Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Current licences
Professional Development
Timeline
Generic
Darlene Lynch

Darlene Lynch

Officer,Australia

Summary

With a broad range of experience, I bring:

  • Fifteen years of substantial experience in working in family violence including: early intervention, crisis support, generalist case management, intensive management, family violence supported housing, refuge experience, experience in the implementation phase of the RAMPS and more recently experience in case managing both perpetrators and victim/survivors with charges before the court
  • Specialist knowledge of frameworks and theories in relation to responding to family violence
  • A highly developed ability to build rapport and relationships with key stakeholders and services in the sector as evidenced in my work in the western suburbs of Melbourne
  • A positive and keen desire to develop and share knowledge to improve outcomes for women and their children who have experienced family violence
  • An in-depth knowledge of the Victorian family violence system and other relevant health and human services in Victoria
  • Experience in managing specialist family violence services and staff and providing supervision
  • Expertise in the Court system through civil and criminal matters
  • Experience in supporting clients and staff in navigating through the Magistrates court, County Court, Supreme Court, Children court and matters pertaining to Family Law

Overview

15
15
years of professional experience

Work History

Refuge Case Manager

Wayss
09.2023 - Current
  • Maintained accurate documentation on all cases, ensuring compliance with regulations and confidentiality requirements.
  • Conducted thorough assessments of clients'' situations, identifying issues, goals, and necessary interventions.
  • Monitored ongoing cases closely, adjusting case management strategies as needed based on evolving circumstances or new information.
  • Educated clients on available programs, benefits, and services, empowering them to make informed decisions about their care needs.
  • Achieved positive client outcomes by developing and implementing comprehensive case management plans.
  • Provided crisis intervention support for clients experiencing emergencies, using appropriate techniques to de-escalate situations safely.
  • Assisted clients in navigating housing, legal services and public benefits to gain access to valuable resources.

Family Violence Applicant Practitioner

Magistrates Court Victoria
09.2020 - 09.2023
  • Providing non-legal information, support and referrals for people who are seeking an application for an intervention order or are named as the affected family member in an application for an intervention order
  • Engaging with the affected family member and conducting a risk assessment interview to assess their safety
  • Undertaking an assessment of immediate safety risks, developing safety plans, and make referrals to appropriate agencies for ongoing support, counselling and longer-term safety planning
  • Developing and maintaining effective and collaborative relationships with key external stakeholders
  • Liaising with key internal and external stakeholders
  • Liaising, consulting and negotiating with the judiciary, legal profession and court staff in relation to any immediate risks and concerns
  • Maintaining up to date case notes, risk assessments and safety planning

Court Integrated Service Program (CISP) Case Manager

Magistrates Court Victoria
09.2018 - 09.2020
  • Providing case management to clients with a range of complex needs, with a particular focus on supporting clients with complex mental health, AOD, Family Violence, disability support needs
  • Providing clinical and program advice to judiciary and other key stakeholders in ARC List and CISP hearings through regular Court attendance
  • Accessing, coordinating and monitoring the delivery of a range of treatments and supports for clients, including housing, alcohol/drug treatment, family violence interventions and mental health treatment
  • Identifying client risks and develop risk management and/or harm minimisation strategies in relation to these risks
  • Providing support to clients in a way that is responsive to and inclusive of their diverse needs and backgrounds
  • Supporting the identification and implementation of practice improvements that will enhance the quality of the program's response to clients with complex mental health and disability support needs
  • Preparing and presenting written court reports and provide advice or evidence to the Court, as required
  • Providing peer support to case managers in relation to their case management of clients
  • Developing and maintaining effective and collaborative relationships with key external stakeholders
  • Liaising, consulting and negotiating with the judiciary, legal profession and court staff in relation to the management of clients within the court process and provide advice regarding the availability of appropriate services and programs
  • Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of current treatment and support options for clients with complex mental health and disability support needs
  • Providing secondary consultations and risk management support regarding family violence

