Manager Family, Youth and Children

About Us :

Yarriambiack Shire Council has a population of 6,645 people and covers an area of 7,158sq km. Yarriambiack Shire Council stretches from the Wimmera River just north of the Grampians in the south, to the centre of the Mallee in the north. The Yarriambiack Creek is the main natural feature traversing the Shire. The area is also linked by road and rail systems that run in a north-south direction. The area has an almost ideal climate with a short winter and delightful autumn and spring. Warracknabeal is the major service centre in the region and provides a wide range of services. It is complemented by Hopetoun in the north and Minyip, Murtoa and Rupanyup in the south, with another 13 small towns spread throughout the Municipality. Council offers an abundance of services to the region such as maternal and child health, enhanced maternal child health, library services, tourism and area promotion, parks and gardens, kindergarten services, housing support, environmental health services, food inspections, immunisation, youth support, planning and building services, waste services, law, order and public safety, public recreation spaces including swimming pools and sporting stadiums, emergency management, roads, footpaths, bridges, buildings, aerodromes, public halls and saleyards. Council is also engages technical specialists to provide effective governance, accounting and finance, customer service, administration, engineering and asset management and information management services.

About You :

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

• Tertiary qualifications in a teaching, allied health, community heath or related discipline.
• Proven Leadership skills, with a background in developing, leading, and motivating teams to provide 'customer centric' solutions and services.
• Proven ability to anticipate changing environments and to develop strategies to position the Council to make constructive decisions with a specific focus on improving early years outcomes.
• Demonstrated experience in budget management.
• Strong emotional intelligence and proven ability to work collaboratively and foster effective strategic relations with people at all levels both internally and externally.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, both oral and written, with the ability to make complex presentations and write non-standard correspondence, reports and submissions that require original content.
• Demonstrated ability to build strong client and stakeholder relationships.
• Excellent organisational skills and demonstrated ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines in a high demand work environment.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA:

• Tertiary qualifications in a teaching, allied health, community heath discipline or equivalent.
• Experience in leading the successful development and implementation of an organisation's strategy, planning and performance capability.
• Demonstrated exceptional leadership and management capabilities, including proven ability to lead and manage teams in a collegiate fashion.
• Experience in strategic and business planning with the ability to manage complex projects.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Proven ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with both internal and external stakeholders that are mutually beneficial and support the achievement of organisational goals.
• Management level ability to drive a value-based culture of ethical conduct, collaboration and participation, role modelling high standards of cooperative and collaborative behaviour

Position Summary :

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

The primary focus of the role is to lead the Family, Youth & Children Department in the planning, delivery and continuous improvement of key services for families, young people and children throughout the Yarriambiack Shire. This role also undertakes the Municipal Recovery Management (MRM) role to support the community during an emergency and throughout recovery functions.

The incumbent will have effective key stakeholder relationships with residents, community organisations, community leaders, the private sector and government agencies and applied skills in community consultation and engagement.

Key Requirements :

ACCOUNTABILITY AND EXTENT OF AUTHORITY:

• This position is required to set clear goals, standards and expectations and be accountable for the delivery of outcomes and behaviour of all staff that report to them. This role will create an environment oriented to trust, open communication, creative thinking and cohesive team effort.
• This position required to act within legislative provisions of the Local Government Act and other legislation and regulations related to service delivery.
• Abide by Council Policies and procedures.
• Act within Delegations allocated to the position.

JUDGEMENT AND DECISION MAKING:

• The position involves problem solving and innovative thinking.
• Ability to develop and implement policies, procedures and plans.
• Ability to analyse the external and internal environments and identify options for service delivery and engagement for senior management to consider.

SPECIALIST SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE:

• Exceptional engagement skills, with a key focus on being able to understand the operating environment.
• An appreciation of the role that Council plays in the family, youth and children's services environment within the broader organisational and political context.
• Understanding of the legal, socio-economic and political context that Council operates.
• An ability interpret research to implement and initiate strategies.

MANAGEMENT SKILLS:

• Provide strategic and visionary leadership, which maybe outside of field of specialisation.
• Ability to motivate workforce to achieve organisational goals and objectives.
• Effective management of staff and delegation of tasks and duties.
• Enact management skills to achieve goals and objectives of the position.

