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RE: Application for Child Safety Officer Position (QLD/77777777CAP/4525)
Dear Team,
I am writing to express my strong interest in the Child Safety Officer position with the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disabilities. With over 20 years of experience in child protection, case management, and family support services, I am passionate about ensuring the safety, belonging, and well-being of vulnerable children and young people.
My extensive background in the child protection field has equipped me with the skills, knowledge, and resilience needed to excel in this challenging role. Having worked directly with children, young people, and families in crisis, I understand the complexities of the child protection process and the importance of strengths-based, culturally responsive practice.
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Relevant Experience and Qualifications:
I hold a Bachelor of Criminology from Griffith University (2000-2005), which gave me a strong foundation in understanding the systemic factors that impact vulnerable populations. This education and my hands-on experience have shaped my approach to child protection work.
As a Team Leader for the JPET Program (2005-2009), I developed strong leadership skills while supporting at-risk youth to reconnect with education, training, and housing services. This role taught me the importance of building trust with young people who have experienced trauma and disruption in their lives.
As a Case Officer at Pathways Fostering (2009-2015), my role involved comprehensive case management for children and young people in out-of-home care. I worked closely with foster carers, biological families, and other stakeholders to ensure stability and positive outcomes for children. This experience developed my assessment, intervention planning, and collaborative practice skills.
Since 2015, I have worked at Queen Mary Hospital as a Case Officer, managing complex cases involving children with medical needs. This has enhanced my ability to work within multi-disciplinary teams and advocate effectively for children with diverse needs.
Concurrently, my role as a Fostering Case Worker for Child Heart ACT has deepened my understanding of the foster care system and the importance of maintaining family connections wherever possible.
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Examples of Alignment with Key Responsibilities:
As a Case Manager, I worked with a 15-year-old male who had been referred to me by Youth Justice following multiple car theft offences. His father had recently passed away, leaving him emotionally distressed and disengaged from school and support systems. During our initial conversations, it became clear that he had a deep passion for cars and mechanics but lacked positive role models or opportunities to channel his interests productively.
Recognising the importance of addressing both his emotional and practical needs, I arranged for counselling services to provide grief support and coping strategies. Simultaneously, I coordinated a work experience placement with a local mechanic, allowing him to engage in a structured environment that nurtured his interest in cars. This hands-on experience provided positive reinforcement, encouraging him to focus on a productive future rather than continuing in criminal activity.
As a result of these targeted interventions, he successfully secured a full-time apprenticeship in automotive mechanics, providing him with financial independence, routine, and long-term career prospects. More significantly, he committed to no further offences, demonstrating a complete turnaround in behaviour. This case reinforced the value of aligning a young person’s passions with structured support and career pathways to prevent recidivism.
While working as a Fostering Case Manager, I conducted a routine home visit and identified a significant child safety concern. A foster carer was housing nine children in a three-bedroom home, leading to severe overcrowding and unsafe living conditions. Most concerning was the placement of five-year-old girls sharing a bedroom with 16-year-old boys, raising serious child protection and privacy issues.
I immediately assessed the situation, engaged with the foster carer, and reviewed case files and placement suitability standards. After determining that alternative placements were necessary, I worked closely with child protection services and placement teams to identify appropriate accommodations for several children. Through strategic coordination, I was able to relocate children to homes that provided safer, more suitable environments, ultimately reducing the number of children in the foster home to three, ensuring adequate space, supervision, and care.
This intervention not only safeguarded the wellbeing of the children but also ensured that the foster carer was operating within ethical and regulatory guidelines. By acting promptly and advocating for sustainable placement solutions, I was able to prevent potential risks and ensure that each child had access to proper care, privacy, and stability.
While managing a foster care case, I discovered that an adult male was residing in a foster home without being registered on official documentation. This posed a potential risk to child safety and legal compliance, as all household members must undergo a criminal history check and obtain a Blue Card to reside with foster children.
Understanding the sensitivity of the situation, I engaged the foster carer in an open discussion, explaining the legal requirements and potential risks of having an unvetted adult living in the home. I provided guidance on the process and worked with the carer to ensure full compliance without disrupting the children’s placement. The resident adult willingly completed the necessary paperwork, undergoing criminal history checks and obtaining a Blue Card, ensuring the continued suitability of the placement.
By handling the matter with professionalism and transparency, I was able to maintain the stability of the foster placement while ensuring the safety and legal compliance of the household. This proactive intervention reinforced the importance of continuous case monitoring and open communication with carers to prevent potential risks before they escalate.
While working in youth support services, I encountered a 16-year-old with a disability who was homeless and couch-surfing in unsafe environments. She had no permanent residence, was at risk of exploitation and harm, and was struggling to access essential support services.
Recognising the urgency of her situation, I quickly coordinated with residential youth shelters, securing a temporary place for her to stay in a safe, supportive environment. While stabilising her immediate housing situation, I worked closely with transitional housing services to find long-term accommodation that provided disability-friendly facilities and access to necessary support systems.
Through my intervention, she successfully transitioned into a stable housing arrangement, giving her security, independence, and access to essential services. This case reinforced the importance of proactive advocacy, resource coordination, and persistence in ensuring at-risk youth receive the support they need to rebuild their lives.
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Why I Am the Right Candidate:
The Child Safety Officer role aligns perfectly with my professional experience, personal values, and career aspirations. I am drawn to the Queensland Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disabilities because of its commitment to ensuring all children and young people are safe, belong to their families and communities, and have their wellbeing needs met.
I bring a unique combination of experience across youth work, foster care, and hospital-based case management. This diverse background has given me insight into the various systems that impact children's lives and has equipped me to work effectively within complex service networks.
I am ready to bring my experience, skills, and dedication to your team and contribute to the important work of protecting Queensland's most vulnerable children. I am prepared for the emotional demands of this role and have developed strong self-care practices to ensure my sustainability in this challenging field.
Thank you for considering my application. I welcome the opportunity to discuss how my experience and approach align with the needs of your department and the children and families you serve.
Yours sincerely,
Claude Jones
Need assistance with your next application? View specials here: Professional Selection Criteria Writing Service | Nicole Coggan
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