POSITION DESCRIPTION Kildonan UnitingCare is an innovative and trusted community service organisation within one of Australia s largest welfare networks, UnitingCare Australia an agency of the Uniting Church. We are one of Australia s oldest organisations dating back to 1881 yet we are rapidly gaining a reputation for delivering some of the most proactive, innovative and relevant community services in Victoria. Kildonan supports more than 15,000 Victorian individuals, families and communities each year from northern metropolitan Melbourne through to North Regional Victoria. Kildonan is committed to assisting to develop and sustain a society that values and cares for its children. All children who have contact with Kildonan staff, whether directly or indirectly, have a right to feel and be safe. We also have a corporate arm which consults nationally to companies wanting to deal more fairly with their customers from across the utility, telecommunications, property, banking and government sectors. We deliver quality services to our stakeholders through the organisational values of Respect, Trust, Compassion, Integrity and Justice. POSITION TITLE Team Leader- Cradle to Kinder, Hume Moreland REPORTS TO Senior Manager- HM Child FIRST & IFS RELATES TO Senior Manager. Unit Manager, DHHS-Child Protection. Referral managers within the Hume Moreland Child FIRST Alliance. Relevant service managers from Cradle to Kinder partner agencies Relevant service managers within specialist services within the broader community. Relevant staff in the 2 LGAs in the catchment. Relevant staff at the Royal Children s and the Royal Women s hospitals. Relevant Senior Managers and Team leaders across Kildonan s Child, Youth and Family programs PORTFOLIO/DEPARTMENT Child, Youth and Family Services DATE March 2017 POSITIONS REPORTING TO THIS ONE Key workers- Cradle to Kinder, Hume Moreland AUTHORISED BY Executive Manager, Child Youth & Family Services REVIEW/EVALUATION Annually
SCOPE OF ROLE The Cradle to Kinder Program is a re-developed established program funded by the Victorian Department of Health & Human Services (DHHS) to provide long term support to highly vulnerable young parents and their families, including those who may be in receipt of intervention from Child Protection services. A partnership between Kildonan (lead agency), Sunbury Community Health, Merri Health, Dianella Health and Melbourne City Mission) will deliver this service for the Hume Moreland catchment of the DHHS North Region. Cradle to Kinder is a whole-of-family service response in the form of pre-birth support, intensive and longer term interventions and casework support until the child reaches five years of age/attends school. The service is aimed to support vulnerable young pregnant mothers (under 25 years), where there are a number of vulnerabilities and significant concerns about the wellbeing of the unborn child. There is priority access to young mothers who are or have been, in out-of-home care, Aboriginal women, women from newly arrived communities and women with a learning difficulty. KEY ROLE Lead, supervise and work with the Cradle to Kinder multi-disciplinary team, partners and service providers to provide effective strategies to address the needs of the infant/child, young parent and their family. Proactively liaise with, and support partner agencies whose staff deliver Hume Moreland Cradle to Kinder Support young parents to successfully achieve their desired outcomes for their child and family through participation in the Cradle to Kinder program. Ensure direct high quality case management to young parents and their families. Maintain and develop effective partnerships with a wide breadth of services that include a range of specialist and mainstream services in conjunction with the senior manager. In the working relationship with Child FIRST, ensure the development and maintenance of a streamlined referral pathway into the Cradle to Kinder program in conjunction with the senior manager. Oversee the service development, measurement, tracking, reporting, evaluation and continuous improvement of the Cradle to Kinder program in conjunction with the senior manager. Undertake clinical supervision and oversee Staff Performance Development plans and training. Support, deliver and develop community development initiatives related to achieving sustainable outcomes for participants. POSITION OBJECTIVES To ensure team meets multiple program service agreement requirements and achieve quality, effective client outcomes To deliver Cradle to Kinder services that are guided by the key legislation: Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 and the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005. To support and give direction to the Cradle to Kinder team. To provide operational management and guidance to staff To ensure direct reports are supported to undertake their roles and responsibilities. To proactively contribute to Kildonan s leadership group. To support program planning, implementation and evaluative methodologies to monitor program designs and outcome efficacy. To support the development of integrated program models of practice and delivery in conjunction with the Executive Manager To proactively and positively manage key stakeholder relationships including participating in partnership initiatives. To proactively manage Kildonan s relationship with Department of Health & Human Services To contribute to monitoring of budgets, including the distribution of flexible support funds, and reporting against these funds in line with organisational and program guidelines in conjunction with the Executive Manager To identify and communicate key risks, relating to Cradle to Kinder program areas to the Executive Manager in a timely manner. To assist the Executive Manager in the promotion and development of services including new growth opportunities.
