Nina Peters
Alkimos,WA
Summary
I am a Child Protection Professional committed to keeping children safe and properly cared for by working hard to strengthen family units and community.
I wish to obtain a specialist role to bring my various skills and 11+ years experience in the child protection continuum and field.
Reference:
Tara Taylor - Team Leader
Mandatory Reporting
Statewide Referral & Response Service
Email: tara.taylor@communities.wa.gov.au
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Child Protection Worker (Casual) – YARS
Department Of Communities
11.2022 - Current
- Identify and locate a parent or responsible adult for youth who have been apprehended by Police under section 41 of the Act, in Northbridge and Perth city.
- Engaging and forming relationships with the Wadjuk Noongar peoples in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Engage in culturally responsive practice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Clients.
- Conduct safety assessments on the child returning to a safe parent or responsible adult including ASSIST, Objective, TRIAGE, and Habitat.
- Contact parents or responsible adults to discuss the child's whereabouts, request collection of the child, and discuss avoiding the child returning to the city without adult and the risks to the child, whilst assessing the responses and appropriateness of the parent/responsible adult.
- Collaboration with Mission Australia, Noongar Outreach Services, Swan Taxi's, and Police to make suitable arrangements for youth to return home safely including face to face, phone calls and completion of relevant paperwork.
- Record and complete interactions to reflect the presentation to service, email relevant districts and case managers to advise of contact.
- Attend pre-brief meetings and interagency meetings to discuss any complications with youth or any operational concerns at YARS.
- Train and mentor junior YARS staff in child protection services, best practice, legislation and policy.
- Engage and report to YARS Team Leader
Senior Child Protection Worker - MR
Department Of Communities
11.2022 - Current
- Support MR staff with information gathering to inform assessments of sexual abuse/assault on children to record critical information.
- Engaging and forming relationships with the Wadjak Noongar peoples in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Contribute to assessment decision making by providing initial assessment on whether the department have an ongoing role, or for closure with no further action.
- Maintained case records and legal documentation.
- Assisted families in navigating the social services system, including accessing resources and connecting with other family support services.
- Completed comprehensive assessments of families to identify risk and needs.
Senior Child Protection Worker - Child Safety Team
Department Of Communities
02.2021 - 07.2021
- Under section 28 of the Act, lead, investigate and assess complex notifications of child harm under relevant legislation, practice guidelines and in consultation with Leadership and Specialist staff. Abuse types investigated and assessed include – Sexual Abuse, Psychological Abuse, Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Family Domestic Violence and Neglect.
- Engaging and forming relationships with the Wongatha peoples in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Engage with and interview clients and children, facilitate signs of safety meetings with families and support networks to improve safety and gather further information for assessment purposes.
- Consult with specialist staff including Team Leaders, Senior Practice Development Officers, District Director, Psychologists, Aboriginal Practice Leaders, Legal staff.
- Apprehension of children from families under section 37 of the Act, including identifying appropriate and safe placements for children and provide evidence-based affidavits to the Courts for legal apprehension and protection orders.
- Attend Court accordingly and engage with the Magistrate to speak to the evidence provided in the affidavit and confirm orders sought.
- Collaboration with multiple support services including government and non-government organisations to build parent and family capacity to protect and provide appropriate care for their children.
- Mentor junior staff to conduct thorough investigations and assessments and provide advice on practice and development.
- Assist Team Leader with the ongoing functioning of the Child Protection Team to run smoothly, efficiently and accordingly with legislation and quality practice.
- Documented data and completed accurate updates to case records.
- Developed plans to strengthen family units.
- Facilitated family meetings to ensure communication and collaboration between family members.
Senior Child Protection Worker - Child Safety Team
Department Of Communities
08.2018 - 07.2021
- Under section 28 of the Act, lead, investigate and assess complex notifications of child harm under relevant legislation, practice guidelines and in consult Leadership staff. Harm types investigated and assessed include – Sexual Abuse, Psychological Abuse, Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Family Domestic Violence and Neglect.
- Engaging and forming relationships with the Wadjuk Noongar peoples in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Engage with and interview clients and children, facilitate signs of safety meetings with families and support networks to improve safety and gather further information for assessment purposes.
- Consult with specialist staff including Team Leaders, Senior Practice Development Officers, District Director, Psychologists, Aboriginal Practice Leaders, Legal staff.
- Apprehension of children from families under section 37 of the Act, including identifying appropriate and safe placements for children and provide evidence-based affidavits to the Courts for legal apprehension and protection orders.
- Attend Court accordingly and engage with court staff and the Magistrate to speak to the evidence provided in the affidavit and confirm orders sought.
- Maintained case records and legal documentation.
