Family Practitioner | Rehabilitation and Reintegration Services 

Strengthen family connections, inspire positive change and help create stronger pathways to successful reintegration.

About the Opportunity

The Family Practitioner will provide pre-and post-release interventions to assist prisoners to develop positive links and networks with their families. They are responsible for assisting prisoners to maintain or re-establish familial relationships that can act as a protective factor and support positive rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes. Using a whole of family approach, the Family Practitioner will identify, assess and coordinate family services including the family case management program as well as referrals for men and their families to community agencies as required. This includes liaison with Government Departments to assist the prisoner’s transition to the family unit and broader community. They will also deliver RCC’s Parenting Program to provide simple and practical strategies to help prisoners develop strong, healthy relationships, confidently manage their children’s behaviour and prevent problems developing. 

As the Family Practitioner you will:

• Assist in the management of reintegration programs and prisoner services that relate to family services.
• Facilitate Ravenhall’s Family Case Management Programs by undertaking a comprehensive assessment and tailored support plan to meet the needs of the participant.
• Participate in the case management and/or placement process by providing information and advice to relevant staff on a prisoner’s participation, progression and/or completions in programs.
• Act as a point of contact (and advocacy function where appropriate) between DHHS Child Protection and other community services, including where men identify a desire to maintain/re-establish contact with their children.
• Coordinate and involve the participants in goal setting during all stages of their imprisonment to actively encourage and engage the participant and their families through special arranged visits, telephone calls and other forms of contact to enhance relationships.
• Deliver a high-quality family support and reunification service to incarcerated men.
• Manage referral waitlists and complete assessments to determine prisoner’s suitability for participation in parenting programs.
• Facilitate a group-based parenting program and provide individual parenting support where required.
• Support fathers to enhance the quality of relationships with their children through increased knowledge and skills, improved capacity for self-regulation and identification and management of current parenting challenges. 
• Evaluate and report on program outcomes to relevant stakeholders as required.
• Coordinate the Just for Dads program by delivering monthly themed activities for men at Ravenhall with their children.
• Participate in the case management and/or placement process by providing information and advice to relevant staff on a prisoner’s participation, progression and/or completions in programs.
• Liaise and work co-operatively with Child Protection, legal representatives, carers and family members of prisoners (including community agencies and services).
• Provide support for parents and/or guardians to have contact and access with their children and families whilst in custody where appropriate.
• Provide expert advice and consultation for staff on prisoner family programs and matters. 
• Ensure Ravenhall complies with relevant Child Protection laws and procedures.
• Establish and maintain positive relationships with external agencies and assist these agencies to develop positive family links.
• Facilitate family conferencing.
• Regularly attend and participate in team meetings, supervision and training.

Your Skills & Experience

• Tertiary qualification in Social Work, Psychology or related social science/welfare fields or equivalent professional experience.
• Sound knowledge of contemporary/community issues and matters that effect families and prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
• Experience in Family Case Management and liaising with internal and external agencies such as DHHS, Child Protection.
• Experience in the delivery of parenting programs.
• Demonstrated understanding of child developmental stages, expected behaviours and risk factors for social and behavioural problems. 
• Understanding of trauma and trauma-informed practice.
• Proven ability to build rapport and maintain effective relationships with prisoners, peers and relevant agencies/key stakeholders.
• Demonstrated high level professionalism, compliance and attention to detail.
• High level of oral and written communication skills.
• Ability to assist in the development and implementation of innovative programs.
• Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise tasks.

Desirable:

• Accreditation in the Triple P system: Level 2 Selected Triple P and Level 4 Group Triple P/Group Teen Triple P
• Able to coordinate and implement family and volunteer programs in a correctional setting.
• Experience working within a prison setting.
• Able to manage challenging and complex clients.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a broader team.