We are on the lookout for an exceptional person to join ACON’s Senior Leadership Team (SLT) led by the CEO to lead the Client Services Team to deliver therapeutic individual and group support to people living with or affected by HIV and people of diverse genders and sexualities (LGBTQ+ people).

What’s Client Services Team you say?

The team currently comprises:

• Government-funded services including specialist sexual, domestic and family violence support, HIV and LGBTQ+ counselling, trans mental health, substance support, and suicide prevention and aftercare. Delivered by a multi-disciplinary team of Psychologists, Social Workers, Counsellors and Peer Workers across Intake, Care Coordination, Counselling, Peer Work and Aging Support Services teams.
• Pride Counselling Programs – ACON’s fee-for-service social enterprise counselling model offering counselling to individuals and employees of Pride EAP member organisations, and secondary consults through Pride Supervision.

Ok, so what’s the role?

The Director, Client Services (Gadigal Sydney) provides strategic and operational oversight and responsibility for clinical governance and quality assurance of clinical and non-clinical models of care, strategic planning and prioritisation, growth, people management, stakeholder engagement, and risk and financial management in the Client Services Division. You will:

• Work closely with the CEO, Deputy CEO, Directors, Managers, Team Leaders, staff and stakeholders to ensure ACON’s programs and services are sustainable, equitable and make a meaningful difference to ACON’s communities.
• Provide strategic, program and quality leadership in developing, advocating for and implementing ACON’s Strategic and Business Plans, Reconciliation Action Plan, Multicultural Engagement Plan and the Blueprint for Improving the Health & Wellbeing of the Trans & Gender Diverse Community in NSW.
• Support, mentor and develop unit Managers and Team Leaders, and contribute to the ongoing development of ACON managers.
• Lead the development, delivery and evaluation of ACON’s Gadigal Sydney Client Services, ensuring high quality, inclusive, affirming and safe services for all community members.
• Identify and act on opportunities for new funding and growth of services to ensure ACON continues to meet the needs of the community.
• Lead the ongoing development, implementation and evaluation of a Quality Safety and Care Framework that ensures ACON’s Client Services maintain high quality, inclusive, affirming and safe service delivery for our clients.
• Oversee the Client Services teams use of electronic client records data bases, including monitoring and analysing data, undertaking annual clinical audits, and leading all project deliverables and production of reports as required, including quarterly, progress and ad hoc reports required for funding bodies, the Senior Leadership Team and the Board.
• Continually build and enhance partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure effective, collaborative and evidence-based program and service responses.

Who are we looking for?

• Someone eager to help our community, with professional qualifications in Social Work or Psychology, and full membership of the relevant professional association (e.g. AHPRA, PACFA, AASW).
• An experienced leader with a minimum of 5-years Psychology/Social Work experience working in community-based support services (e.g. mental health, AOD, peer work, domestic and family violence).
• A person with demonstrated senior management experience in community-based organisations, including managing multiple funding agreements, project management, change management and human resource management, and the ability to effectively lead and build high performing teams.
• Someone with a demonstrated ability to lead the development, implementation and evaluation of a Quality, Safety and Care Governance Framework.
• A driven achiever with a demonstrated understanding of the NGO funding environment in NSW and Australia and success in establishing new funding streams and new models of care to expand the reach of service delivery.
• A great collaborator who demonstrates the ability to build effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders (government and non-government) and a sound understanding of the workings of Commonwealth, State/Territory and Local governments, and the health sector.
• Someone with a detailed understanding of, and commitment to, ACON’s communities and strategic plan.

What else can we tell you?

ACON provides a colourful, nurturing, and fun workplace. Our employees and volunteers are the foundation for our ongoing effectiveness and for our capacity to deliver innovative community engagement and health promotion programs and initiatives for our communities.

To support the successful candidate in their new role at ACON we offer:

• Flexible working arrangements.
• Generous learning and development opportunities.
• Potential for tailored mentoring opportunities.
• Supportive working environment with a knowledgeable and friendly team.

We offer flexible working arrangements and a generous array of entitlements often above the National Employment Standards (NES) including:

• Salary Packaging up to $35,000 gross up value (i.e., currently up to $15,900 Expenses + $2,650 Meals, tax free).
• Generous pro-rata leave entitlements – including up to an extra week of paid leave for full time employees to be taken during our Christmas and New Year’s shutdown period.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) – access to a comprehensive counselling service free to employees.

How can I find out more details and apply?:

If this sounds like you, we invite you to apply to join our team and help us make a meaningful impact on the lives of those we serve. By joining us, you will be part of a mission to create a healthier and more inclusive community.

We’d love someone who has experience already in this area but people at all levels of experience are absolutely welcome to apply. We highly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from CALD backgrounds, people with disabilities, and people of all genders to apply.

For more information on the role, please contact Scott Blakeman, Manager – People & Culture, via email at [email protected] using the subject line: Director, Client Services - Gadigal, Sydney enquiry via EthicalJobs or (02) 9206 2090.

If this sounds like the position and organisation you’ve been looking for, find out how to apply at www.acon.org.au/jobs.

All applications must include:

1. Your completed ACON Employment Application Form – with all the details filled in where requested;
2. Your Cover Letter outlining how you meet the Selection Criteria; and
3. Your Resume.

We are grounded in the belief that diversity is our strength, our differentiator, and at the core of who we are and what we do. As part of our commitment to inclusion, we encourage applications from people living with HIV, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and LGBTQ people from culturally, linguistically and ethnically diverse, migrant and refugee backgrounds, and LGBTQ people of colour.

www.acon.org.au

A position description is attached.