POSITION DESCRIPTION Position title: Team Leader Ozanam Community Centre Location: Reporting to: Ozanam Community Centre, 268 Abbotsford Street, North Melbourne Inner Melbourne Community Hub Manager Ozanam Community Centre VincentCare Victoria was established by the St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria in 2003 to provide a range of professional accommodation and support services to people that are facing disadvantage and those that are ageing throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria,. VincentCare Victoria works within the Christian Mission of the St Vincent de Paul Society having been charged with providing an extensive range of structured social services often in partnership with government and like organisations. VincentCare Victoria s primary focus is to o provide quality services for the homeless, the aged, people with a disability, and men and women struggling with complex needs including substance abuse and mental health needs; and o to advocate for vulnerable and disadvantaged people, respect their dignity and rights and understand their needs so as to provide them with support and encouragement and enable greater independence In early 2012, VincentCare s Board approved a new strategic direction and service delivery model for VincentCare Victoria. This new organising model ensures that we fulfil our mission to provide a range of tailored, adaptable, flexible and quality support services across the service continuum for the most socially disadvantaged adults and older people in our community. This will be achieved by placing those experiencing homelessness at the centre of all our operations. Hubs will be the face of VincentCare with each hub comprising a different mix of accommodation and services driven by the needs of the catchment population: Seniors Living Hub comprises seven residential aged-care facilities across inner and metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria, providing a total of 350 beds and services for the aged Glenroy Community Hub comprises: VincentCare Community Housing Services: a large housing gateway and support hub HomeConnect: VCV, in partnership with other service providers operates an early intervention/homelessness prevention project for people who have experienced, or are at risk of, homelessness Family violence services: two women s refuge services operate in Melbourne and rural Victoria Access Point Services: serves as the initial point of contact for people seeking housing and homelessness services in the Hume/Moreland area of Melbourne. Inner Melbourne Hub comprises: Ozanam House: a supported crisis accommodation service for homeless men Homeless drug dependency program: intensive drug and alcohol case management support to residents referred from Ozanam House Ozanam Community Centre: provides a range of support, health, housing and recreational opportunities for homeless people, or those at risk of homelessness Quin House: an abstinence based residential service supporting men with substance abuse issues through the delivery of a range of therapeutic and support programs Life after dependency program: assists clients once they leave Quin House to maintain a stable housing and substance free lifestyle by addressing a range of psycho-social needs including education, employment and housing Adult support services: intensive case management support through adult and youth outreach services and youth support programs Page 1 of 5 Aug 2012
Social Enterprises Hub: comprising Ozanam Enterprises, an Australian Disability Enterprise providing employment to over 80 people through a social firm model. Ozanam Enterprises provides a range of supported employment and training opportunities to people with disabilities or facing other forms of disadvantage. ROLE SCOPE AND PURPOSE The Team Leader is a highly valued member of the team and has a diverse and challenging role. The position provides leadership on a day to day basis, is highly involved in the operations of the programs and supports the manager in the coordination of these programs as a whole. Responsibilities include accountabilities to funding bodies, providing supervision and line management to a number of staff, networking and contributing to the overall functioning of Ozanam Community Centre, Inner Melbourne Hub and VincentCare. OCC is based in North Melbourne and is a state wide service that provides support to homeless and marginalised men and women. Working with a strong team approach it strives to provide a high level of professional, best practice, innovative, respectful, mindful and flexible service delivery. OCC aims to provide a consistent, safe and comfortable environment for all. For some of the most marginalised and isolated clients who are unable to access traditional treatment services OCC provides basic needs and community on an ongoing basis. For others OCC facilitates engagement with a wide range of services aiming to generate stable and sustainable living, autonomy, well-being and community connectedness. OCC is open for general Drop-in Support Monday to Friday 9:00am until 2:30pm. From 2:30pm until 5:00pm it is open for prearranged programs/activities and by appointment only. Although it is a relatively small site we offer breakfast and lunch, showers/laundry facilities, general information and referral, an IA&P worker, an AOD counsellor, a Client Volunteer Program, Community Aged Care Packages, Women s Early Intervention Program, Adult Outreach Case Management, generalist support as well as planned activity groups. In conjunction with allied health services we also provide, on site, doctors, dentists, RDNS (nursing) and optometry. Through government concurrent funding and sector partnerships there are approximately 20 permanent and visiting services available to clients at OCC. ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES Key Result Area Core specifics Key Accountabilities KEY DUTIES Recruit, select and induct staff Provide line management, staff supervision and conduct annual appraisals, be able to implement performance management where necessary Coordinate professional development for staff Role model, develop and maintain effective working relationships with clients to support change and independence through the non-invasive, assertive and appropriate engagement processes Role model and provide active engagement and rapport building strategies with clients in order to support individuals to access and utilise service facilities Uphold a rights based approach for clients including acting as a mediator and advocate on behalf of clients with other services, professionals and agencies Promote choice, well-being and the health and safety of all clients, staff and visitors of OCC This includes monitoring all programs, the ability to intervene in critical incidents, manage challenging behaviours and act upon immediate risk of danger to self and others Interact in ways that respect the equality, diversity, rights and responsibilities of individuals Page 2 of 5 Aug 2012