- Collaboration with multiple support services including government and non-government organisations to build parent and family capacity to protect and provide appropriate care for their children.
- Mentor junior staff to conduct thorough investigations and assessments and provide advice on practice and safety.
- Assist Team Leader with the ongoing functioning of the Child Protection Team to run smoothly, efficiently and accordingly with legislation and quality practice and processes.
-
Senior Child Protection Worker - Initial Inquiries
Department Of Communities
04.2018 - 08.2018
- Conduct assessments of initial child concern reports under section 28 of the Act, to determine whether the Department has a further role, or can be closed with supports and no further action.
- Engaging and forming relationships with the Wadjuk Noongar peoples in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Gather information from multiple sources to inform assessments and outcomes.
- Provide a written assessment as to the outcome of assessment and consult with Team Leader.
- Consult with Leadership staff including Senior Practice Development Officers, Aboriginal Practice Leaders, District Director and Team Leaders on complex cases.
- Refer Child Safety Investigations to appropriate districts to commence ongoing investigation and assessment.
- Closure of interactions at Initial Inquiry stage to include referrals to support services if necessary.
- Documented data and completed accurate updates to case records
- Mentor junior staff to conduct thorough assessments and provide advice on practice and development.
Senior Child Protection Worker
Department Of Communities
02.2017 - 04.2018
- Under section 28 of the Act, lead, investigate and assess complex notifications of child harm under relevant legislation, practice guidelines and in consult Leadership staff. Harm types investigated and assessed include – Sexual Abuse, Psychological Abuse, Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, Family Domestic Violence and Neglect.
- Engaging and forming relationships with Yamatji peoples in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Engage with and interview clients and children, facilitate signs of safety meetings with families and support networks to improve safety and gather further information for assessment purposes.
- Consult with specialist staff including Team Leaders, Senior Practice Development Officers, District Director, Psychologists, Aboriginal Practice Leaders, Legal staff.
- Apprehension of children from families under section 37 of the Act, including identifying appropriate and safe placements for children and provide evidence-based affidavits to the Courts for legal apprehension and protection orders.
- Visited homes, inspected surroundings and interviewed family members.
- Attend Court accordingly and engage with the Magistrate to speak to the evidence provided in the affidavit and confirm orders sought.
- Collaboration with multiple support services including government and non-government organisations to build parent and family capacity to protect and provide appropriate care for their children.
- Maintained case records and legal documentation.
- Mentor junior staff to conduct thorough investigations and assessments and provide advice on practice and safety.
- Assist Team Leader with the ongoing functioning of the Child Protection Team to run smoothly, efficiently and accordingly with legislation and quality practice and processes.
- Providing written evidence-based responses to Ministerial and complaints.
Senior Officer Care Services - (SOCs)
Department Of Communities
10.2015 - 04.2018
- Provide ongoing support to Departmental Foster carers including regular respite options, ensuring foster carer payments are accurate and paid on time, including emergency placement payments, providing resources for children being placed in care, identifying, and providing support to foster carers including ongoing annual training, referrals to support services, and conducting annual reviews of carers to assess what's working well, identified areas of support, and action plans.
- Engaging and forming relationships with the Inggarda, Baiyunga, Thalanji, Malgana and Thudgari peoples in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Working with Foster Carers to recruit, improve child safety and care.
- Investigate and assess allegations of harm to children by carers
- Assessing family family carers under 792b of the Act, to determine suitability including conducting identification checks, criminal history checks, interviewing applicants against policy guidelines, working with children checks, interviewing and assessing other household members for safety, making a recommendation to the District Director and Team Leader on the outcome of my assessment to approve or not to approve suitability.
- Consulting and liaising with Team Leader, Aboriginal Practice Leaders, Senior Practice Development Officers, and District Director.
Child Safety Officer - Investigation & Assessment
Department Of Communities QLD
06.2012 - 10.2015
- Under the Child Protection Act, 1999, delivering statutory child protection services in accordance with departmental policies and procedures, and contemporary best practice standards.
- Regular travel via fly in and fly out, and drive in and drive out to remote indigenous communities including Doomadgee and Morning Island. Engaging and forming relationships with the Kalkadoon, Gangalidda, Waanyi, and Lardil peoples in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Delivering high quality, culturally appropriate child protection services including intervention, case management to children, young people and families.
- Participating productively as a team member providing guidance and supervision to new CSO's.
- Developing and maintaining professional relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, including children, young people, and families.
- Fostering a culture and philosophy of front-line service delivery based on collaboration, cooperation, commitment to excellence and professional ethics.
- Providing verbal advice and preparing structured written reports on case work matters to assist decision making by courts and other cross agency collaboration forums.
