Carer Practice Manager. Full-time

• Work for one of Australia's largest social purpose organisations
• Competitive base salary + $17,500 vehicle allowance + 11% super
• 12-month secondment
• Monthly rostered day off 

About the Organisation

Every day, Life Without Barriers provides support and care to children and young people, as we work collaboratively with families, carers, and communities, to ensure they have the environment they deserve to grow. With a focus on ensuring safety and respect, this is an opportunity to make a positive and meaningful difference in these young lives and help pave a brighter future.

Life Without Barriers is a leading social purpose organisation of 8,000 employees working in more than 500 communities across Australia. We support children, young people and families, people with disability, older people and people with mental illness. We work with people who are homeless and refugees and asylum seekers. Join a community of people dedicated to breaking down barriers.

We want to employ people who reflect the diversity of our clients to ensure we can support each client's individual needs and wants. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability to apply.

About the role

The Carer Practice Manager is a leadership position within Life Without Barriers child youth and families program, it is also part of the Senior Leadership Team and directly reports to the Victorian State Director.

One of the key focus areas for this role is developing and implementing strategies, systems and tools that provide support, communication, recognition and contribute to the overall retention of carers.

The role will provide leadership in building the ‘Carer Experience’ through leading a team of staff across several divisions across Victoria.

This role oversees the recruitment, pre accreditation compliance, training assessment and development of all foster carers across the Victorian out of home care program.

The role also oversees the induction of new carers into LWB and to support the transition of newly approved carers to the family-based care placement support teams. 

This full-time maternity cover (until June 2024) position offers the flexibility to be based anywhere across Victoria.  The incumbent will have the flexibility to work from either home or office settings, promoting a harmonious blend of work and personal life. As this role requires regular travel within the VIC region, with an annual vehicle allowance of $17,500 provided.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide supervision and support to a multi-disciplinary team to deliver quality outcomes for children, young people and their families and carers
• Lead the team to complete quality carer assessments, training and reviews in accordance with LWB policy and practice models
• Work co-operatively with the Central Enquiry Team to ensure effective management of carer engagement , recruitment, supervision and support
• Ensure intake and placement matching systems are in place. Liaise with other internal teams such as Practice, Placement Support to ensure services are coordinated.
• Produce reports when required in relation to the work completed within the team
• Be the central point of contact for the Placement Services Unit and National Carer Enquiry team and maintain a good working relationship with them
• Embed the CARE approach locally by leading a multi-disciplinary service delivery team to provide, monitor and promote quality practice and continuous improvement in service delivery.
• Work in partnership and cooperatively with the Practice and Quality Team to ensure quality and consistency of practice across the organisation
• Liaises and partners with internal and external stakeholders for practice development and improvement 
• Lead the team to achieve the business plan outcomes and other organisational programs and initiatives whilst demonstrating LWB’s values

Skills & Experience

• A tertiary qualification in social work, psychology, or a relevant human service area
• Current Unrestricted Australian Drivers Licence
• Demonstrated management experience, skills and knowledge in child protection/out of home care services / family support and preservation
• Experience in providing professional development through supervision, training, coaching and monitoring
• Experience working in a culturally sensitive manner with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and a willingness to work and train in culturally appropriate approaches
• Demonstrated experience providing leadership and support to a multidisciplinary team to achieve objectives, including clinical quality improvement strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in managing competing priorities and to deliver high quality outcomes within agreed timeframes

Successful candidates will be required to clear probity checks including National Criminal History Record Check and Working with Children Check.

Benefits.

• Competitive base salary + $17,500 vehicle allowance + 11% super
• $2000 annual meal & entertainment card for everyday living expenses (for example, mortgage or rent) 
• Options in a Novated Car Lease - pay no GST on the purchase price of new car or save on running costs of existing car. 
• A mobile phone and laptop
• A rostered day off per month
• Employee Assistance Program
• Opportunity to work for one of Australia’s largest social purposes organisations.
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• Travel club membership & discounted health insurance