About The Program 

The Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice and Support Service Case Worker (ACSASS) is responsible for working as a part of a team to assist, support and strengthen Aboriginal families who are in contact with Child Protection.

The ACSASS is a 24/7 service and as such workers are required to provide an after-hours service based on a rotating roster.

About The Position

The Aboriginal Child Specialist Advice and Support Service Case Worker (ACSASS) is responsible for working as a part of a team to assist, support and strengthen Aboriginal families who are in contact with Child Protection. The ACSASS case worker is responsible for providing Child Protection Practitioners advice and support about culturally appropriate intervention and service delivery ACSASS will provide information to the family regarding what their rights and responsibilities are and what services are available to them.

ACSASS are to ensure that Child Protection’s decisions are made in the best interest of the child/children and/or young person and assuring that connection to culture is always upheld. When a child/children and/or young person is at risk of or experiencing emotional/physical abuse, neglect, family violence, intellectual underdevelopment and /or sexual abuse Child Protection may become involved. At this stage ACSASS will become involved also and will remain involved until all goals/tasks have been met. The ACSASS case worker will be required to build, maintain and foster strong relationships with Child Protection and other agencies.

The ACSASS is a 24/7 service and as such workers are required to provide an after-hours service based on a rotating roster.

Some Key Responsibilities 

Advisory Support - 

• Provide a consultation service to the Department of Human Services Child Protection unit to ensure all cultural needs are and issues are considered in reaching a decision in regards to Aboriginal children.

• Provide specialist information to Aboriginal families regarding child protection services, their rights and obligations.

• Facilitate communication and negotiate between Child Protection services and families.

• Record and maintain accurate case notes for all clients contact including: face to face, phone and email

Direct Service Delivery-

• Attend court, meetings and home visits as required to provide support and advice to Aboriginal families in contact with Child Protection.
• Liaise with families and provide advice and support to ensure all members of the families understand the process of Child Protection involvement.
• Take a holistic approach to service delivery to Aboriginal children, families and communities ensuring areas of need are identified and appropriate strategies implemented to meet the needs
• Develop and maintain an effective workload management process to a timely response to demands of services.
• Ensure that any complaints received within program delivery are dealt with in accordance to BDAC complaints policy and procedures.

Reporting and compliance
• Contribute to implementation, evaluation and monitoring of the ACSASS program.
• Actively participate in the review and documentation of policies, procedures, standards and practice model/frameworks.
• Contribute to the development and implementation of strategies that address the issues associated with the implementation of new legislations.
• Contribute to the development of internal processes to ensure cross program co-ordination
• Complete monthly progress reports and provide to the team leader demonstrating progress towards set KPI’s
Stakeholder Management
• Remain in regular contact with Child Protection throughout the duration of service delivery to each child/family.
• Assist the team leader in undertaking high level negotiations with Aboriginal agencies, government bodies and community sector organisations – to enhance service delivery and policy development to Aboriginal children, families and communities.