NSW Department of Communities and Justice Employee Reviews

They did show favourites found being older worker not so good experience,Also favoured young and indegnious workers,Feed back was not very forthcomind

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DCJ are finding it hard to retain the caseworkers they have

Child Protection Caseworker (Current Employee) - New South Wales - 23 August 2023

I have worked with the Department for 6 years and worked in different districts in many various different roles relating to child protection, as well as acting in as manager at different times. My experience prior to transferring to the Hunter, was amazing with fantastic leaders and great support for caseworkers. Unfortunately it was not the case in the Hunter, the district is overwhelmed with new caseworkers - who are joining and overwhelmed with their caseloads with little support entering a fast paced crisis driven environment so in saying that I would insist you should have some experience in the field or you will find yourself lost and possibly leaving. Pays aren’t that enticing nor are there any benefits and don’t ask for over time because it is unlikely it would be approved. Management is poor and there is a mass of experienced caseworkers leaving due to lack of support from their managers and being treated poorly. I’m saying that there are some pros in the potential colleagues who you can debrief too and who you can bounce off for support. I would definitely have to say that caseworkers are underpaid for the workload and unreasonable expectations on time to complete tasks (usually juggling a thousand things at once) which I would be okay with if we were paid for our time. Expect to work longer hours then the 9-5 pm general business times. I’m If your looking at finding a career with DCJ, I would recommend entering into any other district as I have had an amazing experience working at different locations - Newcastle and Hunter valley offices are really not something -

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Not for Everyone

Sheriff Officer (Former Employee) - Sydney NSW - 28 July 2023

This Job is a good job but upper management not professional. NO support at all. The job is well under paid. Very toxic culture from upper management even the Top leaders.

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Valuable experience but draining and comes at a cost

Case Worker (Former Employee) - Northern Rivers NSW - 5 June 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Trying to help families recover from traumaWhat is the most stressful part about working at the company?Working within a government system that is essentially broken therefore how can its cohort be helpedWhat is the work environment and culture like at the company?Tense but most staff can remain aloft What is a typical day like for you at the company?Read reports and follow through with the many tasks required for casework including home visits.

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A job making living by removing children from their home

Assisting clients (Former Employee) - Inner West NSW - 12 April 2023

you will find this job challenges your integrity, as this job is removing the children from their home. while with NDIS, it can provide 24/7, no children should be removed from their home anymore, yet this life destroying practice is still going on. unless you are so desperate for a job, otherwise, do not apply.

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NSW Department of Communities and Justice insights

Based on 3 survey responses

What people like

Sense of belonging
Energising work tasks
Ability to learn new things

Areas for improvement

Fair pay for job
General feeling of work happiness
Support from manager

Challenging.

Manager Casework Moree (Former Employee) - Moree Inverell Lismore and Clarence Valley - 23 February 2023

Have to work within the guidelines and in line with policy even if you dont agree with it. Not much room for individualism but it is necessary to have that structure to be able to support staff.

Pros

Collegiate, flexible work hours with approval, good training.

Cons

Can be a bit too competitive. Can get burnt out.

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Work overload less pay

Client Service Officer (Former Employee) - Parramatta NSW - 14 January 2023

Work culture is to overwhelm the staff.No proper delegation of work.No appreciation. No matter how much you do will always be less.Proper training with effective measures are needed.You are expected to do everything on your own asking for help.Too stressful if you genuinely want to help but are stranded by policies.

Pros

Meeting new people

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Tough gig with bad culture

Child Protection Caseworker (Former Employee) - Newcastle NSW - 26 October 2022

It’s a tough gig and no chance to make real change especially with toxic culture from the top down. The wrong people get promoted, your expected to work ridiculous hours and the culture of bullying is the worst I’ve ever experienced

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Stressful place to work

Customer Service Officer (Former Employee) - Gosford Central Coast NSW - 29 September 2022

Don't work here. Management aren't helpful neither are HR. HR make promises and don't deliver. Huge work load due to high staff turnover you can never catch up. Very clicky. Long term serving staff need to leave they are very jaded

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Typical government culture

Coordinator (Current Employee) - Sydney NSW - 16 September 2022

Supportive workplace, flexible working is fairly well supported. My managers have been very understanding whenever I had to take time off work due to sick kids or personal reasons. But it’s a typical government culture - bureaucratic, sometimes you do work for the sake of being busy rather than to actually add value, approaches to tasks sometimes don’t make sense, quality of management is hit & miss, and it’s pretty much impossible to fire unproductive or belligerent staff. Not great for skills development (in some ways it can feel like you’re going backwards - it is not a progressive organisation) but good if you want job stability and the flexibility to raise a family.