Keyworker

Aoibhneas Women and Children's refuge
02.2017 - 05.2018
  • Providing support and structured services to clients in the Refuge, with an emphasis on progressing needs through implementation of care plan
  • Ensure the safety and security of women and children resident in Aoibhneas Women and Children's Refuge
  • Assess and provide emergency accommodation to Women and Children fleeing Domestic Violence
  • Welcome new clients with children and ensure that they are familiarised with house rules, practices, services and activities available
  • Ensure the provision of practical and emotional supports to all clients in Aoibhneas
  • Operate the 24-Hour Refuge Helpline
  • Make an initial assessment of a woman's support needs via the refuge/ daycaller/helpline service
  • Advise and assist women on legal, housing, social welfare, rights and entitlements
  • Provide information, advocacy and referrals to appropriate services
  • Discuss all the options available and advise women on how to access the relevant services
  • Accompany woman to Courts, Sexual Assault Units, solicitor appointments etc., when necessary
  • Meet the unique needs and interests of each woman as part of an agreed plan paying attention to her family circumstance
  • Provide ongoing emotional support to all women and children in crisis and to create opportunities for each woman to share their feelings about his/her home situation, their fears and anxieties
  • Create a friendly, safe, happy and caring environment for all women and children
  • Develop and implement suitable programs to meet the needs of the women and children in the refuge
  • Develop referral links for women with local support services and networks
  • Develop links with local service providers, Gardaí, schools, women's groups etc
  • Attend and represent Aoibhneas at committees tasked to provide a community response to domestic violence
  • Maintaining accurate and up to date records of all case files using service database
  • Prepare and compile departmental statistics
  • Work as part of a Refuge team, liaising with other staff in relation to services for women/children/families
  • Supervise and co-ordinate volunteers and placement students
  • Attend court hearings and give evidence as required
  • Work under the direction and guidance of the Refuge Manager or other Designated Officer to ensure the highest possible level of care is maintained at all times
  • Ensure standards are maintained and adhered to in line with policy, procedure and legislation
  • Access the designated person on call when required in line with policy and Children's First legislation
  • Participating in the provision of services as part of the Refuge team
  • Engage in supervision sessions on a regular basis

Women's Support Worker

Sonas Domestic Violence Charity
04.2016 - 02.2017
  • Ensuring that the needs of clients are central to the work of the organisation
  • Working to all Sonas Domestic Violence Charity services practices (quality standards), policies and procedures to ensure the delivery of quality, effective and safe services to clients
  • Carrying out needs assessments, risk assessments and develop safety plans/ support plans to address these needs through the use of relevant Sonas tools
  • Ensuring progression of clients' support plan through case management approach
  • Making referrals or support clients in making self-referrals as necessary
  • Advocating for clients when appropriate and by agreement
  • Working in collaboration with the Children's Support team and other team members to ensure that women and children are provided with an integrated domestic violence service
  • Maintaining all records and files according to the agreed standard
  • Adhering to Sonas and Tusla policies on child protection
  • Keeping informed of developments in domestic violence including new methods of work, changes in policy, legislation, additional supports etc
  • Liaising effectively with other statutory and voluntary bodies

