Vicki Sclater

• Overseeing all aspects of effective service delivery of the Child Youth and Family program provided by Foundations Care across the Perth Metro and Kimberley regions in WA
• Lead and support the WA team in a positive and inclusive manner that creates and maintains a high performing culture with a pursuit of ongoing continuous improvement to assist achieve desired outcomes and goals - whilst awaiting the outcome of Government Tenders and consequent shutdown of organisation in WA.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships within the child, youth and family support network, government department/s and communities to build effective partnerships to maximise the responsiveness of the service and our business
• Ensure compliance within all legislative, contractual and other obligations (including obtaining and maintaining accreditations) through the implementation and monitoring of robust systems and management practices.
• Incident Management – lead responsibility on emergency issues and incidents and ensure these are managed within Organisational policies and Departmental requirements and timeframe
• Maintain accountability for the financial management of the program/s in line with the budget/funding available in conjunction with the National Business Operations to ensure corporate governance of the service.
• Supporting the professional growth of colleagues through mentorship and collaborative learning opportunities that fostered a positive work environment.·
• Built strong professional networks within the industry that led to increased referrals and partnership opportunities.

• Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams to create comprehensive care plans tailored to individual client needs.
• supervise staff and assist them to develop and maintain expertise, knowledge and skills in the area of child protection and out of home care to endure the best outcomes for the safety and wellbeing of children in the CEOS care.
• Conducted regular team meetings to review progress, address challenges, and celebrate successes together as a team.
• Coordinated community resources and secured referrals.
• Make timely ethical decisions, mentor staff and evaluate the progress of cases.
• Maintained an inclusive and diverse team culture, promoting respect and understanding among all members.
• Sourced and completed grants and other funding opportunities for non for profit organisations.

• Since 2013 held a variety of diverse roles within the division of Child Protection at the Department of Communities in Western Australia. This diversity has developed skills in all areas of Child Protection from Intensive Family Support, Intake and Assessment to Recruiting, Assessing and Supporting Foster Carers.
• Conducted Family Carer and other Foster Carer Assessments and Carer Reviews.
• Assisted in recruiting new foster homes by facilitating information sessions about the application process and expectations of caregivers.
• Conducted regular home visits to monitor the safety of children in foster care placements, addressing any concerns promptly.
• Providing professional case practice to ensure the best outcomes for the safety and wellbeing of children in care such as conducting risk assessments, developing case plans, conducting interviews, coordinating meetings, and providing mentoring and guidance to case workers.
• Enhanced child safety by conducting thorough assessments and investigations of alleged abuse or neglect cases.
• Provided crisis intervention services, addressing immediate safety concerns and connecting families with appropriate resources.
• Facilitated family reunification efforts by developing service plans tailored to individual needs and monitoring progress closely.
• Advocated for children''s best interests during court hearings, presenting findings from assessments and investigations clearly and professionally.
• Managed a caseload efficiently while maintaining a high level of attention to detail.
• Built solid and trusting rapport with children and families, fostering trust and communication to meet case needs.

Had several opportunities acting in the Team Leader role in the Department of Communities - Child Protection several times in the past 10 years - most recently in 2018 in Halls Creek. Wide and varied range of duties undertaken:

• Prioritize concerns about the welfare and safety of children.
• Mentor child protection workers during the investigation and assessment process and the follow on analysis that assists in evaluating information gathered.
• Liaising with other government and non-government agencies with shared goal of the safety and wellbeing of children and young people at risk.
• Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.

• Responding to concerns from the community regarding the safety and wellbeing of children
• Conducting investigations, taking intervention action, conducting assessments and interviews, facilitating Signs of Safety mappings, working alongside families, and maintaining client records and case management data.
• Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to ensure comprehensive support for children and families in need.
• Managed caseloads efficiently, prioritizing cases based on urgency and risk level.
• Maintained confidentiality at all times, adhering to strict ethical guidelines governing the handling of sensitive client information.