Community Services Worker

About Wayside Chapel  
 
Wayside Chapel has provided unconditional love, care and support to the most marginalised people on and around the streets of Sydney since 1964. Our mission is to create a community with no ‘us and them’, and address underlying issues of inequality, wellbeing, and loneliness. From our centres in Kings Cross and Bondi and through outreach teams, we offer a range of support services that place dignity, respect, and love at the heart of what we do. 
  
The Role: 
  
Wayside is recognised for our low barrier model of care and our Community Services Workers are responsible for providing direct care to support our diverse and vulnerable community, in line with the Wayside mission and values.  You will play a key role as the first point of contact for visitors of Wayside’s supports with your primary duty being to maintain a safe, welcoming and inclusive space for our visitors. Crucially, you will also provide practical assistance and crisis support; responding to immediate visitor needs such as lack of housing, mental health crises and other health emergencies.  
  
Your role will not be easy; however, this is a fulfilling, rewarding opportunity to play a key role in supporting and nurturing members of Wayside’s community.  
  
The Community Services Worker will work across both our daytime and evening programs, operating out of our Kings Cross Community Services Centre and the local area: 

• Wayside operates 7 days per week, shifts are varied between 8:30am – 10pm. 
• Daytime programs and services, includes our Community Care Program, accompanying visitors to external appointments. 
• Evening programs and services, includes our Outreach service, providing outreach in and around Kings Cross. 

  
You will also be supported by a dedicated frontline team and have access to external clinical supervision. 
   
  
Key Responsibilities  

• Greet visitors, build rapport, conduct basic assessment of need and direct visitor flow through the service 
• Assess visitors in line with Wayside criteria to ensure suitability to access services
• Provide visitors with information on Wayside services and other local services; 
• Manage the provision of practical assistance including allocation of showers, toiletries, emergency clothes and emergency meals; 
• Provide crisis support and respond to immediate visitor issues 
• Develop and deliver various activities to assist with visitor engagement 
• Participate in interagency meetings when required and ensure Wayside offers a consistent and professional presence. Explore opportunities to expand relationships and collaborative work with local service providers; 
• Maintain a safe environment through monitoring visitor behaviour and managing incidents as they arise, including dealing with aggression, challenging behavioural issues, substance use, overdose, suicidal ideation, complex and co-occurring mental health presentations 
• Record accurate and timely data and information and effectively use available systems; This includes internal systems to record program statistics, check-in, visitor flags, CIMS and other systems utilised in interagency meetings; 
• Ensure a safe and inclusive space is maintained by responding to behaviours of concern through appropriate management and de-escalation strategies 

About you  

• TAFE level qualifications in Community Services Work, Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs or other relevant area, and/or extensive experience in the areas of addressing the needs of disadvantaged populations;  
• Experience working with at-risk populations and understanding of related issues, both practical and systematic (including but not limited to Juvenile Justice, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, CALD, trauma, homelessness, mental health, alcohol and other drugs); 
• Knowledge of and ability to operate with regard to trauma informed principles; 
• Initiative, flexibility and the ability to work in a demanding environment;  
• Ability to work as part of a team with a commitment to sharing knowledge and expertise and supporting Wayside culture; 
• Understanding of community-based model of care and commitment to the mission, vision and values of Wayside. 

  
What’s in it for you? 

• $15,900 of your annual salary tax free through generous NFP salary packaging
• Paid Cultural and Ceremonial Leave
• Comprehensive Employee Assistance Program access  
• Access to external clinical supervision   

To apply, please follow the link. Include your CV and a cover letter detailing your motivations and relevant experience. For more information, please reach out to Lyndon Yeung, Talent Coordinator lyndon.yeung@thewaysidechapel.com 
 
The successful applicant will require two COVID-19 vaccinations and a booster. An offer will be subject to a police clearance and Working with Children check clearance.