INTERPERSONAL SKILLS:

• Demonstrates motivation to serve the community and Council.
• Initiates team activity on organisations/department projects, issues and opportunities. Seeks and accepts challenging assignments and other development opportunities.
• Seeks feedback broadly and asks others for help with own development areas. Translates negative feedback into an opportunity to improve.
• Is flexible, showing initiative and responding quickly to change.
• Accepts changed priorities and decisions and works to make the most of them. Gives frank and honest feedback and advice.
• Listens when challenged and seeks to understand criticisms before responding. Raises and works through challenging issues and seeks alternatives.
• Stays calm and acts constructively under pressure and in difficult situations.

Job Responsibility :

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES:

Within the area of responsibility, this leadership role is required to:

• Effectively manage, lead and develop a department that consists of Youth Services, Family Services, Maternal Child Health; Children's Services, including kindergartens and supported playgroup.
• The development and planning of future service provision for a community with diverse needs. This includes maximising value to the community and the development of alternative service delivery models.
• Extensive liaison and consultation with Council, the community, stakeholders and other internal departments in order to provide excellent service and to seek out continuous improvement opportunities.
• Oversee and lead the implementation of the Early Years Strategy and Youth Strategy.
• Service provision is informed and guided by Council's commitment to ensuring the quality and accessibility of services for families, young people and children throughout the Shire.
• Undertake the role of Municipal Recovery Manager and manage the municipal relief and recovery process for an emeregncy.

Service Culture Expectations of the role:

• High level strategic thinking, conceptual ability and vision applied to achieve quality outcomes and community benefit.
• Excellent business, community & stakeholder engagement to build sustained partnerships and deliver innovative outcomes.
• Demonstrated ability and experience in leading risk management and compliance functions that have built more mature and effective risk management systems, processes and culture including an understanding of internal audit.
• Substantial experience working in a dynamic, demanding and political environment and a sound understanding of the key issues relating to the local government sector.
• Knowledge of change leadership and experience building capacity and capability in a community focussed organisation.
• Skilled application of, and advocacy for, the systems and processes required for the effective performance of the role, including the application of an enterprise approach to portfolio, project and program management.
• Applied understanding of effective community consultation and engagement methodologies, including effective methods for children and families experiencing vulnerability.

Leadership Expectations of the role:

• Lead the Family, Youth and Children Department, including the development of a highly capable, aligned and engaged team.
• Contribute to organisational leadership including demonstrating a commitment to organisation's values and behaviours.
• Lead the development of a culture and capability of continuous improvement, value for money, customer service and risk management across the organisation.
• Guide and motivate staff to continuously improve their workplace and coach and encourage management to act as continuous improvement leaders.
• Contribute to and collaborate on broader organisational projects, programs and priorities as required.
• Providing a key role in modelling and promoting the culture of the Yarriambiack Shire influencing others to share ownership of the Council's goals.
• Effectively lead and manage key initiatives of importance to the organisation, COO, CEO and/or Mayor & Councillors.
• Responsible for understanding and complying with the organisation's policies and procedures and ensuring department staff are able to do the same.
• Demonstrate openness to new ideas, innovation and a learning mindset.
• Develop, implement monitor and review performance indicators and quality assurance processes.
• Work to create a great team environment through effective team communication and relationship building skills.

Financial Resource Management and Budget Complexity

• Ability to manage complex budgeting, costing and funding arrangements, resource allocation and financial management responsibilities, including the use, analysis, interpretation and communication of statistical and financial information.

Risk and OHS Management / Staff Authority and Responsibility

The following authorities and responsibilities are assigned to the levels of management and staff as shown and are based on those in the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 .

• Foster a top-down risk and safety cultural approach from Supervisors and Deputy Supervisors whereby this culture becomes a core value of Council.
• Ensure all appropriate actions are taken to implement Risk / OHS Management policies and procedures and that the organisation complies with OHS Legislation.
• Visually monitor and report risk and safety management issues to the relevant employees, contractor and volunteers to address. Rectify risk and safety issues to make the work site safe. Notify the Safety Officer of the issue for any follow up and recording on the Councils Risk Register.
• Monitor risk management performance within your area of responsibility.
• Attend Risk and OHS compliance training as directed.
• Visibly show a proactive commitment to Risk and OHS Management through participation in formal and informal discussions, workplace visits and hazard inspections, etc.
• Ensure asset related damage, hazard or potential hazards are immediately reported to your manager.
• Be an active member if requested of the Risk and OHS Committee.
• In conjunction with OH&S Officer, investigate and review all incidents / hazards and near miss reports from council employees, contractors, volunteers and the general public.
• Constructively action and implement control measures. Sign of on the appropriate Incident Notification Report Form and Hazard Identification and / Property Damage Report Forms.
• Ensure liaison with employee health and safety representatives, particularly on any workplace changes which have an OHS component.
• Initiate actions to improve Risk and OHS Management within your area of responsibility.
• Visually and actively monitor the workplace/Worksite or Contractor to determine presence of hazards and take appropriate action to rectify any hazards found. Notify Management or the Safety Officer if the need arises.
• Ensure all employees are inducted prior to commencing employment and that they receive regular training as required.
• Facilitate the rehabilitation of any injured employee.

