Seniors Rights Victoria (SRV) is a state-wide, specialist Community Legal Centre which sits within COTA Victoria. SRV’s mandate and sole focus is elder abuse. Elder abuse is any act which causes harm to an older person, carried out by someone they trust such as family or friends. Elder abuse may be physical, sexual, financial, psychological, or social abuse, or neglect.

SRV operates Victoria’s elder abuse Helpline which provides information and referrals to any person concerned about elder abuse, including professionals seeking secondary consultations. SRV’s provides services direct to older people experiencing abuse including specialist legal services, short term support and advocacy, and community education.

In addition, SRV has broader policy, systemic advocacy, law reform and capacity building roles both in Victoria and nationally to raise awareness of elder abuse and promote prevention.

POSITION OBJECTIVE:

The Manager & Principal Lawyer - Seniors Rights Victoria role leads the day-to-day management and operations of Seniors Rights Victoria including ensuring a thriving, positive and collaborative team culture. As Principal Lawyer, the role has ultimate responsibility for the operation of the legal practice, albeit supported by and delegating some tasks to the Managing lawyer. The role is also a key part of the senior management team of COTA Victoria and thus will work with the COTA Victoria CEO and other senior management team members participate in whole of organisation strategic and operational planning as well as raising legal and related issues associated with the practice of a community legal centre.

ABOUT THIS POSITION:

This position will manage and oversee the day-to-day operations of SRV. The role includes developing leadership capability of SRV staff; identifying and managing risk, particularly those responsibilities associated with running a Community Legal Centre as set out in Community Legal Centres Australia’s Risk Management Guide; strategic development including the identification of opportunities for SRV in the elder abuse space and beyond; budgeting, reporting and evaluation. This role includes direct supervision, support and mentoring of the Managing Lawyer, the Advocacy Team Leader and the education team and administration staff. Occasional supervision of Community Lawyers may be required.

The key responsibilities of the Manager & Principal Lawyer - Seniors Rights Victoria position is outlined below:

Leadership

• Provide leadership for SRV team and model a collaborative and positive work culture.
• Manage the SRV team as a community legal centre as required by law and accreditation requirements.
• Support the Managing Lawyer and the Team Leader Advocacy to ensure supervision of case files.
• Support COTA Victoria and SRV to advance strategic policy development and service planning, promoting the success of the SRV integrated service model.
• Undertake stakeholder and network engagement on behalf of SRV, identifying and initiating opportunities for project development and capacity building across the sector.
• Guide SRV’s law reform projects and contribute to systemic advocacy on issues of elder abuse.
• Support the development of existing and new projects including identifying business development opportunities and develop funding proposals.

Operations

• Contribute to management of SRV Service Agreements with the CEO and ensure accountability responsibilities are fulfilled and that all funding requirements are met.
• Develop and manage a comprehensive risk management strategy including ensuring continued compliance with and management of the Information Barriers.
• Monitor the service including review of guidelines, protocols and procedures required for all matters relating to the legal practice as required ensuring the practice meets all relevant statutory requirements.
• Contribute to the management of SRV’s budgets with the CEO and Finance Manager to ensure expenditure remains within budget.
• Coordinate SRV team meetings.

Service development & delivery

• Oversee all legal advice and casework to SRV clients within the organisational guidelines and in accordance with legal practice.
• Provide legal information and advice to the COTA Victoria Management Team.
• Oversee the provision of secondary consultations, legal information and advice to service providers and lawyers and organisations that provide services to older people regarding options for their clients, and related legal remedies by the SRV Legal and Advocacy Teams.
• Oversee the development of legal education programs and publications for the legal sector and members of the community, with a view to raising awareness and addressing issues of elder abuse.
• Contribute to the development of SRV’s communication strategy

A position description is attached.