• Casual
• SCHADS Level 4
• Generous Salary Packaging benefits up to $15,900 per annum (depending on income)
• Outer Dandenong location
• Position requires availability for a roster that includes sleep overs on weekdays and weekends
• Opportunity for Professional Learning and Development
• Inclusive Rainbow tick accredited organisation

wayss is the largest provider of homelessness, housing and family violence services in the South East Melbourne area.

We exist so that people have access to safe, sustainable and affordable housing and our vision is to be the major provider of social housing services and leading-edge client support programs in the Southern Melbourne Metropolitan region.

This position is based at the Southern Women’s Integrated Support Service (SWISS), which is a purpose built family violence crisis refuge facility providing 24/7 support and independent accommodation for people who identify as female and children. The position requires availability for 24/7 roster including sleep overs on weekdays and weekends.

About the role

Reporting to the Team Leader, Family Violence Refuge, the Program Support Worker will work as part of a dynamic team supporting SWISS clients. The position assists the work of the onsite Specialist Family Violence Practitioners to ensure the needs and goals identified in individual client plans are implemented through the delivery of practical supports and resources for women and children at SWISS.

The position assists the team in providing a safe, supportive and welcoming environment for all women and their children, with the ability and confidence to provide support to a client in crisis.

Duties will include:

• Undertake solo sleep over shifts.
• Provide individualised and tailored practical supports for women, children and young people in refuge.
• Provide an after-hours response to the women and children onsite, as required.
• Provide support for SWISS clients as requested or needed including emotional support.
• Assist with transporting clients to appointments.
• Work collaboratively with Specialist Family Violence Practitioners and the Children’s Worker through assisting with refuge activities and tasks that support clients and work towards their goals.
• Prepare units for arriving families and assisting with client exits including cleaning bedding and linen and liaising with wayss Property Services Team.
• Maintain linen supplies and the client pantry, purchasing items as required.
• Liaise with maintenance and tradespeople undertaking work at the facility.
• Keep the client records up to date, including client case notes and changes to a client’s risk and safety.
• Participate in the twice daily shift handovers, as required.
• Other reasonable duties as required or requested by the supervisor.

About you

You will have:

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications with a Diploma of Community Services or equivalent a minimum requirement
• Experience working with women and their children with complex needs and risk issues in the community services sector.
• Demonstrated ability to identify, assess and prioritise the risk and needs of clients, maintaining accurate records and providing advocacy and support as needed
• Demonstrated experience and ability to provide practical assistance to specialist staff in their support of clients and the facility, at times working autonomously or under limited direction.
• Resilience to work with and support clients who have been exposed to trauma
• The ability to work collaboratively and build strong, authentic and supportive working relationships
• The ability to recognise and identify limits of own expertise and to seek advice or refer clients to other specialists.
• A commitment to best practice and work towards the best possible outcomes
• Excellent computer skills, Including a working knowledge of Microsoft Office.

This role requires a current Driver’s Licence and valid Working With Children Check. The candidate will need to have successfully completed wayss’ pre-employment screening and a police check.

Working for wayss

Our people are our greatest asset. 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 offering a range of benefits to ensure we hire and retain great people.

To hear what our people have to say about working at wayss go to Vimeo.

Applications

Applications may close sooner if a successful candidate is selected.

Please ensure you include a covering letter, outlining your experience in relation to the Äbout You" section in the Position Description.

Enquiries about the position and copy of Position Description can be directed to Brenna Johnstone, Manager, Family Violence Response Program on 0412 366 657.

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 people with lived experience to apply for roles at wayss. 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.