KEY RESULT AREAS: KEY RESULT AREA KEY TASKS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TIME FRAME Leadership, Innovation and Organisational Development Foster the development of the organisation s culture and identity, encouraging Kildonan staff to share and exhibit the same sense of identity and passion Foster a positive, proactive and solution focused culture across Children, Youth and Families Services programs Support proactive and strategic input into relevant partnerships, networks and cross organisational activities to represent Kildonan in a positive manner Lead and facilitate internal and external working groups and networks to enhance service delivery in specific areas Encourage and support staff participation in internal and external activities and their proactive and positive representation of Kildonan Program Management and Leadership Liaison with DHHS (Child Protection), Maternal & Child Health and other key funders, partners and stakeholders to ensure service agreements, funding and partnership KPIs are fully met Contribute/input to SM reports Formal reporting to the Senior Manager, ChildFIRST/IFS on program or service issues or incidents that require attention Ensure that program objectives, registration standards and target expectations are being met.. Practice Development and Review Contribute to operational practice guidelines relevant to program and practice needs that are incorporated into the Operations Manual of relevant programs Supervise key workers case management to children and their families offering: family mediation, safety planning, counselling and support as required Work jointly with all professionals to support child and family
KEY RESULT AREA KEY TASKS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TIME FRAME care teams to clarify roles and responsibilities to ensure the needs of children and families are being fully addressed. Develop collaborative working relationships with Child Protection including reporting any escalation of behaviours that may place the child at unacceptable risk. Identify when families need access to flexible support packages and coordinate access to identified goods and services. Ensure services are delivered within professional frameworks achieving best practice outcomes Contribute to the development of a continuous improvement quality practice plan that ensures provision of client feedback mechanisms Oversee the maintenance and review of quality goalorientated case practice file and records system, and use of required database system to inform service development and delivery Staff Management and Program Administration Lead a positive and professional workplace culture Operational management of relevant Key Workers Timely recruitment and selection of program staff Ensure direct reports meet their performance plans and KPIs Conduct annual Performance Appraisals in line with Kildonan s policy and identify staff workforce and professional development needs Respond to staff grievances and disciplinary matters as they arise and in consultation with the SM Financial Ensure all program and service reporting requirements are completed within deadlines.
