Position Description Position Title Position number Position Status Program Area Award/Agreement/ Classification Reports To Contact Older Persons High Rise Worker P0881(iChris) Part time, Ongoing Aged Residential and Outreach Team Community Health Centre (Stand Alone Services) Social and Community Service Employees Multi Enterprise Agreement 2013 2015, Social Worker Class 2 Year 3 Program Manager - Aged Residential and Outreach [P0559] Contact Phone Number 9362 8181 cohealth is one of Australia s largest community health organisations delivering services across Melbourne s inner, northern and western metropolitan suburbs. cohealth s mission is to strengthen community and make a difference to the lives and wellbeing of people, particularly of those who experience stigma and the risk of marginalisation. We create impact through a powerful combination of advocacy, innovation in service delivery, and partnership with consumers, communities and other stakeholders. With over 30 sites cohealth provides a range of vital local health and support services including medical, dental, allied health, mental health, and counselling, and many specialist health services. More information about cohealth is available on our website www.cohealth.org.au. Staff enjoy being part of a supportive environment with strong leadership and a collegiate and communicative approach. A not for profit organisation built on strong values, cohealth s commitment to all staff and volunteers is to ensure a positive and supportive work environment. cohealth is an equal opportunity employer that offers generous salary packaging and opportunity to undertake professional training and development opportunities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those who speak languages other than English are encouraged to apply.
Site/Program Profile The Child, Youth and Family Directorate include a range of multidisciplinary teams as well as the HARP: Complex Needs Program, Youth Support Services, Intake and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health. The Directorate provides a range of individual and group, site based and assertive outreach services across Northern and Western Melbourne. In particular, services are provided to people from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, people with insecure housing, disadvantaged young people, refugees and asylum seekers and people with chronic and complex conditions including mental health and problematic substance use. The Aged Residential and Outreach Team consist of a series of outreach programs, which work with clients with complex needs. The Team includes members of the Older Persons Highrise Support Program, Active Connections Program, Access and Support Program, SAVVI and the Housing Support for the Aged Program. The shared work of the team is to assist clients who are at risk of deteriorating health and well being due to their inability to access appropriate support. This team provides a key platform to public health by engaging and supporting marginalised people within their communities. The Older Persons High Rise (OPHR) Support program is based in high rise accommodation, within the Public Housing estates of the inner north and west, which are allocated to older people. The program aims at improving the health and wellbeing of tenants living in this specific locale. The OPHR team provides one-to-one assistance to residents as well as facilitating community development activities and groups. Position summary The OPHR program ensures that isolated and vulnerable residents in public housing estates have access to support and services. The program aims at increasing residents sense of safety, independence and security while enhancing their social and community involvement. The service provides an on site presence, low level monitoring of the whole high rise population, one to one support work and on site health and social activities. The program operates using a team approach and a rotation system to support workers. They provide residents with a sense of variety and exposure to different sets of skills. There is an expectation that this position will be rotated through at least two public housing estates and have capacity to assist, where possible, at any of the cohealth OPHR programs. Position Responsibilities Direct care work Working within a team based model of service delivery, to locate and assertively engage marginalised clients living within the Older Persons High Rise buildings;
Monitoring the health and wellbeing of vulnerable clients living in high rise accommodation, especially those who do not have case managers or support workers; Provide residents with practical assistance, information, referral, advice and advocacy as required; Identify and assess residents unmet support needs and link to appropriate care providers/services; Link clients to existing activities on site or within their local community; Develop new activities, where possible in partnership with other agencies; Assess and administer flexible care funds, in consultation with OPHR practice lead and established guidelines; Develop goal directed care plans for clients of the program when appropriate, as per AROT program guidelines; and Assist to create an environment in the high rise that contributes to safety, increases linkages to the broader local community, promotes neighbourliness and inclusion. Quality Improvement Participate in organisational Quality Improvement activities; and Assist in evaluation and planning of Aged residential and Outreach programs as required. Administrative Responsibilities Maintain and complete client files, including keeping case notes, and statistical/program records according to organisational policy and funding requirements; and Independently manage stock and maintain current ordering processes with budgetary constraints. Team & Policy Development Be an active participant in Aged Residential and Outreach team meetings, program weekly meetings and rotation quarterly meetings; Develop and deliver appropriate health strategies and information for clients; Engage in regular supervision with OPHR practice lead; and Engage in team group supervision Position Requirements (qualifications, skills, knowledge and attributes Completion of a relevant degree level qualification in Social Work, Community Development or equivalent qualification; Demonstrates integrity and reliability, and fosters open honest communication; Ability to engage and motivate people from marginalised communities; Ability to work autonomously and as part of a team; Competent IT skills and capacity to learn new software; Ability to manage a busy work load by developing efficient work systems and practices; Knowledge of the community sector;
Establishes respectful professional relationships that have clear boundaries with consumers, staff and partner organisations; Comfortable working in a satellite campus on a public housing estate; and Ability to advocate for residents needs at interagency forums. Key Selection criteria Demonstrate ability to engage respectfully and appropriately with people from culturally and socially diverse backgrounds, and from marginalised groups within the community; Experience working in the health/community sector including advanced skills in community development, care facilitation and assertive outreach; Demonstrated ability to work in a team, as well as an ability to work independently; Demonstrated competency in delivery of group programs; Knowledge of the social determinants of health and the barriers marginalised people experience in achieving health lifestyles; Excellent oral and written communication skills; Demonstrated commitment to community participation and ongoing engagement with consumers; Demonstrated information technology and computer skills; Ability to speak a relevant community language would be highly regarded; and Current License to drive in the State of Victoria. Additional Information 1. cohealth is an equal opportunity employer. 2. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those who speak languages other than English are encouraged to apply. 3. This position is based across five Public Housing Estates in the North and West of Melbourne and travel between these locations is an unavoidable component of the position. 4. Employment is subject to the satisfactory completion of a Police Record Check and where required Working with Children Check. 5. In the context of occupational health and safety all employees are required to carry out their duties in a manner that does not adversely affect their own health and safety and that of others by reporting all incidents and injuries as well as co-operating with any measures introduced in the workplace to improve OH&S. 6. Salary packaging is available to all fixed and permanent staff. Relationship to Performance Development and Review Plan This position description operates in conjunction with and forms part of the relevant individual Performance Development Review Plan. An initial performance review will take place six months following commencement of employment and then on an annual basis.
Our Principles Our work is informed by human rights based principles which include: Participation: We work to improve access to our services by creating opportunities for active and meaningful participation. Accountability: We have strong systems that are open and transparent and we actively encourage and respond to feedback. Non-discrimination and attention to vulnerable groups: We work with the most disadvantaged people to improve their health and wellbeing. Empowerment: We work alongside a strong and well-connected community that is supported to have a voice. Linking practice to human rights standards: Our work promotes and protects the rights of staff, consumers and the wider community. We require all employees to perform in a way that is in line with these principles. Document Review Details Version Number: 1 Date Reviewed: January 2017 Date to be reviewed: January 2018 I have read, understood and accept the above position description Name Signature Senior Manager Name Greg Bourke Date / / Senior Manager Signature Date 09/ 01/ 2017