Community Living Association is seeking for a Specialist Support Coordinator and a Specialist Support Coordinator (Employment Focused).

Social Work or similar degree preferred. New Graduates are encouraged to apply.

Our Support Coordination Team works with people with an intellectual/cognitive disability and/or psychosocial disability to build personal capacity to make decisions and choices about the implementation of all supports in their NDIS plan, including mainstream, informal, community and funded supports. Support Coordination Team’s practice is based on relationship building, on reflection and best practice, on building resources and capacity and on the ability to manage dignity of risk and uncertainty.

The Specialist Support Coordinator role is a full-time position (38 hours / week), on a permanent contract. Remuneration is at a SCHCADS Level 4 (Social and Community Services Pay Scales). The Specialist Coordinator role is a full-time position on a 10 months contract with potential extension according to circumstances. The Specialist Support Coordinator (Employment Focused) will have a specific focus on supporting young people with intellectual disability to achieve their NDIS goals in regard to employment.Remuneration is at SCHCADS Level 4 (Social and Community Services Pay Scales).

There is opportunity to increase your income through inclusion in our salary sacrificing program. The SCHCADS award can be accessed online. 

Benefits of working in the Support Coordination Team:

• Diverse practice and skill development opportunities through working with NDIS participants with diverse needs and lived experiences.
• Receive day to day practice support and regular formal supervision by a qualified and experienced Social Worker (weekly during first 6 months of employment and monthly thereafter).
• Weekly team meetings for case reflections and team development.
• Comprehensive induction and internal training sessions.
• Mobile Phone.
• Not for profit salary packaging

Requirements

• Tertiary qualification in social work, human services, or a related discipline.
• Specialised knowledge and/or experience in developmental practice and working with people with an intellectual, cognitive and/or psychosocial disability.
• A comprehensive understanding and skills in the Helping Process, Relational Practice, Trauma-Informed Practice, Crisis Intervention, Capacity Building Framework.
• A commitment to social justice and an ability to use advocacy skills in practice.
• Sound knowledge and skills in working with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and the LGBTIQ community.
• Driver’s License and use of own vehicle for work purposes (mileage reimbursed as per SCHADS Award)
• NDIS Worker Orientation Module certificate of completion.
• Yellow Card, Yellow Card Exemption OR NDIS Worker Screening Clearance.
• Blue Card “Working with Children Check”.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Engage in case management and pro-active outreach to provide NDIS Support Coordination services to participants with an intellectual, cognitive and/or psycho-social disability, and complex support needs.
• Actively support participants to build their capacity, focusing on addressing barriers and reducing complexity in the support environment, while assisting participants to connect with supports and pursue their goals.
• Exercise responsibility for providing NDIS Support Coordination services and projects to participants with complex support needs on your caseload, drawing on the specialised knowledge and skills outlined in the role requirements. 
• Apply CLA’s Practice Framework, Support Coordination’s Practice Framework, and CLA’s Policies and Procedures in the work, to ensure best practice and to ‘champion’ the rights, needs and hopes of the participants we work with. 
• Utilise thorough knowledge and understanding of the NDIS Price Guide and flexibility within budgets, NDIS Operational Guidelines, NDIS Act, and any other relevant NDIS documents and rules, to work creatively with participants to pursue their goals.
• Provide support and information at points of crisis using trauma-informed practice skills, including de-escalation skills, harm minimisation, risk assessments and safety planning.
• Network and collaborate with participants, families, significant others, community members, service providers, and employers to develop joint responses to the needs of participants.
• Provide practise coaching and/or intervention plans to the participant’s support team; apply problem solving, conflict resolution and group facilitation skills in stakeholder meetings.
• A commitment to social justice and an understanding of how best to access, advocate for, and maintain services for participants with complex needs through working effectively with internal and external stakeholders in complex systems e.g. NDIA, Department of Child Safety, Department of Housing, Justice system etc.
• Utilise communication, advocacy, and planning skills to write professional reports, drawing on the information provided by stakeholders, outlining your assessments, interventions, and recommendations in support of a participants’ goals and any subsequent resources (including NDIS funding) that they need. 
• Identify service gaps and unmet needs that cannot be funded under NDIS. Explore other avenues and opportunities where participants can be an active member of the society.
• Represent CLA in forums and networks, advocating with, or on behalf of, participants, to improve their opportunities and outcomes.
• Respectfully and actively participate in regular and ongoing supervision, reflective practice through team meetings, staff development activities, and contribute to a positive work environment.
• Work as a member of the Support Coordination team, including providing back-up support and/or assistance to other team members as required; particularly when continuity of service delivery is compromised.
• Share administrative responsibilities e.g. taking referrals, office phone duties, answering phones, locking up and recording at team meetings.
• Maintain record keeping such as case notes, minor expenditures, report writing and assist the Team Leader with programmatic / organisational data and reporting, including requirements of NDIS funding. 
• Work autonomously to fulfil the requirements of the role. 
• Work collaboratively with your team members, and other staff across the organization, as required. 
• Liaise with schools and employment services with a view to unlocking employment pathways for young people with cognitive disabilities.

Accountability

• The Specialist Support Coordinator (Employment) is accountable to the Support Coordination Team Leader.
• They are required to follow CLA’s Policy and Procedures and statutory requirements.
• In accordance with the Staff Supervision and Staff Development Policy, regular supervision will occur with the Team Leader.
• Specialist Support Coordinator will be supported with opportunities for professional development.
• The Specialist Support Coordinator Employment will also liase with CLA consultant regarding establishment Employment support strategies.

To apply for the Specialist Support Coordinator and/ or the Specialist Support Coordinator (Employment Focused) positions, please click Apply Now.

Interviews will be offered to suitable candidates and will take place the week following the closing date. We reserve the right to fill in the position early if a suitable candidate is identified.

Please find attached full application kit containing the following documentation:

• Position Description (Specialist Support Coordinator) and or Specialist Support Coordinator (Employment Focused)
• Support Coordination Practice Framework
• Selection Criteria
• Trauma, Vicarious Trauma, Burnout and Self Care Policy and Procedure