Intake and Assessment Officer, Child Wellbeing (Identified)

Full-Time, Permanent

Based in Cairns

Salary - Wuchopperen Health Service Limited Enterprise Agreement (2023)

Social, Community, Homecare and Disability Employees Grade: 5 Salary: $96,675.80 - $101,056.39

Wuchopperen Health Service

'Keeping Our Generations Growing Strong'

Wuchopperen is a Community Controlled Aboriginal Health Organisation providing holistic health care services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Cairns.

Benefits of working with Wuchopperen:

We provide a positive work culture and a diverse and inclusive environment. Our people matter to us, and we are committed to supporting them:

Competitive Salary + 12% Super + Salary Sacrifice (up to $15,899 for tax free benefits and $2,650 p/a for entertainment benefits).

5 weeks annual leave and 15 days personal leave pro rata.

Commitment to professional development.

EAP for employees and family members.

About the role:

Using a strength based and empowering approach, the Intake and Assessment Officer will coordinate a central intake and assessment process for all referrals across the Child Youth and Families program area, including assessment of eligibility, urgency, and requests for support.

The Intake and Assessment Officer is supervised by the Manager, Child Wellbeing and the position has no supervisory responsibilities.

This position works closely with Coordinators of Family Wellbeing, Family Participation, Youth and Family Support and with other program staff to ensure effective case allocations for positive outcomes for clients.

Key Responsibilities:

• Receive all incoming referrals requesting support for children, youth and families and conduct a desktop assessment on each referral and prioritise engagement based on the information contained within the referral. Where appropriate gather missing information to complete the referral.

• Contribute to the day-to-day direct service operations of the service in accordance with the relevant Child Protection Standards ensuring delivery of high-quality services and maintenance of clients’ right and confidentiality at all times.
• Complete comprehensive case notes for all intake and engagement work completed with clients. Provide the allocated worker with a warm handover when clients are allocated a case worker and enter the program.
• Referrals are actioned and where there is no capacity, manage a waitlist of referrals to appropriate agencies or supports are offered to the client.
• Work with the Manager Child Wellbeing to identify and participate in training and professional development (reflect in ERDP – Employee Review & Development Plan) to enable the effective implementation of a family centered, strengths based, case management model of care.
• Work collaboratively with other team members to ensure that processes relevant to intake are implemented.
• Develop and maintain strong links with a wide range of service providers to enable the provision of a holistic service that addresses the needs of children, youth and families as identified in the referrals.
• Gather and record relevant statistical data for measuring performance against agreed indicators and participate in review and evaluation activities.
• Participate in organisational and community activities to advance the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
• Work within Wuchopperen’s Policies and Procedures including the Code of Conduct and the Workplace Health and Safety requirements and instructions and advise of any concerns about safe, effective service delivery in the workplace.
• Contribute to continuous improvement processes and participate in quality assurance activities to ensure compliance with relevant standards and safe, effective service delivery.

• Other duties as required, within your skills, experience and capacity.

Core Capabilities

For applicants to be successful in this role, they should demonstrate:

1. Demonstrated experience and ability to manage intake of referrals, prioritise referrals and respond to the immediate needs of families for safety and health referrals to appropriate services.
2. Knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies and cultures from an historical and contemporary perspective, including the ability to communicate effectively and sensitively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
3. Demonstrated understanding of strengths-based approaches to working with families, parenting and behaviour management techniques and knowledge of early childhood development.
4. Knowledge and understanding of Family Wellbeing Service and Family Participation Program guidelines, and the screening and assessment processes.
5. Extensively developed interpersonal and communication skills including the ability liaise and network with a range of stakeholders as well as effectively advocate for, and articulate the interests of, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals and families.
6. Demonstrated ability to work independently with limited supervision, together with the ability to work in a multi-disciplinary team environment, prioritise and meet deadlines, deal with matters of a sensitive and confidential nature and meet organisational demands.
7. Demonstrated ability to meet and work within the core values and behaviours of Wuchopperen.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Tertiary Qualifications in Community Services and/or Mental Health or demonstrated extensive experience working within similar roles over a period of at least 5 years.

Requirements:

• It is a condition of employment in this role for the employee to be, and remain, vaccinated against measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chicken pox), pertussis (whooping cough) and hepatitis B
• It is recommended for the employee to be vaccinated against COVID-19.
• The Intake and Assessment Officer, Child Wellbeing is an Identified position. It is a genuine occupational requirement that an Identified position be filled by an Aboriginal person or Torres Strait Islander person, as permitted by and arguable under section 25, 104 and 105 of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act (1991).It is a condition of employment that all employees are holders of a current and valid ‘blue card’ or Working with Children Check. This is at your cost. Employment cannot continue or commence if you do not have a ‘blue card’ or if your ‘blue card’ is withdrawn or is disqualified.

• Proof of qualifications is required to be provided prior to the commencement of duty.

• Possession of a current Queensland “CA” class driver’s licence is essential. Commitment to work within the principles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control including a willingness to develop the leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff.
• Ability to use Microsoft products and the ability to use or willingness to gain proficiency in the client information management systems.
• Consent to a broader criminal history check at Wuchopperen’s cost.

Applicants who do not address these requirements, will not be considered for shortlisting.

Note: Revised legislation requires applicants to hold a blue card prior to commencement. Refer to Qld Government’s Blue Card Services website for more information.

How to apply:

To be eligible for interview, applicants must submit a cover letter (no more than two pages), addressing the Core Capabilities and an up-to-date Resume including two referees and complete the screening questions provided from Employment Hero.

For more information contact Karen, Manager, Child Wellbeing on 07 4080 1014

The above is an Identified position. It is a genuine occupational requirement that an Identified position be filled by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person, as permitted by and arguable under section 25, 104 and 105 of the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act (1991).

Wuchopperen is a Child Safe Organisation and the safety and wellbeing of children is of utmost importance.

Closing date for applications: 5pm on Thursday 12th June 2025