Risk Assessment Management Panel Coordinator

Women's Health West
03.2015 - 02.2016
  • Active participation in the development and implementation of the Family Violence Work Plan
  • Actively monitor performance standards to (DHHS) requirements
  • Development and monitoring of program expenditure under the direction of the family violence services manager
  • Managing Women's Health West, Extreme Risk Strategy for women who are at imminent and extreme risk of serious injury or fatality
  • Manage Court systems, staff and relationships
  • Implement review and build on strategies in adherence to Risk Assessment Management Panel (RAMP) guidelines
  • Building manuals, overseeing policies and procedures to assist staff in service delivery
  • Maintaining and overseeing accurate case files, assessment documentation and case notes in a manner that meets all auditing requirements of WHW, DHHS standards and legislative obligations
  • Program data collecting to inform program planning and to meet data recording requirements of DHHS and the WHW Board
  • Facilitate program continuous quality assurance processes
  • Develop and review, in consultation with manager, protocols or formal agreements with key stakeholders, sharing of information, confidentiality of agreements, decision making processes and conflict resolution
  • Development of Memorandums of Understanding in accordance with new initiatives based on collaborative work through an integrated service model
  • Providing training, community education and forums to Government officials, local community, government and community sector, police, legal services, and local councils
  • Attend meetings with relevant stakeholders to inform of changes and to provide input and secondary consultations in accordance with local government areas
  • Building Relationships with relevant stakeholders such as The Magistrates Courts, Legal services, Child Protection, Child First, Culturally and linguistically Diverse (CALD) client service providers, Victoria Police, Corrections, Housing services, Mental Health Services, Drug and Alcohol services and other relevant service providers in the local government area
  • Work in collaboration with staff and management team in the deliverance of new initiatives and utilising working groups for collaborative and equitable results

Family Violence Outreach Case Manager/ Intensive Case Manager

Women's Health West
01.2013 - 01.2015
  • Working within a team providing case management and support to clients experiencing Family violence
  • ICM (intensive case management) to clients with complex issues e.g., drug and alcohol, mental health and Child Protection involvement
  • Develop and monitor client case plans with an inclusive and collaborative approach in the planning and decision-making process
  • Providing information, advice and family violence education
  • Risk assessments, safety planning and referrals to external agencies
  • Liaise / coordinate with other service providers regarding co case management, case conferencing and professional meetings
  • Closely network with external services such as Victorian Police, Child Protection, Magistrates Courts and housing agencies
  • Engage in Internal working groups (Triage working group, Case management working group, Intake working group and Court support working group)
  • Providing fortnightly court support at Sunshine Magistrate Court assisting clients applying for intervention orders
  • Provide fortnightly intake involving immediate response to clients affected by family Violence
  • Providing advice and direction to internal and external service providers through secondary consultation
  • Referring clients to the Extreme Risk Client Register and facilitating high risk conferences involving the Police Family Violence Units, Child Protection and other relevant stakeholders
  • Providing support for clients accessing the housing sector (public / private housing, segmented waiting lists, crisis accommodation, transitional housing and refuges
  • Experience working with CALD clients and using interpreters
  • Casual weekend worker responding to police faxback / L17
  • Providing community education and secondary consultations to external departments / services

After Hours Crisis Response Worker

Women's Health West
01.2012 - 12.2012
  • Providing telephone and face-to-face service to women and children who have experienced family violence
  • Responding to calls and, when appropriate, negotiate and attend a meeting place, which may be at any of the services Women's Health West have protocols with
  • Providing emotional support, crisis counselling and advocacy as well as practical assistance, such as transportation and material aid
  • Maintaining and initiate effective working relationships with after hour clients, Safe Steps, sub regional police, Western Region hospitals and the emergency departments and a wide range of community, legal and health workers in the western region that operate within the after hours
  • Working in collaboration with services for service delivery outcomes
  • Utilising secondary consultations where appropriate

Volunteer Support Worker and Student Placement

Teach Failte
01.2010 - 12.2012
  • Welcoming clients referred to hostel
  • Reviewing referrals from other services including refuges, homeless services, drug and alcohol services, prisons and self referrals
  • Ensuring a welcoming and friendly environment is maintained
  • Ensuring the day to day running of projects operates smoothly and in accordance with organisation procedures
  • Creating case and safety plans with women
  • Assisting clients with health, hygiene, safety and general welfare
  • Assisting clients to access other services such as medical, welfare and other support services in accordance with their needs
  • Managing complex behaviours and drug and alcohol issues
  • Networking with the local Gardai, councils, drug and alcohol services, counselling services and local homeless services such as focus Ireland and Simon community
  • Creating agendas, formatting recommendations
  • Working in drop-in centre for homeless men and women (Church Street)
  • Attend regular staff meetings
  • Administrational and practical support to staff member

