Programs for Parents Lead

Job Description

• Permanent Full time
• $110,506 per annum plus superannuation
• Join the City Lifestyle team

Hume City Council is one of Australia's fastest growing and culturally diverse councils. We put the customer and our community at the centre of all that we do, ensuring our services are efficient and accessible.

This position is responsible for the governance of the Supported Playgroups Initiative (Small Talk), the Access to Early Learning (AEL) Program and the Playgroup Support Officer role at Hume City Council.

The incumbent will undertake service planning through strategic leadership of a multi-disciplinary team, to provide responsive programs for families. This includes supervision of playgroup and AEL facilitators and the Playgroup Support Officer role.

As part of the leadership team, the role will support the development of integrated, innovative services that are responsive to the needs of young children and families, especially those experiencing vulnerability across the municipality.

What you'll be doing:

• Work collaboratively with service delivery facilitators to ensure programs are welcoming, stimulating and accepting of all families and their individual needs.
• Provide guidance and support to facilitators to enhance their practical delivery skills, their knowledge of working with families and pathways for appropriate referral.
• Develop and implement effective communication strategies to liaise with and gain cooperation from internal and external partners to enhance awareness and delivery of programs for parents within the municipality.
• Promote a municipal wide focus on the importance of playgroups and other early years programs.  This includes AEL, Kindergarten, Maternal & Child Health Services (MCH) and allied health services.
• Represent the Inclusion Service Planning Team (ISP) at relevant networks, promoting the work of all programs and advocating for children and families.  This includes the Hume Early years Partnership, DE and DFFH Monitoring meetings, Communities of Practice and other local relevant events.
• Support budget development and monitor budget performance. Ensure services operate within budget and comply with sound financial practices and reporting requirements.

The skills and experience you'll bring to the role:

• Demonstrated capacity to coach and mentor teams, building professional knowledge and skill in a family centred service environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of how community profile informs and shapes service delivery and planning approaches. Experience working in a culturally diverse community would be advantageous.
• Experience in a leadership or management capacity with demonstrated ability to lead, motivate and supervise staff and manage program and financial resources.
• Demonstrated excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to gain cooperation and to respectfully manage the expectations of a range of diverse stakeholders.

Required Certifications & Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualifications, such as Bachelor or Diploma, in social science, early childhood services or social work, coupled with several years relevant experience in early years and/or family and children's services and /or community development settings OR lesser formal qualifications with extensive, relevant experience or in the field of specialist expertise.
• Current driver's license.

Why Hume City Council?

A leader in local government, we're committed to creating an inclusive and collaborative work environment that is guided by our values:

We're better, every day: We give things a go and value progress over perfection. We have permission to go for it and are expected to reflect and learn.

We're in it together: At Hume, everyone matters. We welcome and include all. Respect and safety are expected.

We show up: We empower and trust others and own our work. We rise to the challenges and are expected to do what we say we will.

All for Hume: We strive to achieve our best for the Hume Community. We are proud and passionate about working towards better outcomes and expect they are at the centre of everything we do.

We offer a competitive salary package, professional development opportunities, and a supportive work environment.

A child safe organisation and an equal opportunity employer. Council encourages people of all ages, people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, LGBTIQA+ people and people from culturally diverse backgrounds to apply.

All candidates will be required to undertake background and probity checks including Reference Checks, Working with Children Check, and a Criminal Record Check.

Additional Information

Position Description