An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced and enthusiastic Support Worker who wants to make a positive impact in our community and join our Specialist Community Services (SCS) team.

Based at our Tom Fisher House facility in Highgate, this position provide an opportunity to work closely with disadvantaged members of society, specifically those whom experience homelessness or at risk of homelessness.

For more information on our Specialist Community Services, please visit the Vinnies WA website here.

About the Role

Tom Fisher House is a 7-night accommodation service which operates after-hours to support long term rough sleepers who may be facing complex challenges. Our staff work from a strengths-based approach to assess each individual’s needs; understanding the relationship between trauma exposure, homelessness, mental health, substance use and social disadvantage, ultimately working towards finding a pathway from homelessness to housing.

We are currently recruiting for 1 x permanent part time Support Worker who can work 46 hours per fortnight on a rotating roster.

Our Support Workers at TFH work from a rotating roster; this includes weekday and weekend shifts.

• Shifts include evening 17:00-21:00 and overnight shifts 22:30-8:30

The Support Worker plays a critical role in the delivery of our service. You will be supported by senior staff within TFH and the wider Specialist Community Services team. You will:

• Contribute to best standards of service provision while maintaining the Low Threshold, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Practice approaches to service provision.
• Promote informed choice through information provision, meaningful referrals and advocacy.
• Adopt a team approach, cooperating closely with team members in order to ensure continuity of support and provision of a high-quality service to those that utilise the service.

About You

Besides a relevant qualification, you will have extensive experience in working with vulnerable and at-risk cohorts of people who are experiencing homelessness and disadvantage.

You will be committed to working weekday and weekend evening and night shifts as described above, but most importantly you are passionate about improving the lives of others through your work.

Other essential criteria:

• Values consistent with low threshold and trauma informed care approaches, with the capacity to translate this into work practices on a day to day basis.
• Demonstrated ability to operate as an effective team member, with highly developed conflict resolution and interpersonal skills.
• Good written and verbal communication, including the ability to prepare concise and relevant handovers, maintain files and data requirements
• Senior First Aid and valid Driver's Licence.
• Knowledge of and an ability to access a range of relevant community resources, particularly in the homeless sectors.
• Knowledge of Low Threshold and Change, Therapeutic Crisis Intervention and Trauma Informed Practice.

Working for Vinnies WA

Our values are at the heart of our Society, anyone who comes into contact with us is better for it, our employees are supported to grow and nurture their capacity for leadership and resilience and hold mission at our core.

This is an opportunity to be part of an organisation that makes a positive difference to the lives of thousands of vulnerable West Australians, through a range of person-centred services and programs, made possible by the revenue raised through our Vinnies shops, generous donations, fundraising events and grants, and over 4,000 dedicated employees, volunteers and members.

More than this, as a not for profit, Vinnies WA are able to offer our employees:

• Generous tax-reducing salary packaging benefits (F/T & P/T employees only)
• Leave Loading + Birthday leave benefit (F/T & P/T employees only)
• 15% team member discount card to use in our retail shops
• A supportive work environment - regular supervision and support from the wider SCS team.
• 5 weeks annual leave - proportionate to part time hours

Screening & Application Process

At Vinnies WA, we are committed to providing a safe and engaging environment for children and vulnerable people to ensure that their rights, needs and interests are met and that they are protected from harm and abuse. As such, we ensure that our preferred candidates are appropriately screened prior to any offer of employment, to make sure that the right people are in the right roles. Screening will consist of Police Criminal History Check, Legal right to work in Australia and Working with Children Check (if required).

We are committed to creating a workforce that is as diverse as our Society. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and people of all abilities, cultures, orientations and backgrounds.

If you are passionate about our “good works” and are excited for the opportunity to represent Vinnies WA, we would love to receive your application, via the Apply Now link.