Team Leader

About the business 

Since 1991, Yorganop has been Western Australia’s first Aboriginal foster care agency. Yorganop works in partnership with government agencies, Aboriginal families, and our community of carers to provide safe and secure care for Aboriginal children. For 32 years Yorganop has been providing essential services for the increasing high number of vulnerable Aboriginal children in Out of Home Care. 

Yorganop’s key driver for over 32 years is to enable children, in particular, Aboriginal children in out-of-home care to fulfil their potential and thrive in life (culturally, socially, and emotionally). We achieve this by providing culturally safe, secure, stable, caring homes with carers who understand Aboriginal ways of being and doing. Yorganop carers are supported in providing culturally safe placements through Yorganop’s ongoing cultural training, and immersion in Yorganop’s carer community. 

In order to achieve these goals Yorganop needs the best team in place, and is currently recruiting for a Team Leader to join our amazing team. 

About the role  

As a Team Leader, you will ensure the effective running of Case Management services for Yorganop, including ensuring compliance with the Children and Community Services Act, Service Standards, policies and procedures and support Yorganop to deliver best practice in relation to child protection and out-of-home care services. 

You will support carers to provide culturally safe, secure, and stable placements to Aboriginal child in OOHC while working with stakeholders to support and progress reunification, kinship care and strong cultural connections. 

You will ensure strong internal processes are in place to support children, honouring children’s right to self-determination while promoting the wellbeing of children.

As a leader, you will work collaboratively with the Department for Communities, the child’s Care Team (including the carer) and the child to promote and ensure the child’s safety, cultural wellbeing and developmental needs are met. 

You will provide high quality supervision to staff that is culturally secure and trauma informed.

What you will do 

• Ensure that all children have current plans (and supporting documents) in place that reflect their circumstances, support requirements, family participation, and honours their right to self-determination.
• Ensure that the child or young person’s needs regarding the nine dimensions of well-being are met, and that case management practices promote opportunities for healing.
• Ensure that case management practices support children and carers to achieve goals outlined in the child’s care plan.
• Ensure that case management practices allow for a therapeutic relationship with children from a culturally secure, trauma informed practice framework.
• Perform all responsibilities of the position in accordance with the Sanctuary Model of Care Framework.
• Ensure all carer's have a carer support plan and are provided with assistant to provide culturally safe, stable placements for children.
• Ensure that reports, investigations, and required actions are completed within required timeframes and to a high quality.
• Undertake complex casework activities with the Case Management team as required. 

What you will need 

ESSENTIAL

• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and the ability to work with communities, families, children, and young people.
• Advanced skills and understanding of contemporary casework and practice models and methods and their application in working with children, families, and communities.
• Sound understanding of contemporary issues and challenges in child protection and approaches to enhancing child safety and wellbeing.
• Sound knowledge of the Children and Community Services Act 2004 and the relevant legislation, policies, and practices in delivering a professional care service to Aboriginal children, young people, families and the community.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills and problem solving.
• Experience in adapting content and tone of communication to suit the audience to achieve the best possible outcomes for diverse communities, families, children, and young people.
• Strong administrative skills and a high level of computer literacy.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a member of a successful multi-disciplinary cohesive and functional team.
• Advanced supervision, management, leadership skills.
• Well developed assessment, analytical and interpersonal skills, and the ability to convene and chair meetings.
• Strong report writing skills. 

DESIRABLE

• Experience in Aboriginal Community controlled Organisation’s (ACCO’S) or Not for Profit Organisation or Government roles.
• Demonstrated experience in the child protection and Out of Home Care Sector or equivalent.
• Identify as Aboriginal

QUALIFICATIONS AND LICENSES

• Tertiary qualification(s) in Social Work, Psychology or relevant Human Services area.
• Satisfactory National Police Clearance 
• Satisfactory Working with Children (WWC) Check 
• Satisfactory Department of Communities (DoC) Departmental Check (Departmental Record Check & Criminal Record Check) 
• Current Drivers Licence and the ability to travel in response to organisational needs. 

What we can offer:

• Competitive Salary 
• Leave Loading 
• 11% employer super contribution 
• Generous salary packaging scheme ($15,900 tax free salary component and an additional component of up to $2,650 tax free meals entertainment card) 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Cultural & Practice Supervision 
• Flexible and friendly team environment

Want to know more:

Full details of the role, eligibility requirements and what we are looking for, read the attached job description and application package.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact the Human Resources Manager by email **************@yorganop.org.au

Importance notes for applicants: 

Applicants must include a one page covering letter to address the essential criteria plus a concise CV which clearly outlines relevant qualifications and experience. 

Applications close Friday 15 March 2024. We reserve the right to close the applications and appoint prior to the advertised closing date. Being suitable for the position does not guarantee an Offer of Employment. 

For more information on Yorganop or the position, please visit www.yorganop.org.au or send email enquiries to **************@yorganop.org.au