Oversee and supervise general daily operations of the centre Team Work Work collaboratively within the leadership team to support staff in the provision of best practices for clients Work collaboratively within the leadership team to support, train, supervise and develop the staff team regarding boundaries, self care, resilience, professional development and morale. Work in conjunction with other VincentCare Staff and Team Leaders Work collaboratively, supportively and professionally within the team Contribute to the general functioning of OCC including team building, administration, special events Attend, contribute to and facilitate staff meetings, network forums and community programs Mentor and orientate other team members and/or visiting services as necessary Professional Supervision and Development Actively engage with and make use of line management support and processes including regular appraisal, training, professional development and supervision opportunities Seek to improve own performance, contribution, knowledge and skills Keep informed of developments in services, legislation and practice relevant to the client group Provide accurate and relevant information ensuring transparent communication with the team and line management Reporting Systems Maintain transparent communication throughout the team and within the framework of line management reporting requirements including providing timely updates as issues arise, providing accurate and relevant information, internal documents and reports as required Ensure the collection and provision of all relevant internal and external data within mandated timeframes and according to funding body stipulations Ensure the team and management are made immediately aware of any serious incidents and complete relevant documentation according to policy and procedure Collaboration, Networking and Sector Profile Maintain effective working relationships with other key stakeholders within Vincent Care and the broader sector Attend relevant organizational and/or sector networks and forums Identify, liaise and actively promote OCC within VincentCare and other community services for the development and maintenance of on-going partnerships, information sharing (within legislation) and the establishment of links for incoming and outgoing referrals Positively represent OCC within the organisation, sector and broader community Page 3 of 5 Aug 2012
Compliance (policy/ procedure/ legislation/ quality accreditation standards/risk management) Ensure all work undertaken within areas of accountability complies with VincentCare values, policies, procedures, codes of conduct and legislative/regulatory requirements and recognised accreditation standards. Ensure awareness of the policy, legislative and other relevant compliance obligations from day one of a working relationship with VincentCare. Undertake appropriate training to support understanding of, and compliance with, key VCV policies including work health and safety, equal opportunities, privacy, procurement etc., to meet the required compliance obligations. Ensure working within appropriate risk management and OH&S procedures and operating practices are embedded within VincentCare s services and accommodation provision to safeguard employee, resident and visitor health, safety and well-being. Participate in any periodic reviews of work practices/operating arrangements within areas of accountability to ensure potential risks/hazards/ breaches are identified and appropriately managed to meet compliance requirements. Operate in accordance with VincentCare s schedule of delegated authorities. KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Qualifications Degree in Social Work, or its equivalent, and experience in this field Experience - Essential Demonstrated leadership experience including the ability to foster a healthy workplace culture, motivate staff, collaborate, direct, provide clinical and line management supervision, facilitate professional development and performance management. Demonstrated knowledge of the needs and contributing factors for people who are experiencing homelessness and marginalisation. Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain constructive, empathetic, supportive and respectful working relationships with all stakeholders, specifically staff and clients, and maintain firm professional boundaries. Demonstrated knowledge and implementation of comprehensive case management and social work skills, and a commitment to working within the principles of a right based approach, social justice, client centred and community development to facilitate positive outcomes for clients Demonstrated and continued self care, reflective practice, resilience, efficiency and motivation in a complex and challenging work environment Demonstrated ability to work independently when required as well as to collaborate and foster positive morale within a multi-faceted team Demonstrated ability to actively identify, liaise and promote a service within its organisation and to other relevant organisations, sectors and the broader community Demonstrated written and verbal communication skills, computer literacy, time management, organisational and administration skills including data collection, reporting, co-ordination and evaluation of a program, working within an agreed budget, reporting systems and adherence to funding body stipulations Skills and Personal Attributes Knowledge of local services and geography Knowledge of therapeutic frameworks such as Motivational Interviewing, Single Session work, Solution Focused Therapy and Narrative Therapy Experience in contributing to service development, change management, CQI and accreditation Page 4 of 5 Aug 2012
processes and writing funding submissions. Mandatory requirements All appointments within VincentCare Victoria are subject to satisfactory completion of a police check and character/performance reference checks. Police checks will be undertaken for the selected candidate prior to any job offer being confirmed. Police checks are also undertaken on a periodic basis during the period of employment. Sign off Employee Manager Human Resources Page 5 of 5 Aug 2012