• Permanent Full time
• Professional development and career advancement opportunities
• Dandenong location
• Inclusive and diverse team environment
• wayss encourage creativity and innovative thinking
• Salary range $82,043 to $88,287 (SCHADS Level 4)
• Generous Salary Packaging benefits up to $15,900 per annum
• Five weeks of annual leave

Working for wayss

Our people matter. Without them, we would be unable to make a meaningful impact in the lives of people facing homelessness and family violence. This is our motivation in creating wayss as a great place to work.

wayss is the largest provider of family violence, homelessness, housing and services in the South East Melbourne area. We exist so people can live a life free from family violence and have access to safe, sustainable, and affordable housing. Our vision is to be the major provider of social housing services and leading edge client support programs in the Southern Melbourne Metropolitan region.

We deliver funded services and programs across the Southern Melbourne Area including the local government areas of Greater Dandenong, Frankston, Casey and Cardinia.

wayss provides the Homelessness Access Point in the Southern region for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The access point provides initial assessment, planning (IAP) and service referrals, as well as securing crisis and longer term housing options for people.

It is often the initial contact point for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who may then be referred on to one of the comprehensive service responses provided by wayss or other community service providers. wayss access point is a high demand service often responding to the needs of vulnerable people in immediate crisis with complex needs.

About the Role

Reporting to the Team Leader Access Point you will provide, information, assessment and referrals to support families, couples and individuals who are in housing crisis to access short, medium and longer term, secure and affordable accommodation.

Duties include:

• Assessing the housing and support needs of individuals and families presenting for assistance
• Facilitating referrals to appropriate accommodation, housing, health, support and material aid services
• Undertaking risk assessments and safety planning with clientsand accompanying children
• Assessing eligibility and facilitating access to Housing Establishment Funds (HEF)and other brokerage programs
• Advocating and liaising on behalf of clients with a range of services including Centrelink, real estate agents and private landlords
• Assisting clients to address the underlying factors contributing to their homelessness
• Empowering clients through a strengths-based model of practice
• Providing culturally appropriate and inclusive support that meets the needs of clients
• Promoting the rights, responsibilities and dignity of clients
• Networking with other service providers and programs
• Other reasonable duties as required.

About You

You will have:

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Social or Behavioural Science, or other relevant disciplines
• Relevant skills and experience in working effectively and sensitively with a diverse client group with complex needs
• Demonstrated ability to respond quickly and sensitively to the immediate needs of clients
• Relevant experience working in the community services sector
• An understanding and commitment to the social and political context of homelessness
• Good written and verbal communication skills
• Sound working knowledge of SHIP or other client information management systems
• Sound working knowledge of Microsoft Office and ability to use standard office equipment, computer systems
• This role requires a current Driver’s Licence and a valid 'Employment' category Working with Children Check. The candidate will need to have successfully completed wayss’ pre-employment screening and a police check.

Applications

Applications may close sooner if a successful candidate is selected.

Please ensure you include a cover letter, outlining your experience concerning the "Äbout You".

Enquiries about the position including if you would like a copy of the Position Description can be directed to Anita Jensen, Team Leader - Access Point (03) 8797 1618.

wayss is proud to be an inclusive and child safe organisation.

wayss is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to being an organisation that embraces a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion within our workforce and approach to service delivery. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic communities, people of all ages and LGBTIQ people. wayss is a proud Rainbow Tick accredited organisation that welcomes everyone across the LGBTIQ community.