Job Title: Manager, Centre for Safety and Wellbeing
ESSENTIAL
High level skills and knowledge in family and domestic violence, homelessness, and the provision of support and services to women and children in crisis
I ensure that services provided to individuals (or relevant client groups) are aligned with current standards such as the Disability Service Standards, National Standards for Mental Health Services, licensing standards for Psychiatric Hostels under the Department of Health and Office of the Chief Psychiatrist. It is important to me to keep up with current trends, for example the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme on service delivery and programs such as Partners in Recovery. In addition I ensure that all staff are kept up-to-date with relevant legislation as well as government guidelines and strategies on the direction of the provision of services. Possessing expertise in the field, I carry out the assessment of client needs, immediate needs as well as the longer term support requirements, crisis intervention and developing person-centered services that address immediate needs and identify sustainable longer term support.
Over the past 5 years I have accumulated considerable knowledge and skills with the homeless and the provisioning of support for women and children both in care and not in care. One example is where an elderly lady with some established mental health issues was referred to me in connection with receiving verbal and financial abuse from her family. I quickly got the client hospitalised and checked for any physical abuse, and referred her to Mental Health to establish the need for a high level of care. In addition, I obtained specialised legal services to check her financial status, as a result her financial affairs were placed through the Public Trust and assessments were made to obtain support in other areas for daily needs and decision making. Her condition stabilised as a result and she now receives the care she requires.
Demonstrated experience in managing staff and building strong staff teams
At St Vincentcare I was initially employed as an Accommodation Support Officer (ASO) and was then promoted to the role of ASO supervisor. At St Vincentcare accommodation I ensured that the team provided support for people with a life experience of severe and persistent mental illness. This includes case management, an implementation program for recovery of individuals and coordinating the house domestic and office duties. In addition, I worked in collaboration with the Care Manager on various issues, various stakeholders and service providers such as Hospitals, Health Care Professionals and other care coordinators. As ASO supervisor, I was responsible for the direct supervision and mentoring of other ASOs, Care Coordinators in conjunction with the Care Manager, House Coordinators as well as domestic and maintenance staff.
I also acted in the role of Care Manager during times when the Care Manager was on leave. Having participated in leadership teams at church and as a Board member for community based agencies, I have gained experience in leadership and effective staff management. During my tenure as the chairperson of Crosslinks I gained experience in managing senior staff and leadership. This demonstrates my successful experience in leading and developing teams.
Knowledge of the domestic violence sector and/or social services system
As a family and domestic violence Outreach Worker, I have gained experience in assessment using the
“Common Screening Tool”, as well as conducting intake and other needs assessments with clients. At St Vincentcare, I was responsible for responding to enquiries regarding applications, assessing applicants and conducting “intake interviews” for entry across three programs being: high support residential (hostel level); medium/low support (shared housing) and independent tenancy. This includes support for children escaping domestic violence. Prior to working with St Vincentcare, I was employed at CarersWA as Advisory and Representation Coordinator; a major duty of this role was assessing carers’ suitability for placement on various reference groups and committees as carer representatives.
My employment history also includes advocacy in a Community Legal Centre. This role focused on advocating for people with disabilities and required me to utilise advanced assessment skills to identify issues and assess the client’s eligibility for other services, both within the agency and with external services and support. While working as an Inclusion Support Facilitator, on a daily basis I interviewed family members, child care providers, therapists and other services to ensure that an appropriate inclusion plan was formulated for the child and implemented by the child care service. In all of the above roles I was additionally responsible for assessing clients for eligibility for services and referrals were made to other agencies as appropriate for follow up. Examples include: referrals for ACAT assessments; referral to DSC to access therapy services respite or other funding; referrals to community housing providers and other agencies.
Demonstrated case management skills, including experience in using wellness/outcomes based models of working with clients
I have a sound understanding of strength-based Family Support Programs, and extensive experience in providing support programs using wellness or outcome-based models. In my current role as Outreach Worker at Stairck Inc, I am involved in the development and implementation of a new strength-based case management model for our clients. The model takes a family-focused approach, as well as providing for cultural sensitivity and trauma informed practice in service delivery where the client drives the agenda, and services are provided with due care and consideration to their recent lived experience of trauma.
