Are you passionate about human rights and ready to take action?

We have a rare opportunity to join ADACAS in a key leadership position as Advocate Team Leader for our Older Persons Team!

This role would suit someone with senior management experience from within the Aged Care Sector, government or with a transferrable skill set from another industry.

About ADACAS

ADACAS (ACT Disability Aged and Carer Advocacy Service) is a leading individual advocacy service in Canberra and regional NSW. ADACAS provides individual and systemic advocacy to people with disability, older people and their family carers and delivers other project activities consistent with our vision and mission.

We are passionate about asserting, promoting and protecting human rights and speaking up on behalf of people who cannot speak up for themselves. Our vision is a world in which everyone can exercise their rights and responsibilities, lead lives of value and dignity and pursue their dreams. ADACAS has a strong reputation as a human rights organisation and participates in a range of opportunities and initiatives to influence change on behalf of our client groups. 

About the Role

The Advocate Team Leader – Older Persons: is responsible for leading the team that delivers individual advocacy, training to residents and staff in Residential Aged Care Facilities and the wider community on the Aged Care Rights and Elder Abuse, community engagement activities across the ACT and for the Care Finder program. This position is accountable for the team to achieve their KPI’s aligned to the funding contract and contributing to the overall strategic objectives as outlined in the ADACAS Strategic Plan. The Team Leader will work collaboratively with their peers within ADACAS and colleagues in the OPAN network.

This position is focused on managing a team of Advocates who have diverse roles. Our clients are First Nations people over the age of 50 years and other Canberrans over the age of 65, often living in residential aged care or receiving Commonwealth Home Support Services. This position is also responsible for supporting staff who manage the Care Finder Program which is a service aimed to inform and support people to access My Aged Care.

Key responsibilities include:

• Managing the contract deliverables and reporting requirements associated with funding contracts.
• Support and/or represent ADACAS clients, applying a best practice approach in individual advocacy.
• Ensure that all activities are recorded accurately in Salesforce (Client Management System).
• Help identify key trends, including potential and actual systemic advocacy issues and inform the CEO.
• Represent ADACAS at events as delegated and at designated agency network meetings.
• Establish and maintain effective relationships with community partners, service providers, Government agencies and other stakeholders as required and take part in meetings with representatives.
• Advise the team about practice issues relevant to the delivery of a quality service to clients.
• Manage the quality of all the work undertaken by the team and conduct quality audits from time to time.
• Schedule staff team meetings.
• Provide the CEO and Older Persons Team with relevant information received from OPAN meetings.
• Contribute to achieving the strategic objectives as outlined in the ADACAS Strategic Plan
• Build a strong and cohesive team that works well together and across the other teams within ADACAS
• Ensure all staff have undertaken training and professional development in accordance with OPAN requirements, minimum data set criteria and contractual reporting requirements.
• Ensure all reporting requirements for the Care Finder program have been completed by the deadline.

About you

Forget the suits! Come as you are, be who you are. We value authenticity.

You will be able to demonstrate the following:

• Demonstrate a strong understanding of My Aged Care and the issues impacting Older People
• A strong commitment to work within a human-rights framework and take a restorative practice approach.
• Knowledge of what advocacy is and key advocacy issues in our society.
• Solid understanding of providing a culturally safe environment.
• Experience working with First Nations people and the CALD community.
• Demonstrated ability to understand and apply legislation, policies and procedures, including the ability to identify issues and problem solve.
• An understanding of or experience with Government legislation, processes and services in relation to aged care, disability and mental health.
• Experience working in the community service sector or similar.
• A tertiary qualification in human services / social work / behavioural science / community services OR an equivalent combination of relevant experience / education / training
• 5+ years’ experience managing a team, working strategically and achieving contractual outcomes.
• Sound knowledge and application of the MS Office suite of applications.
• Knowledge of or experience with Sales Force (desirable).

The successful applicant will hold, or be able to obtain, a current National Criminal Record Check and have a current driver’s licence. All ADACAS employees are encouraged to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and to receive an annual influenza immunisation. 

What’s on Offer 

Our office coffee is strong, but our dedication to human rights is even stronger.

• A rewarding opportunity that can make a difference within your local community
• Classification 6 of the SCHADS Award will be negotiated with the successful applicant depending on qualifications and experience.
• Ongoing training and learning opportunities
• Have the backing of a supportive and friendly team
• Free parking
• Generous Salary Packaging Benefits including everyday living expenses of $15,900 tax free and Meal/Entertainment card - $2,650 tax free

Does this sound like what you are looking for?

If yes, please click on the "Apply Now" button below to submit your application.

If you require any reasonable adjustments or support with your application and / or the interview process, please don’t hesitate to contact us at ADACAS on 02 6242 5060 or [email protected], using the subject line: Advocate Team Leader - Older Persons Team enquiry via EthicalJobs.

First Nations people are encouraged to apply.

Visit adacas.org.au to learn more about ADACAS.