Social Worker / Case Worker

About the role

The Social Worker / Case Worker at Melrose Home supports children and youths in Out-of-Home Care to achieve their potential. The role ensures that the Home and support network contributes to their biopsychosocial development, improves their longer-term outlook while maintaining connections with next of kin.

Key responsibilities

• Casework and Counselling: To offer casework and counseling service to residents and their families served by Melrose Home @ Children’s Aid Limited

o To identify and assess risks inherent in cases by integrating a range of information.

o To use professional tools and working templates to guide staff in case assessment and case planning

o To ensure the effective and efficient implementation of care plans within the Home daily operations and/or programme activities

o To represent the vulnerable children and youth and their families (either during case conferences or engagements with stakeholders), with the aim of advocating for these children, youth and families to have access to equal opportunities through collaborative practice with community partners

• Home Management

o To work with the residential care team to ensure that the activities and programmes in the Home are guided by the mission and values of CAL, is trauma-informed, meet and/or exceeds MSF’s standards of care as well as international best practices for residential care

o To participate in the resident’s behaviour management process with the residential care staff.

o To liaise with the resident’s schools and convey the information about the academic requirements to the care staff.

• Groupwork and Other Programmes

o To participate in client/community assessments, group/community work processes and specialized intervention strategies

o Together with other social care team members or residential care team members, to engage in the development and implementation of relevant programmes that would help support the residents’ potential and to optimize their reintegration to their next of kin / optimize their transition to independent living.

• Advocacy

o To represent the Home in its advocacy efforts for vulnerable children and youth and their families, with the aim of advocating for these children, youth and families to have access to equal opportunities through collaborative practice with community partners

o To represent CAL and the Home at professional platforms to raise the profile of the Society and the Home and also to build professional relationships that bring visibility and increase the Home and Society’s standing in the field

• Administration (Operational Processes, Policies and Protocols)

o Conduct sessions with the children and youths at least once a month (The content will be documented in a case recording and filed in the resident’s case file)

o Comply with the Case Management Standard Operating Procedures set by Melrose Home

Undertake any other duties directed by Manager or Head of Home

About you

• Bachelor's Degree in Social Work or Postgraduate Diploma in Social Work from an accredited institution (for Social Worker role).
• Degree in Counselling, Psychology, Social Work or a related discipline from an accredited institution (for Case Worker role).
• Relevant experience in the social service sector, preferably working with children, youths and/or families.
• Ability to understand the needs of residents in Out-of-Home Care and manage risk and protective factors.
• Ability to engage and work collaboratively with government agencies, schools, community partners and other stakeholders.
• Good interpersonal and written communication skills.
• Reflective, culturally sensitive and committed to ongoing learning and professional development.