An individualised support plan is developed, tailored to family needs and builds on their strengths. When employed at St Vincentcare my role was supporting people with enduring mental illness to develop and maintain wellness using a person-centered recovery approach. The model used at St Vincentcare included the formulation of individual recovery plans, using the ten point Recovery Star as a tool to develop support plans collaboratively with each individual.
In my role of Disability Advocate at MIDLAS, and in other roles throughout the disability and mental health services sector, I have mostly worked in environments which foster the principles of values based practice, upholding and respecting the rights of the client, to participate in all levels of decision making regarding provision of services. I have demonstrated experience in building collaborative working relationships with external agencies and other stakeholders, including facilitating the coordination of service responses within and across metropolitan regions.
Demonstrated experience in contributing to the strategic directions of a service
I have an excellent understanding of the National Mental Health Strategy and the Key Principles promoted such as optimising quality of life and consumer and carer involvement in service delivery that caters for the individual’s needs. Service provision should be recovery-focused, tailored to meet individual needs and delivered in the least restrictive way, ensuring that the rights and choices of the consumer are respected. I have excellent skills in relation to stakeholder management, developing and maintaining positive relationships with key stakeholders. I have in the past been required to submit reports to stakeholders, including funding bodies as well as attending forums, meetings and functions. It has been essential that I manage these key relationships in an open, positive and transparent manner.
Examples: As Disability Advocate I was required to submit quarterly reports to FaCHSIA and attend regular meetings and forums hosted by them. Within my role at CarersWA, I was required to host meetings with agencies providing services to carers. My role included visiting community-based organisations on invitation and speaking to groups of staff and consumers on a range of topics relevant to carers i.e.: funding issues; care options; role of Office of the Public Advocate and Public Trustee; and preparing to care. I was the Chairperson at crosslinks for several years. This involved setting up a development for a new strategic plan for the agency regarding the transitioning from State Government to the Federal Nation Disability Insurance Scheme. The main criteria was to be able to provide the same level of care and service under the insurance scheme as was provided by the State Government despite the reduced funding available. This meant being economical and cost effective by moving clients to more individualised programs, without the loss of any care or service.
Well-developed verbal and written communication skills
I have excellent interpersonal and communication skills formulated over the years with an ability to establish rapport with a diverse range of people including clients, families, management, colleagues, community organisations, government departments and the wider community. Importantly, I am highly experienced with working with children, including those traumatised and with special needs and their associated families. In all these circumstances, I have been required to utilise my interpersonal skills effectively in consultation and negotiating with individuals and agencies to achieve appropriate outcomes for my clients. As a friendly, positive individual I pride myself on communicating effectively, through listening and treating others with respect. I have a good understanding of non-verbal cues; this assists me to determine more clearly what is conveyed. I have extensive experience in assisting a broad range of clients, and have demonstrated the ability to liaise and negotiate with a wide range of professionals during my employment. I have a strong work ethic, am compassionate, respect people regardless of creed or culture and have well-developed advocacy skills.
My written communication skills are highly developed. My roles as Accommodation Support Officer, Disability Advocacy Officer and Coordinator of Carer Representation and Advocacy, required me to write various documents, including funding applications, letters to ministers, formal letters of complaint to government departments and other material relevant to stakeholders, including responding on behalf of clients to the S.A.T., and submissions to the Mental Health Commission or funding bodies. I have also been required to prepare “pro-forma letters” for staff to use for a variety of purposes, such as transitioning residents from supported accommodation to community living, letters to carers and letters to clients, providing relevant information on changes to service provision.
My experience includes effective liaison, consultation, negotiation and communication with all levels of management, members of the legal profession, government departments and clients, both in person and by telephone, responding to queries both written and oral, done in a courteous, well informed and professional manner. Working in the disability and mental health sectors mean that I have frequently been involved in sensitive situations requiring courtesy, tact and diplomacy to achieve the best possible outcome for the client.