KEY RESULT AREA KEY TASKS KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS TIME FRAME Other Report all Occupational Health and Safety and WorkCover/risk issues to the Senior Manager People & Culture when they arise and in a timely fashion Perform any other function in line with authorities, capabilities, and skills that will enhance the performance of Kildonan
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Attributes A proven commitment to and understanding of the vision, purpose, values and work of Kildonan Demonstrated skills in supporting interagency partnership Exceptional people management skills, including change management, conflict resolution, team building, coaching and providing direction to staff Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) and the ability to communicate with a diverse range of stakeholders. Demonstrated ability to respond to varying issues in a consistent manner exercising maturity of judgement and sound problem solving capability Excellent time management skills and ability to meet timelines, targets and other key deliverables Qualifications Minimum Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Development, Youth Work, Psychology or Social Work and/or other relevant tertiary qualification(s). Post graduate qualifications would also be highly regarded - counselling, family therapy, early childhood, infant mental health, policy, management and leadership Background in alcohol and other drugs, mental health (infant and/or adult), family, youth, family violence, criminal justice services Skills and Experience Demonstrated experience leading, implementing and improving child/parent focused programs and services for children, young parents and their families who have complex needs. Demonstrated experience developing, managing and leading a team, including the ability to accurately assess staff competencies, strengths and areas for development and implement this in supervision to promote ongoing professional learning and development. An understanding of key child development issues as they relate to young parents and their families who have complex needs. An excellent understanding of the issues facing vulnerable young parents in their ability to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their children. Experience in working with young people who have been in out-of-home care, who have learning difficulties and/or are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Extensive knowledge of casework principles, plus highly developed skills in active and assertive engagement for families who are unwilling to accept services, especially young people Excellent interpersonal and negotiation skills and the ability to influence others High level written communication skills with the ability to prepare reports, documents and correspondence Other Criteria Demonstrated understanding of key Victorian policies that will impact on service system development across child, youth, family sector Ability to travel within Hume Moreland Mandatory Current Drivers Licence Current Victorian Working With Children Check, Completed Police Records Check with successful outcome
ROLE ATTRIBUTE REQUIREMENTS Ethical Honest Client focused Self-disciplined Flexible Resilient Culturally aware Work Standards Inclusive Collaborative Supportive Has integrity and principles Is truthful Reflects expected standards of behaviour and/or Code of Conduct Is credible and truthful Is reliable and trustworthy Acknowledges and learns from mistakes Prioritises needs of clients Aims for best outcomes for clients Is outcome focused Follows through with commitments Manages own time to achieve key outcomes Avoids distraction and diversions Demonstrates punctuality and meets agreed schedules and timelines Manages time and uses tools effectively to assist with planning and organising Adapts to changing circumstances in the workplace Prioritises work and addresses what is most important Takes advantage of new and emerging opportunities Recovers from setbacks Overcomes obstacles and impediments Learns from experience and identifies areas for self-development Respects difference in all its forms Adapts language to aid communication Values diversity as a strength and positively utilises diversity Has high work standards and is proactive in carrying out work and ensuring service reliability Has high work ethic even when processing mundane non-challenging duties Recognises the rights of others Is committed to social justice and social inclusion Makes equitable decisions Works with others to achieve common goals Engenders a spirit of teamwork Inspires trust Encourages others to attain goals and achieve Listens actively and inspires confidence Demonstrates empathy when confronted with adversity
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Diversity, Gender & Respectful relationships Knowledge and understanding of the principles of anti-discrimination and equal opportunity legislation and demonstrates ability to interpret and uphold principals and standards of equal opportunity policies into practice and committed to building a workplace culture that actively promotes equal and respectful relationships between genders. Occupational Health & Safety Ensure that a system of work that is safe and without risk to health is developed, documented and followed by all employees, volunteers, clients and visitors through appropriate supervision, training and monitoring. Maintain compliance with OHS legislative requirements and Kildonan's OH&S policies, procedures and guidelines. This includes reporting of safety incidents and hazards as soon as you are aware of them. Quality Service Systems Demonstrates ongoing commitment to the Vision, Mission, Values, Strategic Plan and Policy, and to our quality assurance processes. Enhances quality practices, ensures own work meets quality requirements, and provides input into continuous improvement through consultation. Drugs and Alcohol - A staff member is not to be adversely affected by alcohol, drugs or any other detrimental substances whilst employed in this position at Kildonan UnitingCare. POSITION INCUMBENT I have read and understood this position description. I acknowledge that description of the role is an outline and guide to the tasks of the professional activities needed to undertake the role successfully. I understand that annual review of the position description may occur and may be amended from time to time as the organisation needs change. Changes to the position description will be consistent with the purpose for which the position was established. Signature: Print name: Date: / / This position description has been approved by: Senior Manager, People & Culture Signature: Print name: Meagan Downie Knowles Date: 2/3/2017