• 12 month contract
• Part Time – 3 days per week - Total of 24 hours per week
• Located in Western Sydney
• Salary SACS Award, Level 4 & Superannuation Hours – P/T 24 hrs per week – 3 days per week (7.5 paid hours per day) – Days of work are negotiable
• Transport Highly desirable for applicant to have own car to use (with all work travel expenses reimbursed and paid)
• Expected Start Date Week Commencing Monday, 16 February 2015

The Women In Prison Advocacy Network (WIPAN) is a not for profit, community based organisation dedicated to improving the status, wellbeing and prospects of women affected by the criminal justice system. WIPAN addresses the many issues facing criminalised women both systemically through advocating, and individually through mentoring women affected by the criminal justice system. WIPAN believes that by providing women with gender-responsive social support, recidivism rates will be reduced and the burgeoning prison population will be minimised.

Position Description

Purpose of the position:

The primary functions of this Mentoring Project Co-ordinator position are to create implement and coordinate the Western Sydney WIPAN Mentoring Program. The position will involve setting up and implementing the program in the Western Sydney area (given the current WIPAN Mentoring Program only extends to the Sydney CBD and Inner West area). Extending the current WIPAN Mentoring Program to the Western Sydney area will provide social support to women upon release from custody who will be residing in that area. This position will further recruit, supervise and support in the ongoing training of the WIPAN mentors, manage the Western Sydney program overall, create and maintain all mentor and client files and create stakeholder networks and partnerships with other relevant Western Sydney services and agencies.

All candidates will be required to undergo a criminal records check, the results of which will not necessarily preclude them from employment (Correctional Centre access requires this).

CALD and Aboriginal/Torres Strait Island women with the required skills are encouraged to apply.

Being a woman is a genuine qualification under Section 31 of the NSW Anti-Discrimination Act.

For any enquiries, please contact Tara Williams on 02 8011 0692 (during business hours, Mon, Tues & Thurs) or at [email protected].

Relationships:

Accountable to: WIPAN Executive Committee, WIPAN Director and WIPAN Senior Mentoring Coordinator.

Liaises with: WIPAN staff, all relevant community stakeholders and agencies, although this role is largely an autonomous role and as such applicant needs to be pro-active and self motivated.

Supervises: WIPAN volunteers and mentors, and women released from custody (menthes).

External Communication/Stakeholders

• Liaise with Department of Correctional Services and Department of Justice at an operational level
• Relevant government and non-government agencies, Community Organisations and TAFE NSW.

Key Accountabilities & Duties:

• Set up, implement and coordinate the Western Sydney WIPAN Mentoring Program and model (recruitment, training, supervision, assessment, matching, reviewing, case management and stakeholder engagement and networking)
• To be an important point of contact for WIPAN’s clients (mentees)
• Manage and secure client files in accordance with the WIPAN Mentoring model using Client Realisation Management software, (Salesforce). Prior knowledge of this program is not required
• Develop and maintain appropriate information and referral sources and networks with both government and non-government agencies in the Western Sydney area
• Manage data collection and ensure it is collected and entered regularly into appropriate computer systems
• To consistently review the ongoing sustainability of the WIPAN mentoring program
• To attend relevant training and professional development
• Adhere to all program reporting requirements
• To receive and assess referrals of mentees for participation in the program
• The recruitment and assessment of volunteer mentors and mentee’s
• Link and match mentors and mentees
• Manage mentor and mentee program support needs
• Provision of ongoing supervision and training to mentors by a monthly evening meeting and to organise professional guest speakers for these meetings
• Maintaining client files and database
• Work 5 days per fortnight in an office in the Western Sydney area and attend/work in the WIPAN City office the remaining 1 day per fortnight
• Undertake office administrative duties
• Other duties as directed appropriate to the function and role

Essential Selection Criteria

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Sciences/Social Work or equivalent and relevant experience
• Demonstrated management skills and the ability to work within the framework of WIPAN in a strengths and evidence based manner
• Knowledge of issues faced by women prisoners pre and post release and an ability to work sensitively and effectively with those in a criminal justice setting
• Demonstrated casework/management experience with women who have complex needs
• Knowledge of the impact of alcohol and other drug issues
• Knowledge of issues relating to CALD and ATSI communities
• An understanding of the concept of mentoring
• Experience in supervising and coordinating volunteers
• High level oral and written communication and interpersonal skills with people from a diverse range of backgrounds, including high level of computer literacy/ability
• Ability to work independently with exceptional time management skills, be proactive and highly self motivated as this role is largely autonomous
• Current Drivers Licence and own car