Service Manager Disabilities

• Employment Term: Permanent full-time opportunity
• Location: Based atAnnerley where hybrid working is supported
• Remuneration: $110k + 11% Super + $15,900 + not for profit salary packaging

Make a meaningful difference with UnitingCare

We’re looking for someone who wants to make the world a little better through small moments that leave big impacts. To build meaningful relationships and make a difference in the lives of others. 

An integral part of our Disability Employment Services team, the Service Managerwill execute the business expansion, workforce management, financial sustainability and operational plans for UnitingCare’s Disability Employment Services, including Project SEARCH, UnitingCare’s Transition to Work program for young adults with a disability.

The Project SEARCH program is a unique, business-led, one-year employment preparation program that takes place entirely at a Host Workplace. Total workplace immersion facilitates a seamless combination of classroom instruction, career exploration, and hands-on training through worksite rotations and provides young people with an intellectual disability successful and supported entry into the workforce.

This position is responsible for managing existing NDIS funded employment services, while overseeing the expansion of Project SEARCH. This will include establishing new program sites across QLD, managing and developing services, ensuring compliance with legislative, regulatory and licensing requirements, providing practice leadership to the Project SEARCH team, overseeing budgets and facilitating the development of quality practice to ensure the effective co-ordination of service delivery to vulnerable individuals and families. 

Your part in our UnitingCare Community team

• Provide leadership, operational management oversight and support to the Project SEARCH Program. 
• Lead, achieve and report on the Program’s business development/expansion project, ensuring that key deliverables are achieved within set timeframes and budget parameters. 
• Manage the financial, human resource, operational, risk, compliance and licensing and performance reporting requirements for the Program. 
• Develop and maintain effective networks, relationships and partnerships both internally and externally to the organisation, particularly in relation to Project SEARCH partners and host sites, government bodies, community and other organisations that will support Program expansion and the delivery of quality client outcomes.
• Build, develop, lead and manage high performing teams across the Program and geographical locations. This will include implementing skills development strategies including supervision, case reviews and coaching that will support an integrated and collaborative model of service delivery with a strengths based focus. 
• Supervise, develop and support the Leaders within the Program to ensure efficient and effective site operations, a high standard of service and compliance with State and Commonwealth legislation and associated accreditation/licensing standards.
• In conjunction with Performance Improvement Development (PID) team, support the development and delivery of program induction and specialist training packages for employees.
• Provide leadership and operational management oversight to administration functions in line with service agreements, program standards and KPIs.
• Manage and monitor client information systems ensuring case recording and client files are maintained to a high standard and reporting and assessments are completed within allocated time frames.
• Work within relevant quality and risk frameworks and guidelines in accordance with relevant standards to ensure delivery of high-quality services, respect of client’s rights and confidentiality.
• Lead and manage best practise standards and continuous improvement of all aspects of the Program including the local implementation of new or updated practice frameworks, policy, procedures, development and maintenance of service delivery documentation, development and monitoring of service improvement, audit, review and compliance.
• In conjunction with the State-wide Manager and Business Performance Team manage the program within budget and contribute to the budget planning cycle within specified accountability requirements. 
• Seek out funding opportunities through developing proposals and submissions for new services and funding in consultation with the State-wide Manager.
• Provide expert, comprehensive and timely advice on key issues impacting on Disability Employment. 

What makes a difference for us?

• Tertiary Qualification in a relevant field (e.g., Management, Business, Social Work, Psychology or Social Science) as required by relevant service contract/s
• Lesser formal qualifications with acquisition of considerable skills and extensive and diverse relevant experience to an equivalent standard.
• Current drivers’ licence.
• Positive BlueCard
• Positive NDIS Worker Screening Check
• Demonstrated ability to lead and manage disability services to achieve performance outcomes together with an understanding of specialist employment programs and an ability to provide quality supervision and training.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and evaluate operational, workforce management, financial, risk management and continuous improvement plans, strategies and processes.
• Demonstrated use of effective project management strategies to successfully deliver program outcomes within agreed resources, budgets and timeframes.
• Demonstrated understanding of key legislation and standards that support the NDIS.
• Highly developed communication, interpersonal and written skills, including the ability to prepare complex reports, support change processes, resolve conflict, negotiate with internal and external stakeholders, provide advice and undertake consultation.
• Thorough understanding of program management principles and techniques.
• Demonstrated understanding of contemporary human resource management practices.
• Understanding of contemporary community services and sector reform agendas including NDIS, Disability Royal Commission and Disability Employment.
• Understanding of key legislation and standards that exist at the Federal and State levels that impact on service delivery for Disability and Employment Services.

Tell us why you are interested in this position 

Please limit your response to 1500 words.

Include in your cover letter response how you utilise your skills and experience in the following areas to:

• Improve client feedback and engagement
• Improve employee engagement and alignment 
• Drive financial performance
• Improve quality of service and reduce client risk 
• Drive business growth 

What makes a difference for you?  

At UnitingCare we are committed to supporting people with disabilities and their families to work toward their future life goals. Right across Queensland, we support thousands of people living with a disability to imagine and build personally meaningful lives. 

• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance 
• Save tax and increase your take home pay by salary packaging your everyday living expenses and bills (up to $15,900) and meal entertainment (up to $2,650) per annum 
• A recognition and rewards platform, providing employee discounts at hundreds of retailers, including everyday expenses, holidays, health insurance, annual awards celebration, wellbeing and employee assistance programs 
• A positive and inclusive team based on respect, shared standards, strong values and a commitment to serving others 
• Eligible employees are entitled to 12 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid partner leave, available after 6 months service, in addition to the government scheme 
• Diversity and inclusive leave, offering paid gender affirmation leave and cultural leave options (paid and unpaid) for those who may celebrate Lunar New Year, Diwali, Ramadan, NAIDOC weeks and other significant cultural events 
• Career development opportunities to challenge yourself, grow and make a meaningful difference  

We’d love you to be part of our UnitingCare family 

Joining our Disability Services team, you’ll also be welcomed as part of the UnitingCare family. The second-largest Queensland employer, we’re a proud not-for-profit with more than 16,500 staff and 9,000 volunteers across our brands of BlueCare, Lifeline, ARRCS, The Wesley Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital, and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, and have been leading by example for more than 100 years. Our team are compassionate, inclusive and committed to the work we do, helping people live life in all its fullness. 

Child safe, Child friendly

UnitingCare is committed to being a Child Safe, Child Friendly organisation and will: 

• provide welcoming, safe and nurturing services for children 
• implement measures to prevent child abuse and neglect within our services
• appropriately and immediately address child abuse and neglect if it does occur.

Diversity & Inclusion  

Our approach is simple – everybody is welcome here.  At UnitingCare, diversity is at the core of our who we are, our mission and our values. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees no matter their sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. Demonstrating our commitment to reconciliation and building long-term employment opportunities for First Nations peoples, UnitingCare strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for this position.   

Safe workplace 

We work hard to make our services welcoming and safe for every person. We are united in keeping children, young people and the elderly safe from harm, within our services, workplaces and the communities we support. We are committed to speaking up loudly for their safety.