DESIRABLE
Relevant tertiary degree or post-secondary qualification in human services
I have both Certificates III and IV in Community Services (Disability Work), and in 2002 I also completed a Diploma in Community Services at the Disability Work at Central TAFE Mt Lawley. I also have a current Senior First Aid Certificate, National Police Clearance and previously held a Working with Children Clearance, which I am happy to renew. I have completed the Clients with Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Issues–Government of Western Australia–Drug and Alcohol Office and Mental Health Commission, Perth, HLTFA301B Apply First Aid, Senior First Aid–St. John Ambulance Australia, Belmont, Social Inclusion: Contributing to Community Connections–Inclusion, Perth, Mental Health First Aid Course–Mental Health First Aid and Fire Safety & Extinguisher Training–Wolfgang Felber, Willetton.
Experience in the development of programs and service delivery responses for people experiencing disadvantage or crisis
I have good project management skills and have participated in and or managed a variety of projects, such as developing school holiday programs for children with disabilities including, budgeting, programming, managing staff and volunteers. At CarersWA I coordinated a number of research projects along with the Policy Officer in order to identify and accurately report on systemic issues facing carers. This involved collaboration with other service providers, holding forums, leading and directing discussion groups, collating information, generating reports and making recommendations for change based on information provided. I also developed fact sheets on specific topics for carers.
I developed a successful program specifically to deal with the transitioning of clients from State Government funded to Federal Government funding under the National Disability Insurance Scheme. I am experienced in creating and sustaining partnerships and working in collaboration with multiple agencies to achieve positive results for consumers. In my roles at MIDLAS, CarersWA and St Vincentcare, I was required to develop and maintain sound partnerships with key agencies, such as Department of Housing, Centrelink, Mental Health Services, Commonwealth Carelink and other service providers to facilitate good outcomes for clients.
Strong understanding of child development and experience in developing programs for children
Having completed studies in Child Care; Child Care and Recreation (Play Leading) and Community Services (Disability Work–Social Trainer), I have gained a solid working knowledge of relevant theoretical models including; child development, attachment theory, brain development and family systems. In my role as Inclusion Support Facilitator, I was required to visit Child Care Centres and assist staff develop and implement inclusive programs for children with disabilities with in their service.
My current role as an Outreach Worker in family and domestic violence includes supporting mothers to access therapeutic services for their children, providing education on child development and parenting and how domestic violence has impacted on their child’s development. I have a substantial knowledgeable of WA health and welfare systems and resources for issues such as child protection, housing, substance abuse and mental health. In recent years, I have worked in a variety of roles all of which have required a high level of knowledge of the WA health and welfare systems. I have several years of experience working within the welfare and community service system.
In my roles as an Accommodation Support Officer and Disability Advocate I worked collaboratively with clinicians and other professionals on a daily basis, in so doing I developed a sound understanding of clinical and health systems (including mental health) and how they function. Throughout my working life, I have worked with clients with complex needs, requiring a high level engagement and liaison with several agencies or departments to facilitate a resolution to specific issues.
In my current role, the primary sources of referrals to our service come from Child Protection and Family Services, Crisis Care and the Police. I work closely and collaborate with these agencies, as well as Department of Housing and other not-for-profit organisations providing supports in the south east metropolitan region. During this time, I have developed a sound knowledge of WA health and welfare systems and resources for issues such as child protection, housing, substance abuse and mental health and good working relationships with staff from relevant agencies.
Experience in training and public presentations
I have done presentations as a Public Advocate and to the Public Trustee on care issues, carer and guardians. Also to various public groups explaining the issues of the care of women and children and those with mental illness under a carer or guardian and how the process works.
Experience in facilitating meetings and forums
At Crosslinks I attend board meetings, also staff meetings at St Vincentcare. My experience also includes experience participating at a board level as Chairperson for an agency providing services to individuals with disabilities in the East Metropolitan region, preparing services for licensing visits and inspection by relevant government authorities and supervision and mentoring of staff. I have been instrumental in facilitating board meetings at Crosslinks, staff meetings and forums at St Vincentcare and attending and participating in a number of agency meetings, such as Government Departments, the Department of Child Protection and Family Services and groups such as the Lions Clu