Pros

Supportive of family commitments, job security (hard to get fired)

Cons

Archaic and inefficient work methods, bureaucratic culture, micromanagement by managers/directors who seem to have low expectations of staff, sometimes working alongside unprofessional colleagues

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High work volume and top heavy management

Social Worker (Former Employee) - Sydney NSW - 24 August 2022

Challenging workplace. High level and volume of work. High expectations with heavy workloads but very little management support and inadequate recourses and tools to work with.Intranet system a complete failure. Does not suit the work in terms of recording. Extremely difficult to navigate. Does not make practical sense. Lots of doubling up with the CS system and basically it is an in effective system for casework. Biggest issue in DCJ is the extremely poor management structure. Frequent micro management style. No support. Inadequate resources. Poor Human Resources

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Great Supportive Workplace with Positive Workplace Culture & Team

Housing Assistant (Contract, Full-Time) (Former Employee) - Liverpool NSW - 2 August 2022

Victims Services is a great place to work at. - A great positive workplace culture, a great team & supportive management. Great work & life balance, only thing is no job security long-term is offered.

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Wouldn’t recommend

Case Worker (Former Employee) - Sydney NSW - 23 June 2022

If you’re after work life balance and a positive environment look elsewhere. A lot of long standing staff that drive bad culture and it turns good workers away

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better places to work.

Correctional Officer (Former Employee) - Sydney NSW - 2 May 2022

The hardest part is not the inmates its the officers. Anyone that works there for more than 10 years are mad and have massive mental issues. The officers all turn on each other to get promoted, Terrible team environment.

Pros

full time employment

Cons

work with horrible people who have no friends and all mix together

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Great variety of work and lovely culture

Manager (Current Employee) - Sydney NSW - 1 May 2022

The Department of Communities and Justice has a positive culture where team members constantly help each other out and support each other. The variety of work is challenging and stimulating. There is never a dull moment.

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Learning opportunities for the determined, nepotism rampant

Client Service Officer (Current Employee) - Sydney NSW - 20 April 2022

Lots of opportunities if you would like to go up against the children and relatives of Judicial Officers and Managers. The Department uses a lot of outdated technology that often fails. They have only recently moved to Windows 10. IT problems can go unresolved indefinitely unless you chase them down constantly, which isn’t always possible as it is a fast paced work environment.

Pros

Learning opportunities, fast paced environment, different tasks every day and lots of variety in roles.

Cons

Nepotism, outdated technology

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Great place to work

Manager (Former Employee) - Parramatta NSW - 19 April 2022

The New South Wales Department of Communities and Justice is a great place to work. There are lots of opportunities to learn and grow within the government while providing service to others.

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Typical Government Department

Prison Officer (Former Employee) - Sydney NSW - 28 March 2022

Good place to work. Management leaves a bit to be desired. Promotions are often not based on merit. Too many temp contracts and not enough ongoing/permanent recruitment these days.

Pros

Job Security

Cons

Management

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Slow-paced work environment

Manager (Former Employee) - Parramatta NSW - 28 February 2022

The work environment is slow pace, some people are capable but training and development are not really supported. Good pay for the role and responsibilities you do. Good work life balance, can be frustrating working with the people are most are laid back.

Pros

Good pay, work life balance

Cons

Slow pace can be frustrating

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DCJ is a good place to work, can be full of red tape but people are committed

Manager (Current Employee) - Ashfield NSW - 16 February 2022

Good place to work and people are great. Standard slow government processes. Managers and executives are supportive but over worked. Progression can be hard.7

Pros

Flexible working

Cons

Red tape

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Only care about stats and not vulnerable people we serve.

Client Service Officer (Former Employee) - South West Sydney NSW - 9 January 2022

- Only care about statistics. There is no heart, especially when serving vulnerable members of the community.- great work/life balance and great pay.- Stressful and can be heart breaking.- No management support.