• Position Title: Thriving Families (TF) Coordinator
• Location: Nambour, Queensland
• Responsible/reports to: Nambour Community Centre Manager
• Roles reporting to this position: Family support workers and occasional project workers within Thriving Families
• Award: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award, Level 5
• Hours of Duty: 38 hours per week or 9 day fortnight
• Status: Permanent full time

Thriving Families is a family support program of Nambour Community Centre. It utilises a progressive community development informed model that endeavours to connect with women, men and families that may well not be accessing service delivery type models. The model is based on hosting communal spaces that help to navigate power, increase accessibility), is flexible in terms of obligation to participate/attend & encourages reciprocal contributions and parallel peer-to-peer relationships that form natural/organic networks.

The individual support model the allows families to access the benefits inherent within traditional case management, such as access to services, referral pathways, tailored emotional and social support, advocacy and the reduction of structural and institutional barriers; but alongside this work our ‘partnering with families’ individual support model also includes a range of additional benefits for families. The model works towards the intentional reduction of stigma around accessing support; reducing the silos that exist organisationally for many services that limit family outcomes; the explicit fostering of peer-to-peer relationships; recognition of reciprocal relationships between families, community, organisations and workers, and recognising how these relationships benefit everyone; and the intentional developing of opportunities for families and individuals to contribute to their own, their family and community wellbeing, even when they are not doing so well.

This is individual support that is able to work across diversity, be flexible, collaborative and responsive. This means our ‘partnering with families’ support happens in real time within our community based activities and individually, with families at their own place and time. This model has been industry recognised as offering an innovative community based response to systemic need and disadvantage.

Thriving Families Objectives

• To deliver a targeted family support program underpinned by a peer to peer, community development framework.
• Be responsive to the diverse needs of parents and families in the local area, and provide diverse opportunities for a range of support and connection entry points.
• Facilitate processes that build community capacity to support and resource local families.
• Support parents to feel more confident in their parenting role and strengthen the bonds within the family dynamic.
• Families participate in the program on a completely voluntary basis which includes participation in groups and/or individual support based on their individual needs and goals.

Primary Purpose of the position:

1. To coordinate and be responsible for all aspects of the maintenance and future of Thriving Families.
2. To competently manage funding and reporting administration using P2i; DEX and other similar government and non-government systems.
3. To take a lead role in the ongoing development of programs in a progressive, anti-oppressive way that supports the empowerment and growth of families in the Nambour community.
4. To participate in a sector response to the needs of families and children in Nambour and more broadly the Sunshine Coast ie participation in stakeholder and network meetings.
5. To manage the resourcing of the program both financially and through human resources.
6. To undertake various community analysis, develop, create and, coordinate a range of diverse responsive entry points into support and connection.
7. To develop community wide links and referral pathways between families, groups, organisations and other agencies to build the overall capacity of the community and its families.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Overall Program Coordination
   1. Lead and supervise all program staff, students and volunteer teams involved in the program;
   2. Input into the development of a program work plan and contribution to the development of program resource allocations.
   3. Participate and support Nambour Community Centre activities as required.
   4. Facilitate the development of policy and program tools as required in collaboration with team members.
   5. Development and preparation of program reports, statistics and recording to meet the needs of multiple funding requirements.
   6. Work in collaboration with NCC manager and colleagues to develop procedures and tools to efficiently implement the program.
   7. Participate in budget planning and review processes.
   8. Promote safe work practices in alignment with program framework of practice.
2. Thriving Families Practice Framework
   1. Develop, maintain and evaluate framework of practice in collaboration with team members.
   2. Provide supervision and leadership to team in relation to practice development.
   3. Regularly review support in collaboration with families so that opportunities to strengthen and sustain support beyond direct family support work are identified.
   4. Lead reflective team supervision practices in relation to the creation/development and maintenance of diverse connection and supports for families.
3. Leading a team
   1. Support and provide insight into recruitment, selection and training of paid/unpaid team members.
   2. Support team members to access regular external supervision.
   3. Support, encourage and give feedback to paid/unpaid team members. Conduct regular team meetings for ongoing training/supervision and practice development.
   4. Lead team processes in the ongoing evaluation and development of the TF program ie team planning days.
   5. Lead and support self-care and staff well-being practices.
4. Thriving Families Activities
   1. Lead team processes in planning, development and co-facilitation of a range of activities /sessions to provide multiple access points and sites of connection for families.
   2. Develop and coordinate group activities for families that respond to the matters that local families have identified they wish to be connected to or know more about.
   3. Take the opportunity to provide multiple engagement pathways for a range of diverse local families.
   4. Regular participation in program delivery and group facilitation.
5. Sector Engagement
   1. Represent Thriving Families and NCC in the wider community and sector and ensure that positive awareness and sharing of the program and organisation occurs.
   2. Maintain relationships with program relevant steering groups; attend relevant meetings, workshops, advisory groups and working parties related to the program.
   3. Establish and maintain an effective referral network and liaison with community services through a co-facilitation role within the sector;
   4. Develop community and sector capacity to respond to and support families that face a complexity of issues and identify developmental activities to advance families’ ability to connect with the community.

KEY SELECTION CRITERIA

1. Tertiary qualifications in Social Sciences, Social Work or Human services.
2. Ability to articulate your framework of practice which draws from specific values, principles and social theories and contribute to an organisation committed to community development and social justice principles.
3. Demonstrated knowledge of a range of progressive social work practices, including feminist practice and anti-oppressive frameworks; with an understanding of how this relates to contemporary families and parenting issues. Practice knowledge around early intervention principles/practices with family oriented programs, and an understanding of the diverse models of parenting and issues affecting families and children.
4. Demonstrated ability to manage programs, including the ability to work creatively and innovatively, manage budgets, reporting and contractual obligations with diverse funding bodies.
5. Demonstrated experience in managing/leading a small team of people, or demonstrated knowledge/experience of processes in the areas of group supervision, reflective practice and leadership.
6. Demonstrated extensive practical field work experience in working alongside individuals, families and communities.

Requirements:

• A current C Class drivers license is essential.
• A current Blue Card is essential.
• A national police check is required for this role.