ERICA NICHOLS
Camira,QLD
Summary
Specialised experience in family law, providing social science/child development consultation to the Family Law and Federal Circuit Court including oral and written presentations and reports.
An extensive background working with children and families including family law, divorce and separation, intensive family intervention, and early prevention collaborative programs with child protection.
Therapeutic work and attachment-based Circle of Security program facilitator.
Extensive knowledge in family violence including post-graduate studies, specialized domestic violence programs, contemporary training and ongoing risk assessment in the interface of family violence/family law.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Court Child Expert
Federal Circuit Court And Family Law Courts
Brisbane, QLD
06.2018 - Current
- Providing consultation to the court to assist judges and registrars in making interim or final decisions about arrangements regarding children and families in the context of separation and divorce through oral and written presentations/reports, including comprehensive Family reports, Magellan child abuse reports, and Child impact reports, focusing on preliminary issues.
- Assessment processes, information gathering, including interviewing children and significant adults, conducting child-parent observations and social science literature reviews to assist identified issues and provide evidence to the court.
Lighthouse Project
Federal Circuit Court/Family Law Courts Australia
Brisbane, QLD
05.2020 - 05.2022
- The Lighthouse project is a triage, risk screening, and support court pathway specialised in family violence and managing high-risk.
- Two-year secondment into the lighthouse project to assist with the implementation pilot stage, in addition to providing evidence/updated reports to the Court as requested.
- Conduct interviews with parents/caregivers for risk screening, identification, and management of well-being and safety concerns for children and their families.
- Assess and triage cases to appropriate court pathways, including high-risk cases to the Evatt list.
- Consultation and interdisciplinary working with registrars, case managers, and case coordinators.
- Offering support and guidance, including identifying appropriate support services.
Family Counsellor
Domestic Violence Action Centre
Ipswich, QLD
08.2017 - 06.2018
- Counselling and support to mother's and their children and young people who are experiencing or have experienced domestic and family violence/significant trauma including sexual assault
- Short-medium term family therapy with women, children, and young people in order to stabilize and improve their relationships, parent-child attachment, and the impact of family violence.
- Counselling and group work to young people who have witnessed domestic violence.
Domestic Violence Safety Team Practitioner
Domestic Violence Action Centre
Ipswich, Queensland
10.2016 - 05.2017
- Phone and face-to-face risk assessment, safety planning, crisis support, advocacy, information, and referral to women and children who are experiencing or have experienced domestic and family violence. Information and support to women regarding the court process.
- Specialist crisis counselling to women and young people who have experienced or are experiencing domestic and family violence,
- Domestic violence education programs for women through one-to-one sessions
Practice Engagement Team Leader
Family And Child Connect
Ipswich, QLD
06.2015 - 07.2016
- A community-based, early intervention, intake, and referral service, Family and Child Connect provides an additional pathway for referring child protection concerns about children and their families, with a focus on child maltreatment and domestic violence.
- Collaborative work with families to undertake a detailed need, safety assessment and plan interventions to address risk, focusing on abuse, neglect, and domestic violence.
- Supervised a team of social work and engagement staff, led, mentored, and supervised practice frameworks, assessment tools, and case decision-making processes, ensuring they were informed by the relevant best practice strategies and evidence-based approaches.
- Facilitated professional development and performance appraisals in line with organizational procedures.
- Duty manager responsibilities when manager was on leave
- Conducted fortnightly case supervisions and regular staff training sessions
- Identified areas of possible development opportunities to ensure best practice and continuous improvements in evolving program.
Family Intervention Worker
Indigenous organization Kummara Association
05.2011 - 06.2015
- Providing intensive family intervention with Indigenous parent(s) and their children within the child protection system to support reunification and address child protection issues.
- Culturally sensitive and informed practices, with close collaboration and partnership working with Elders, indigenous organizations, recognized entities, and indigenous legal and medical centers.
- Project work involving the development of processes, tools, and documents, staff training, and information sharing in support of contemporary approaches to practice and policy recommendations.
- On-going report writing and recording: monthly, quarterly, and annual service delivery reports.
Social Worker Case Manager
Camden Social Services Children And Families Dep
London, UK
11.2010 - 04.2011
- Family intervention, managing a caseload with lead responsibility to complete specialist assessments, reports, and evaluations.
- Coordinating a multi-agency network to ensure an effective plan is delivered to address individual and family needs.
- Use of flexible and creative approaches to engage disengaged youth and their families from a diverse mix of ethnic, urban backgrounds.
- Planning and delivering interventions with young people and parents on an individual, sibling, parent-child, and family unit basis.
Social Work Assistant
Joint Adolescent Service
London, QLD
10.2009 - 06.2010
- A therapeutic children and families department for young people aged 10 to 17 years- Child in Need/ Child Protection.
- A multidisciplinary team, offering therapeutic interventions and mediation to a caseload of young people in acute need and at risk of family breakdown.
- Duty work including crisis counselling, guidance and support to families
- Weekly facilitator of a multi-family therapy group, alongside a family therapist and psychologist.
Child and Youth Worker
Donyland Lodge and Children's House
Colchester And Norwich, UK
10.2002 - 05.2007
- Support worker for children in therapeutic residential care.
- Key worker roles and supporting children with complex developmental needs.
Education
Diploma of Children's Writing And Publication
Australian Collage
New South Wales11-2021
Post Graduate - Domestic Violence
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Brisbane01.2016
Bachelor of Social Work First Class - Social Work
London South Bank University
London, UK01.2010
Skills
- Providing specialised oral and written consultation and social science/child development information to assist judicial officers
- Comprehensive and preliminary forensic family assessments and report writing
- High-standard written and oral skills
- Interdisciplinary working and collaboration
- Contemporary training in knowledge bases including cultural responsiveness, child protection, family violence, child development, trauma
- Circle of Security attachment-based facilitator training
Timeline
Lighthouse Project
Federal Circuit Court/Family Law Courts Australia
05.2020 - 05.2022
Court Child Expert
Federal Circuit Court And Family Law Courts
06.2018 - Current
Family Counsellor
Domestic Violence Action Centre
08.2017 - 06.2018
Domestic Violence Safety Team Practitioner
Domestic Violence Action Centre
10.2016 - 05.2017
Practice Engagement Team Leader
Family And Child Connect
06.2015 - 07.2016
Family Intervention Worker
Indigenous organization Kummara Association
05.2011 - 06.2015
Social Worker Case Manager
Camden Social Services Children And Families Dep
11.2010 - 04.2011
Social Work Assistant
Joint Adolescent Service
10.2009 - 06.2010
Child and Youth Worker
Donyland Lodge and Children's House
10.2002 - 05.2007
Diploma of Children's Writing And Publication
Australian Collage
Post Graduate - Domestic Violence
Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Bachelor of Social Work First Class - Social Work
London South Bank University
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