Council Assets Responsibilities

Take reasonable care of any council property or assets that you may use, have access to, or have overall responsibility for. Record and report to your Director, any damage or potential for damage, to property or assets that you may use, have access to, or overall responsibility for. This may include risks such as accidental fire, arson, storm, flood or security.

ORGANISATION ENVIRONMENT:

Reports to: Chief Operating Officer

Supervises: Maternal Child Health Nurses, Pedagogical Leader, Early Years Teachers, Educators and Youth Officer.

KEY COMMUNICATIONS:

Internal: Chief Executive Officer, Leadership Team, All Staff and Councillors

External: Parents Advisory Groups, Government Bodies / Agencies, Local Government supporting bodies (e.g. Municipal Association Victoria), Wimmera Southern Mallee Development Association - By5.

ORGANISATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• At all times, behave in a manner consistent with Council's Employee Code of Conduct and Human Resource policies and guidelines (including Bullying / Equal Opportunity / Discrimination / Sexual Harassment Guidelines).
• Ensure compliance to relevant OHS regulatory requirements and implement, promote and maintain Council's OHS and Return to Work policies, procedures, training programs and initiatives.
• Ensure compliance to relevant regulatory or legislative requirements; including but not limited to Information Privacy and Freedom of Information.

CHILD SAFE STANDARDS:

Yarriambiack Shire Council is committed to creating a child safe and child friendly environment where children and young people are respected, valued and encouraged to reach their full potential.

All staff must adhere to Council's Child Safe Policy and procedures and ensure that any reasonable suspicion of abuse to children or young people is reported.

EQUAL OPPORTUNITY:

Yarriambiack Shire Council offers a work environment free from discrimination, sexual or other harassment, victimisation, vilification and bullying. Employees are expected to contribute to the maintenance of such a work environment.

PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY:

Employees must respect and protect the privacy and confidentiality of information gained or accessed during the course of their employment. Employees are required to comply with the Information Privacy Act, the Health Records Act and Council's Confidentiality policies.

Both during and after employment with Council, employees must not:

• Communicate confidential or private information to third parties.
• Make use of any information gained through employment at the Shire for any purpose other than the discharge of official duties.

PERSONAL HEALTH INFORMATION:

Personal and Health Information collected by Council is used for recruitment and if the applicant is successful will be used for Human Resources. The Personal and Health Information will be used solely by Council for this purpose and/or directly related purposes. Council may disclose this information to other organisations if required by legislation. The applicant understands that the Personal and Health Information provided is for the above purpose and that he or she may apply to Council for access to and/or amendment of the information after finalisation of the appeals process. Information relating to unsuccessful applicants may be destroyed by Council after 12 months from this time. Requests for access and/or correction should be made to Council's Privacy Officer.

RECORD KEEPING (INFORMATION MANAGEMENT)

Record keeping responsibilities for all staff members:

• Creating and capturing full and accurate records of Council business.
• Adhering to Council's Information Management Policies and Procedures.

ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW:

Every staff member is required to actively participate in the annual performance review/appraisal process with their Line Manager.

VARIATIONS TO CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

This position description is subject to change from time to time as Yarriambiack Shire Council's organisation may be developed or restructured. Any such reorganisation of duties shall be the subject of discussion with the position incumbent.

CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT:

• This position is a full-time position with a requirement to occasionally work outside of the normal span of hours.
• As part of Yarriambiack Shire Council's recruitment and selection process a satisfactory Police Check and Working with Children's Check (Vic) is required for this position.
• Current Drivers Licence.
• A Police check every three years after engagement.