- Application and affidavit writing, including appearing in the children court and the court of the Tribunal on behalf of the department to make orders.
- Maintaining case records in accordance with departmental case management requirements.
- Actively participating in training and professional development activities to maintain and develop relevant capabilities.
Senior Remote Housing Officer & Team Leader
Department Of Housing QLD
11.2012 - 06.2014
- Deliver culturally appropriate Housing Services under the Housing Act, 2003, to remote communities including Doomadgee and Mornington Island peoples. Engaging and forming relationships with the Kalkadoon, Gangalidda, Waanyi, and Lardil peoples in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Develop an awareness and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols, practices and beliefs, to develop quality relationships and provide quality outcomes for indigenous clients.
- Managing and supervising a team of (4) Housing Officers and Senior Housing Officers working in remote indigenous communities.
- Resolved customer complaints in professional and timely manner.
- Provide Team Leadership by modelling and fostering professionalism, accountability, and ethical behaviour. Capitalising on opportunity to coach and mentor others
- Developed and maintained positive relationships with customers to build rapport and trust.
- Acquire, maintain, and apply knowledge of relevant government processes and legislation to ensure quality outcomes for clients.
- Met with customers to discuss service needs and offer available solutions.
- Effectively apply human resource for the team that includes Performance, Development Training and Review discussions.
- Met with customers to discuss service needs and develop effective and practical solutions.
- Establish and maintain cooperative working arrangements within the team, area office, other areas of service and department, with tenants, and with government and non-government service providers.
- Analyzed service reports to identify areas of improvement.
- Established team priorities, maintained schedules and monitored performance.
Child Safety Officer - Generic
Department Of Communities
12.2010 - 11.2012
- Under the Child Protection Act, 1999, delivering statutory child protection services in accordance with departmental policies and procedures, and contemporary best practice standards.
- Regular travel to remote indigenous communities including Wujal Wujal and Cairns via fly in and fly out, and drive in and drive out. Engaging and forming relationships with Kuku Yalanji people of Wujal Wujal in a culturally appropriate and respectful and responsive way.
- Delivering high quality, culturally appropriate child protection services including intervention, case management to children, young people and families.
- Participating productively as a team member providing guidance and supervision to new CSO's.
- Developing and maintaining professional relationships with colleagues and stakeholders, including children, young people, and families.
- Fostering a culture and philosophy of front-line service delivery based on collaboration, cooperation, commitment to excellence and professional ethics.
- Providing verbal advice and preparing structured written reports on case work matters to assist decision making by courts and other cross agency collaboration forums.
- Application and affidavit writing, including appearing in the children court and the court of the Tribunal on behalf of the department to make orders.
- Maintaining case records in accordance with departmental case management requirements.
- Actively participating in training and professional development activities to maintain and develop relevant capabilities.
Education
Bachelor of Counselling - Counselling
Edith Cowan University
Perth 03.2027
Bachelor of Arts - Social Sciences Majoring in Social Policy
Massey University New Zealand
Albany, New Zealand 04.2010
Skills
- Self-Directed
- Self-Motivated
- Friendly, Positive Attitude
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Calm Under Pressure
- Dependable and Responsible
- MS Office
- ASSIST, Objective, FDVIR TRIAGE, and Habitat proficient
- Confidence in applying Signs Of Safety, Strengthening Families model and the Care Team Approach
- Confidence in applying cultural awareness
- Facilitating Signs of Safety and Mapping meetings
- Mentoring Junior staff in their development, knowledge of, and application of child protection, best practice, and legislation
Certification
Valid Working with Children Card
Full Drivers License
Timeline
Senior Child Protection Worker (Casual) – YARS
Department Of Communities
11.2022 - Current
Senior Child Protection Worker - MR
Department Of Communities
11.2022 - Current
Senior Child Protection Worker - Child Safety Team
Department Of Communities
02.2021 - 07.2021
Senior Child Protection Worker - Child Safety Team
Department Of Communities
08.2018 - 07.2021
Senior Child Protection Worker - Initial Inquiries
Department Of Communities
04.2018 - 08.2018
Senior Child Protection Worker
Department Of Communities
02.2017 - 04.2018
Senior Officer Care Services - (SOCs)
Department Of Communities
10.2015 - 04.2018
Senior Remote Housing Officer & Team Leader
Department Of Housing QLD
11.2012 - 06.2014
Child Safety Officer - Investigation & Assessment
Department Of Communities QLD
06.2012 - 10.2015
Child Safety Officer - Generic
Department Of Communities
12.2010 - 11.2012
Bachelor of Counselling - Counselling
Edith Cowan University
Bachelor of Arts - Social Sciences Majoring in Social Policy
Massey University New Zealand
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