Carer Recruitment Officer – Foster and Kinship Care

CQID is experiencing organisational growth across all services and seeking suitable candidates for a range of positions.

CQID is one of the largest employers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the Central Queensland region. Offering a broad range of service areas, with roles that serve our community across Rockhampton, Bundaberg, Emerald, Gladstone, Hervey Bay, Longreach, Maryborough and Woorabinda.

A new organisational structure, designated HR team and the implementation of a new Workforce Strategy. Striving to support employees on their career journey is a priority and contributes us to being an Employer of Choice.

Purpose of the Position

The Carer Recruitment Assessor plays a key role in recruiting, assessing, and supporting prospective carers as part of the organisation’s Community Connections and Engagement service. The role ensures that recruitment and assessment processes are undertaken in accordance with Organisational standards, legislative requirements, and best practice, including trauma-informed and culturally safe approaches.

The position contributes to strengthening care for children and young people, including those in Out of Home Care, by supporting the development of safe, stable and nurturing carer households. This includes actively supporting carer pathways that recognise cultural identity, community belonging and family connections, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

The role supports community connections and engagement by responding to enquiries from prospective carers, guiding individuals and families through the early stages of their carer pathways, and maintaining supportive engagement throughout the assessment process.

The incumbent, conducts initial phone interviews and provides regular updates to Managers regarding recruitment activity, community engagement and emerging carer pathways.

This role also supports carers to complete required training and may deliver training modules for carer applicants and approved carers. Through this work, the position contributes to supporting strong care for children, ensuring carers are prepared to provide culturally responsive, trauma-informed and relationship-based care.

Responsibilities and Duties

• Complete an agreed number of carer assessments annually in line with the local carer recruitment plan, contributing to strengthening care for children and young people through the development of capable and supported careers
• Conduct comprehensive home visits, interviews and meetings with carer applicants, family members and referees to complete quality assessments that support safe and sustainable carer pathways
• Recruit foster carers from the general community in line with approved recruitment strategies, strengthening community connections and engagement through targeted campaigns, information sessions and outreach activities
• Support culturally responsive recruitment approaches to encourage carers from diverse cultural backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, to participate in carer pathways
• Maintain respectful engagement with prospective carers throughout the assessment process to support informed decision making and readiness to provide strong care for children and young people
• Identify training needs, safety concerns or placement considerations throughout the assessment process and provide recommendations to the care team to support safe, culturally responsive and trauma-informed care
• Support prospective carers to reflect critically on how the caring role may impact their lives, families and relationships, including their ability to support children’s cultural identity, connection to family and community
• Promote understanding of cultural safety, cultural identity and the importance of maintaining connections to culture, Country, family and community, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
• Contribute to the ongoing review of assessment tools to ensure they support positive outcomes for children, align with the CARE model, and meet the expectations of relevant government agencies and oversight bodies
• Onboard and train new staff members in the Carer Recruitment and Support System, supporting consistent practice

that reflects culturally safe engagement and strong carer pathway development

Key Performance Indicators

• Demonstrate progression of prospective carers through the recruitment and assessment pathway in line with the recruitment plan and/or reporting requirements
• Contribute to increased conversion from enquiry to application and through to approval
• Support reduced attrition across the carer pathway through consistent engagement and support
• Produce high-quality assessments that demonstrate balanced analysis, clear recommendations, and alignment with organisational and legislative requirements
• Evidence sound risk assessment and decision-making that supports safe, stable, and suitable care environments
• Maintain assessment documentation that meets audit and review standards
• Demonstrate that carers are appropriately prepared, informed, and supported to undertake the caring role
• Contribute to improved carer readiness through effective engagement, education, and reflective discussions during the assessment process
• Identify and support development needs that strengthen carer capacity and sustainability
• Demonstrate culturally safe practice and ensure cultural identity, connection, and belonging are reflected in assessment outcomes
• Support recruitment pathways that increase participation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander carers
• Ensure alignment with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP)
• Contribute to effective collaboration with internal teams and external stakeholders to support recruitment and placement outcomes
• Provide timely and accurate updates to leadership on recruitment activity and emerging carer pathways
• Support a consistent, team-based approach to recruitment and assessment practice in partnership and from the guidance from the Senior Practitioner – Assessment & Approval
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date data to reflect recruitment activity, assessment progress, and outcomes
• Contribute to reporting requirements in line with program expectations
• Identify trends, challenges, and opportunities to strengthen recruitment and assessment processes
• Maintain practice aligned with organisational values, legislative requirements, and culturally safe frameworks
• Participate in supervision, reflective practice, and ongoing professional development
• Demonstrate accountability, professionalism, and commitment to continuous improvement

Qualifications and Experience

Essential

• Holds a current C Class Queensland Driver’s Licence
• Current Working with Children Check, ‘Blue Card’ and Child History Screening
• Holds or is willing to obtain a First Aid and CPR Certificate

Desirable

• Qualifications or knowledge related to Child Protection
• Demonstrated experience in child-focused assessments within child and family welfare or Out of Home Care, including carer assessments
• Diploma in Community Services, Child, Youth and Family Intervention, Social Work, or a related field
• Experience in casework using strengths-based, culturally safe, and trauma-informed approaches
• Awareness of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle and its application in recruitment, assessment, and placement decisions
• Ability to manage competing priorities and deliver quality outcomes within required timeframes
• Well-developed written communication skills, including report writing and assessment documentation
• Ability to identify learning and development needs for foster, kinship and other carers to support ongoing capability building across carer pathways
• Demonstrated knowledge of the CARE model of therapeutic care or similar trauma-informed therapeutic models, or the ability to rapidly acquire this knowledge

Skills and Attributes

Essential

• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander heritage – [Note: Non-Indigenous applicants will only be considered if no suitable Indigenous candidates are attracted in the first round of applicants]
• Competent in use of Microsoft Office software
• Physical ability to undertake job responsibilities
• Ability to communicate effectively; spoken and written
• Self-starter, motivated and able to self=manage work tasks
• Strong connection to and knowledge of local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community

Desirable

• Demonstrated passion for recruitment and engagement, with a commitment to driving positive change and impact by empowering families to understand and embrace opportunities within foster and kinship care, and a strong appreciation for the importance of Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations leading this work within the communities this position supports and outcomes
• Ability to empower individuals and families to engage in foster and kinship care
• Understanding of culturally led approaches and the importance of Aboriginal Community Controlled organisations in this space
• Experience facilitating training, information sessions, or recruitment activities
• Ability to contribute to continuous improvement of recruitment and assessment processes
• Commitment to ongoing learning, reflective practice, and professional development