, along with culturally appropriate mentoring services.

ESU delivers two intervention programs in CVE:

Engagement and Support Program (ESP):

ESP use individualised case management incorporating structured professional judgement using trauma-informed approaches, and a risk, needs, and responsivity approach when engaging with individuals considered vulnerable to engaging in, supporting, or have engaged in violent extremism.

Step Together Helpline:

Step Together is a unique confidential helpline and online chat service designed to support and provide advice to callers concerned about themselves, family members, or other individuals who may be at risk of or exhibiting behaviours associated with engaging in violent extremism. Step Together can help individuals navigate the landscape and start the conversation in a safe and confidential space. Case Workers also provide alternative referrals to other support agencies outside the scope of violent extremism. To learn more, visit our website: https://steptogether.nsw.gov.au/

Currently, we have two full-time positions available. We're also creating a talent pool to meet potential future demand for more exciting opportunities within our department.

Your role

In this diverse Case Worker role, you will work across both programs, of Step Together and ESP, and develop your understanding of indicators in vulnerabilities of violent extremism and pathways for disengagement and support. Participating across the two programs will allow you flexibility and development of both helpline support and frontline operational case management. This role requires you to work both autonomously, as well as part of an experienced multidisciplinary team including other government and non-government stakeholders.

Your Step Together Case Worker responsibilities will include educating and assisting the public in understanding the vulnerabilities that lead to violent extremism, advising on general and specific services that may assist the caller and triaging appropriate referrals for the ESU.

You will manage calls, emails, and online chat communications from community members, professionals, and individuals seeking support, advice, and guidance from the helpline. Your expertise will be challenged in identifying vulnerabilities and appropriate support options.

As part of the Engagement and support Program your role also includes case management of clients in collaboration with ESP Case Managers and Senior Case Managers, partner agencies, stakeholders, and other services helping clients in promoting their pathway from violent extremism and reconnecting them with their families and the community.

Your non-judgmental and curious approach will encourage clients to identify and achieve goals related to enhancing coping skills, maintaining effective interpersonal relationships, increasing personal sense of identity, education, and employment through structured case planning strategies.

Your training and development will be supported, with the aim of assisting ESP case managers in devising and implementing evidence-based interventions for clients vulnerable to violent extremist behaviours across Metropolitan and regional/remote NSW.

You will engage in ongoing professional development within this emerging field, actively contributing to the continued development of the case management role within the Engagement and Support Unit. The ESU promotes internal progression opportunities, allowing you to assist senior staff and build your skills in handling more complex cases.

What you’ll do

As part of the CVE Engagement Support Unit, you will be required to:

• Deliver effective case management through the Step Together helpline and digital support service, to assist the public in understanding the various vulnerabilities to violent extremism and offer referral options.
• Work within a multidisciplinary team to deliver tailored, strengths-based, and trauma-informed case management to individuals in the community, vulnerable to engaging in violent extremist behaviours through the Engagement and Support Program (ESP).
• Undertake case work responsibilities, including case management support, mentoring, community engagement, and interventions with clients who are participating in an ESU program.
• Produce and maintain clear, concise, and accurate professional records as well as other written materials to support case management and coordination of support services within ESU.
• Work collaboratively in implementing effective triage, referral, case planning and intervention services across programs within the Engagement and Support Unit.
• Develop and maintain networks and relationships with key stakeholders to deliver appropriate services for participants and their support networks.
• Participate and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and professional development to ensure practice knowledge and skills are contemporary and evidence based.
• Work collaboratively with other NSW agencies, NGOs, community, and families to plan, coordinate, and negotiate services for clients.

What we’re looking for

We want you to be successful in your new role! As a case worker you will need to be confident, curious, and resilient. You will have:

• Tertiary qualifications in a relevant field. Ideally, post graduate experience in working in individual client case management or similar.

• Experience or ability to successfully work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to professional development, quality improvement and evidence-based practice.
• Strong written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills, including ability to accurately document client interactions, consultation skills and maintaining effective stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to apply and utilise structural professional judgement techniques.
• Be committed to develop an understanding of violent extremism vulnerabilities, risks, and pro-social/protective factors in the role of disengagement and diversion.
• Act as an appropriate and effective role model and promote a culture and supporting practices that reflect the organisational values through demonstrated behaviours and interactions with clients, team members, and stakeholders.
• You must be an Australian Citizen, able to acquire a National Security Clearance (NV1), and complete/provide a Working with Children Check (WWCC).
• Hold a valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel within NSW on a regular basis.
• This role may require preparedness to undertake shift work in a rotating roster as required within the DCJ bandwidth (until 9pm).

Download the role description.

If you are viewing this ad in Seek and wish to apply via their portal, you will be required to either set up a profile or login via your existing Seek account.

To apply directly via the DCJ Careers site click here. Search for the job and click the ‘Apply now’ button.

We focus on hiring people who share our commitment and goals of inclusion, collaboration, adaptability, courage and integrity. If you meet the essential requirements and the role resonates with you, please apply – you do not need to meet every desired requirement for us to want to talk to you.

We do work that really matters.

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It’s work that really matters.

Apply now and join Australia’s top public sector employer where we will support you and provide an exciting and flexible working environment!

Are you ready to join us?

Click apply, attach a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role as well as an up-to-date résumé (maximum 5 pages).

Applications close Wednesday, 12 February 2025 at 11:59 pm AEST.

Got a question?

For more information about the role or what it’s like to work for DCJ, please contact the hiring manager Rachel Terry on 0461 161 151 or by email:  rachel.terry@justice.nsw.gov.au. 

If you’ve got a question about applying or would benefit from an adjustment in the recruitment process to help you perform at your best (including an alternate method submission of the application), please call Anjy Fayad on 02 9765 3042 or via anjy.fayad@dcj.nsw.gov.au

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

To find out what DCJ are doing to build an inclusive and diverse workforce, visit Inclusion and diversity on the DCJ website.

Other Information

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

For more information visit Your recruitment journey on the DCJ website.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

To keep up with recruitment opportunities at DCJ, follow us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/CareersatDCJ/