About Us:

Originally named The Wayside Foundation, The Ted Noffs Foundation was established in 1970 by the Australian humanitarian, Reverend Ted Noffs, and renamed in 1992 to honour his life’s work. The organisation’s early work helped co-found Lifeline, the first drug referral centre and The Freedom Ride (here.

Charlie Perkins and Ted Noffs alongside Ken Brindle and Bill Geddes also co-founded the Foundation for Aboriginal Affairs in 1964 (here which was one of the first organisations aiming to achieve equality for First Nations people. The Ted Noffs Foundation went on to pioneer drug treatment for young Australians.

Today, the Ted Noffs Foundation focuses on helping young people with drug, crime and mental health issues and has achieved significant success. We run services across NSW, ACT and QLD with over 150 staff and nearly 300 volunteers committed to helping disadvantaged young Australians.

The Role:

• Lead a multidisciplinary team of Australia’s first and most respected youth residential treatment program.
• Provide day to day clinical and operational oversight of program delivery and client wellbeing.
• Oversee a Therapeutic Community Treatment model within a residential setting.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to lead our PALM Residential Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation unit in Watson, ACT. Operating as a therapeutic community, our youth rehab for teens is a three month program providing a holistic, intensive, multi-disciplinary, residential treatment program staffed by professionals specifically trained in working through trauma, challenging behaviours and complex needs. The program offers counselling, family support, group work, vocational/educational modules, living skills and recreational activities.

The Manager will have high levels of community sector management experience, leadership skills, people management experience and compassion for marginalised young people. The role is supported by the National Clinical Services Manager and the National Programs Manager and an Assistant Manager.

Responsibilities and duties include, but not limited to:

• Lead the development and implementation of programs/clinical aspects of PALM residential program and CALM aftercare program.
• Provide leadership to a multidisciplinary team including counsellors and alcohol and other drug workers, and coordinate the day-to-day activities of the program.
• Ensure the implementation of a Therapeutic Community model within a residential setting.
• Ensure that the Program is delivered to the highest standards in compliance with the requirements of the funding agreements.
• Oversee the coordination of referral and intake of new clients by ensuring that these are carried out in line with policies and procedures.
• Staff management including recruitment, personal and professional development and staff performance appraisals.
• Oversee the weekly rosters, including staff roster and PALM Program (group roster) ensuring a responsiveness to issues within the residence.
• Implement consultative meetings with appropriate individuals and organisations.
• Maintain and refine the infrastructure and systems necessary for the running of the programs.
• Provide advice to the Foundation by identifying trends towards new opportunities and the enhancement of services.
• Develop and maintain productive relationships with non-government organisations and government department services.
• Contribute to the building of the Program Budgets and ensuring that the program operates within the budgets.
• Oversee and ensure the supervision of all staff in a project, students and volunteer placements.
• Provide reports and administrative documentation as required.
• Maintain data collection systems, client record systems and financial systems as required.
• Ensure that the household is a safe and supportive environment free from harassment and which creates a positive atmosphere.
• Responsible for the safety of residents, staff and visitors in the program.
• Monitor and ensure that all policies and procedures are followed by all staff and program participants.
• Maintain legal and ethical requirements.

Manager role involves:

• Flexibility in working hours. This may include occasional shift duties or weekend work as necessary and a weekend day may from time to time be included in your 5-day working week.
• Participate in the On-Call duties.

Essential Selection Criteria

• Qualifications and experience in working with young people with alcohol and/or other drug related difficulties.
• Demonstrated capacity to coordinate a residential treatment service and to motivate, lead and supervise a multidisciplinary staff team.
• Demonstrated knowledge of good practice in working with this client group.
• Demonstrated knowledge of Therapeutic Community Standards and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention.
• Experience in developing and implementing living skills disciplines and ability to coach and lead others.
• Staff supervision and related administrative experience, preferably within a residential setting.
• Knowledge and experience of good counselling practice.
• Strong analytical, written and financial literacy skills with a proven ability to manage budget, analyse data and statistics, write complex reports and develop grant and funding submissions.
• Strong communication, negotiation and stakeholder management skills with a proven ability to form strategic sector and community relationships.
• Sound knowledge and experience in running a therapeutic community.
• In supervising the PALM unit, the Manager will, as required, need to accommodate a Saturday or Sunday into the normal 5-day work week.
• Commitment and capacity to implement and apply EEO, WHS policies, ethical practices, and the principles of cultural diversity.
• Commitment to the principles of harm minimisation and to the aims of the Ted Noffs Foundation.
• Must have a current and valid ACT Working With Vulnerable People Check and Driver Licence.

Desirable Selection Criteria

• Current First Aid Certificate.
• Management experience in an adolescent residential program.
• Familiarity with local issues, networks and services.
• Extensive experience in working with young people, particularly those with AOD issues.

Remuneration: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010 (Level 6) + full salary packaging options available (of up to $15,899 tax free per year), 11% superannuation, leave loading of 17.5%, laptop, mobile phone and vehicle.

Ted Noffs Foundation is committed to equal employment opportunity and embraces diversity and inclusion within its workforce. As such, people from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to apply. This includes, but is not limited to First Nations People, People with Disability, Women and People from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds.