Senior Family Consultant, Child Dispute Services

Job No: FedCourt147

Location: Hobart, TAS

No. of Vacancies: 1

Closing Date: 31 Jan 2019 AWST

Classification: Executive Level 1
Salary: $106,225 per annum, plus allowance, plus superannuation
Job Type: Ongoing, Full-time
Reports to: Regional Coordinator, Child Dispute Services and Registry Manager

Overview of Agency
The Federal Court of Australia (the Entity) is a non-Corporate listed entity for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and a statutory agency for the purposes of the Public Service Act 1999. The Entity supports the operations of the Federal Court of Australia (FCA), Family Court of Australia (FCoA), the Federal Circuit Court of Australia (FCC) and the National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT). The FCA, FCoA and FCC are Chapter III Courts under the Australian Constitution and continue to operate as individual judicial jurisdictions.

Court Jurisdiction
The Federal Circuit Court of Australia was established by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia Act 1999 (the Act) as an independent federal court under Chapter III of the Australian Constitution. Prior to 12 April 2013, under the Federal Magistrates Act 1999, the Court was known as the Federal Magistrates Court and its judicial officers as federal magistrates. The Court was established to handle less complex matters in the areas of family law and general federal law.

The Court sits in all capital cities, selected major regional centres and circuits to a number of regional locations. The Court is a federal court of record and a court of law and equity.

Child Dispute Services
The purpose of Child Dispute Services (CDS) is to provide expert and independent forensic, social science advice and evidence, at the direction of, and for consideration by, judicial officers of the Family Court of Australia and the Federal Circuit Court of Australia who make decisions in relation to disputes about children.

The work of CDS is undertaken by Family Consultants, as defined under s11B Family Law Act 1975, and is supported by a small administrative and management team. CDS Family Consultants are either employed by the Court or appointed under the Family Law Regulations 1984 (Cth), reg.7.

CDS operates under a comprehensive clinical governance framework.

All work conducted by CDS is underpinned by the following principles:

• Being child-centred – CDS focuses on the physical, developmental, emotional and relationship needs of children;
• Prioritising safety – CDS recognises that the need for protection from harm is paramount;
• Delivering best practice – CDS practices are research informed and consistent with contemporary, evidence-based practice models;
• Operating respectfully – CDS treats parties, officers of the Court and all people with sensitivity and respect and recognises the importance of equity and diversity;
• Acting with professionalism and integrity – CDS utilises a qualified and experienced workforce with a commitment to high quality, ethical service delivery and ongoing professional development.

Since 1 July 2016 CDS has been administered by the Federal Circuit Court of Australia but continues to provide services to both the Federal Circuit Court of Australia and Family Court of Australia.

Purpose of the Position
The purpose of the Senior Family Consultant position is to ensure that Family Consultant services delivered within their Registry/Registries of responsibility maintain a high level of professional standards and are managed efficiently and effectively.

Important Functions of Position
The person appointed to this position is expected to carry out his or her duties so as to:

• satisfy all relevant statutory obligations
• satisfy the APS Values and Code of Conduct
• contribute to and support achievement of the Court’s strategic and business plans
• operate within the Court’s policies and procedural guidelines
• support and contribute to the Court’s Service Charter

Key Responsibilities and Duties of Position
The responsibilities of the Senior Family Consultant position include:

• providing support and guidance to internal and Regulation 7 Family Consultants in relation to service delivery 
• maintaining an effective quality assurance management process to monitor service standards and compliance with organisational policies and professional directions 
• providing professional supervision to internal Family Consultants
• identifying training and development requirements for internal and Regulation 7 Family Consultants 
• assisting in the delivery of clinical training packages 
• undertaking an agreed level of clinical work depending on the level of administrative responsibility
• liaising with judicial chambers to ensure delivery of advice and assistance in regard to clinical intervention options and provision of timely family consultant services,
• developing and maintaining positive, productive and collaborative relationships with judicial officers of both courts, the legal profession and community organisations,
• participating in the Registry Management Team to support and improve case management through the appropriate assignment of professional resources to the benefit of clients and judicial officers,
• providing the CDS Regional Coordinator with reports on the utilisation of family consultant resources against the agreed level of services available for both Courts,
• advising the CDS Regional Coordinator of practices or trends that vary from predetermined resource allocations,
• providing support to the CDS Regional Coordinator on any work allocation practices or procedures that may assist in achieving optimal utilisation of time and work outputs,
• supporting the CDS Regional Coordinator by advising on strategies to assist with balancing the expectations of Judges in an environment where demand for professional resources is high,
• managing resources within the Courts’ financial and human resourcing policy framework,
• assisting the CDS Regional Coordinator in the recruitment and maintenance of a reliable family consultant service at a Registry level. 

Reporting Relationships
Senior Family Consultants report to the CDS Regional Coordinator responsible for the region that that the Senior Family Consultant position is based in.

Senior Family Consultants are responsible for the internal Family Consultants that are assigned to them by the CDS Regional Coordinator.

Eligibility
Employment with the Federal Court of Australia is subject to the requirement of the Public Service Act 1999. The following requirements also apply:

• Australian citizenship – the successful applicant must be an Australian citizenship, unless the Chief Operating Officer waives that requirement.
• National Police Check – the successful applicant must satisfy a Police Records Check, and may also be required to complete security clearances during the course of their employment.
• Health clearance – the successful applicant must be fit for duties and will be required to complete a health declaration and may be required to attend a medical assessment to confirm their fitness for duty.

Interested candidates who have received a redundancy benefit from an Australian Public Service agency are welcome to apply, but note that they cannot be engaged until their redundancy benefit period has expired, unless the Public Service Commissioner agrees.

Essential Qualifications
A recognised degree in social work and eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers or a degree in psychology with general registration with the Psychology Board of Australia

Essential Experience
Extensive clinical experience working with children and families (minimum 5 years)

Desirable Experience
• Leading a clinical team
• Providing professional supervision
• Working within a family law environment

Selection Criteria

1. Extensive knowledge of child development theory and the impact of separation, family violence and abuse, and high conflict on children and families
2. Extensive clinical experience with children and families, including a demonstrated ability to conduct child-centred family assessments 
3. Knowledge of the principles of the Family Law Act 1975 and of the family law system in, or the ability to rapidly acquire such knowledge.
4. Demonstrated high level skills in clinical report writing
5. Capacity to provide clinical leadership and professional supervision 
6. Capacity to manage human resources and service outputs at the registry level
7. Capacity to constructively manage stakeholder relationships (including with Judicial Officers, Chambers and Registry staff, family law practitioners and external service providers)

How to Apply
To be considered you will need to upload a comprehensive statement of claims against the selection criteria, attach an up to date resume, and copies of relevant qualifications by 11:55pm AEDT on 31 January 2019.

For more information contact Manuela Galva on 03 8600 3866.