THE OPPORTUNITY

CatholicCare is seeking an experienced and passionate Casework Manager to join our Permanency Support Program (PSP) team on a permanent full-time basis.

Reporting to the Head of Out of Home Care, this leadership role works closely with internal leadership teams and key external partners including DCJ, OCG, and OoSG to deliver high-quality outcomes for children, young people, families, and carers.

You will guide and support a multidisciplinary Care Team of Child & Family Caseworkers, Carer Support & Development Caseworkers, Reunification Caseworkers, and Support Workers to deliver trauma-informed and evidence-based practice that promotes safety, stability, and permanency for children and young people.

You’ll bring strong knowledge of child protection, statutory out-of-home care, permanency pathways, and child-safe practice, along with the ability to lead teams through reflective supervision, compliance oversight, and professional development.

This role also includes participation in the on-call after-hours roster. 

Supported by a collaborative leadership team, this is an opportunity to step into a meaningful management role where your leadership can make a lasting difference in the lives of vulnerable children, young people, and families.

Benefits of Working With Us

• Directly contribute to improving the lives of many in the community.
• Free on-site parking.
• Discounted gym membership through Fitness Passport (T&C’s apply).
• Salary packaging
• Flexible working arrangements.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities.
• A great friendly environment of dedicated and passionate co-workers.
• Enjoy up to 10% off at top retailers with our mnBenefits program.
• Corporate benefits, including EAP, flu shots and more.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

CatholicCare’s Permanency Support Program (PSP) focusses on achieving safety and permanency for vulnerable children and young people within a two-year (2) timeframe, by; promoting reunification with their parents, or by supporting an alternative legal pathway i.e. Guardianship, Open Adoption, or by providing long-term care with authorised Carers.

CatholicCare’s PSP Casework Managers, lead and influence direct casework practice by a Care Team of Child & Family Caseworkers, Carer Support & Development Caseworkers, Reunification Caseworkers and Care Team Support Workers. The work of the Care Team 
directly supports children, young people, their families, communities and Relative, Kinship and Foster Carers, (‘Rel/Kin & FC’).

Casework Managers are responsible for the allocation and completion to standard of arange of tasks across the PSP casework continuum. They play a critical role in ensuring Care Teams adhere to legislation, policy, and best practice standards, delivering evidence-based, trauma-informed, family-seeing, and dignity-giving casework.Casework Managers contribute to the overall leadership, culture and professionalism of CatholicCare Social Services in the Hunter-Manning.

Casework Managers may also be called upon to provide relief to the Head of Out of Home Care/Principal Officer as the agency’s nominated Principal Officer if/when required.

EXPERIENCE/CRITERIA

• A commitment to work within the Mission, Vision and Values of CatholicCare.
• A working knowledge of the legislation, policies, and standards relevant to child protection, statutory out-of-homecare, the PSP and child safe organisations.
• Lead and manage a team of Child & Family, Carer Support & Development and Reunification Caseworkers and Care Team Support Workers through effective individual and group supervision to deliver accountable and collaborative casework that respects the culture and context of each child, young person, family, and community.
• Ensure casework and client recording and reporting compliance through effective review, auditing, and feedback mechanisms.
• Prepare and review input to applications, submissions and general correspondence on matters impacting the PSP, ensuring responses are accurate and provided within timeframes.
• Prepare and review input to court work as required by the NSW Children’s Court, District and Supreme Courts, ensuring responses are accurate and provided within timeframes.
• Provide authoritative practice through ongoing professional development and collaboration across CatholicCare, and with key partners i.e. The Office of Safeguarding,(OoSG) the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, (DCJ) and the NSW Office ofthe Children’s Guardian, (OCG).
• Participate and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and professional development to ensure practice knowledge and skills are contemporary, ethical and evidence based.
• As a member of the management team, contribute to operational and policy issues and change management strategies which support CatholicCare’s goals and objectives.
• A demonstrated commitment to work flexible hours and On-Call After Hours to meet the needs of children, young people, their family, and Foster Carers.
• Ability to demonstrate and work within the key accountabilities and inherent requirement of this position detailed in Section 12

QUALIFICATIONS

• Tertiary qualifications, (or working toward a qualification) in a Social Work, Psychology, Social Science, Welfare, or related discipline with demonstrated
  commitment to ongoing professional development.
• Current NSW Driver Licence
• Current Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012
• National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014
• This role is subject to a NSW Office of the Children's Guardian Residential Care Workers Register check.
• Diploma of Leadership and Management or willingness to obtain (Desired). 

To Apply

Please provide a current copy of your Resume and a Cover Letter which addresses the two criterion points below:

• Demonstrate your knowledge and experience in child protection, statutory out-of-home care, permanency pathways, and child-safe practice, including relevant legislation, policies, and standards.
• Describe your ability to lead effectively in complex and high-pressure environments, including managing competing priorities, critical incidents, and participation in after-hours or on-call support arrangements

For any further information about the role, please contact: Lisa Craven: lis••••••••@catholiccare.org.au

Applications close 11:59pm Tuesday 2nd June 2026

Additional Information

The Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable persons and preventing those in our care from suffering abuse or neglect.  It is committed to implementing and maintaining compliance with the NSW Child Safe Standards and the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards and takes a zero-tolerance approach to abuse of children or vulnerable persons. 

All who work in the name of the Diocese must comply with the Diocesan Safeguarding Framework Policy and act in accordance with the Diocese’s Code of Conduct which includes the Diocese’s Safeguarding Commitment Statement. Employees are required to undergo a National Police Check and retain a valid NSW Working with Children Check where necessary, in accordance with legislation.