Education

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Applied Social Studies in Social Care

Waterford Institute of Technology
Waterford, Co. Waterford
01.2012

Leaving Certificate -

Tullamore College
Tullamore, Co. Offaly
01.2008

Skills

  • Problem-solving
  • Case management
  • Time management
  • Case documentation
  • Documentation and reporting
  • Organization and multitasking
  • Decision-making
  • Client advocacy

Current licences

  • Full clean Victoria Driver's license
  • Australian working with children's check - To be obtained
  • Victorian Police check

Professional Development

  • Introduction to Family Violence Domestic Violence Resource Centre Victoria (DVRCV) Accredited
  • Family Law training Women's Legal Service Victoria
  • Domestic Violence, Case Notes and the Law (DVRCV)
  • Specialised Common Risk Assessment Common Risk Assessment Framework (DVRCV)
  • Segmented Waitlist Public Housing training Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
  • Assessing Children and Young People (DHHS)
  • VOCAT training Domestic Violence Victoria
  • SHIP Specialist Homelessness Information Platform Department of Health and Human Services
  • Protection Act (DVRCV)
  • AED Irish Heart Foundation Defibrillator course
  • Suicide prevention training (ASSIST)
  • Complex Behaviours Specialist Homelessness Sector (SHS)
  • Law and Family Violence Brimbank/Melton Community Legal Centre
  • Culturally appropriate case management training Elizabeth Morgan House
  • Culturally appropriate case management training African and Indian cultures
  • SHIP Specialist Homelessness Information Platform (DHHS)
  • Family Violence and Drugs and Alcohol conference Family Drug Support
  • Violence prevention is everyone's business conference Women's Health Lodden Mallee
  • Program Logic Training Centre for excellence in Family and Child Services
  • Iris Training (DHHS)
  • Leadership Workshop Diz Synott
  • Supporting staff Workshop Women's Health West (WHW)
  • Logic QC training (WHW)
  • Aboriginal Cultural awareness training Karen Milward Consulting Services
  • Children First Training Tusla
  • MARAM Comprehensive Family Violence Specialist - Renewing Practice from CRAF to MARAM (DVRCV)
  • Introduction to working with men who use violence No to violence
  • Introduction to AOD Taskforce
  • Trauma Informed Care and responding to sexual abuse disclosure Phoenix Australia (Webinar)
  • The Experience for Aboriginal Women and Children in Custody Judicial college of Victoria (Webinar)
  • A practice discussion on working with men who use violence in the justice system: an integrated response model ANROWS (Webinar)
  • Working with women who have experienced complex trauma in mental health and refugee services - a comparative discussion ANROWS (Webinar)

Timeline

Refuge Case Manager

Wayss
09.2023 - Current

Family Violence Applicant Practitioner

Magistrates Court Victoria
09.2020 - 09.2023

Court Integrated Service Program (CISP) Case Manager

Magistrates Court Victoria
09.2018 - 09.2020

Keyworker

Aoibhneas Women and Children's refuge
02.2017 - 05.2018

Women's Support Worker

Sonas Domestic Violence Charity
04.2016 - 02.2017

Risk Assessment Management Panel Coordinator

Women's Health West
03.2015 - 02.2016

Family Violence Outreach Case Manager/ Intensive Case Manager

Women's Health West
01.2013 - 01.2015

After Hours Crisis Response Worker

Women's Health West
01.2012 - 12.2012

Volunteer Support Worker and Student Placement

Teach Failte
01.2010 - 12.2012

Leaving Certificate -

Tullamore College

Bachelor of Arts (Honours) - Applied Social Studies in Social Care

Waterford Institute of Technology

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