Due to an internal promotion, our Residential Care and Transition Services (RCaTS) team currently has an exciting opportunity for a highly motivated and experienced professional to join them in Townsville on a permanent full-time basis.

The role:

This role is responsible for the effective leadership of a residential services, including leading and supervising the Senior Residential Care Worker in providing effective coordination of the direct care team and for a range of interventions within the Residential Care Program including the development and implementation of care planning in line with the MC Model of Practice.

The role has a key responsibility to ensure high-quality out-of-home care and support for children, young people and their families. Strong, collaborative partnership with the Department, care team and key stakeholders is an essential element of this role to support the therapeutic change for children and young people.

To be eligible for this position you will require (Key Selection Criteria):

• A tertiary degree in Social Work, Psychology or other related discipline.
• Previous leadership experience within a social welfare context, including structured supervision and conflict resolution.
• Experience in providing high-level care planning and in developing and implementing effective assessment, creative and targeted intervention and care strategies for young people in and out of home-care settings, including residential care for children and young people affected by trauma and disrupted attachment.
• Previous leadership experience within a social welfare context including team supervision and conflict resolution.
• A resilient nature and excellent time management skills
• An understanding of and demonstrated ability to implement effective and structured supervision, vicarious trauma prevention and management strategies and self-care methodologies in the child protection industry.
• Excellent communication, both verbal and written skills.
• A demonstrated ability to coach, mentor and transfer sound knowledge and principles of therapeutic care from planning into daily care delivery practice with staff at all levels
• An excellent understanding of statutory child protection processes including a sound knowledge of, and sensitivity to, the range of behavioural presentations likely to be encountered in children and young people who have experienced significant trauma both within their families and through extensive engagement with the child protection system, including cross-cultural awareness.
• Demonstrated intermediate ability to use computer IT systems including MS Word and Excel.
• Queensland Provisional Green or above Driver’s License.
• Ability to obtain positive notice in the Working with Children Check (Blue Card) and any other legislatively required personal history screening as required.

It is beneficial for candidates to have:

• An understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, cultures and societies and the issues which impact upon them in contemporary society together with a commitment to culturally appropriate engagement and practice.
• Registration with a recognised professional practice body i.e. AASW or APS.
• Experience in providing high-level care planning and intervention services for young people in and out of home-care settings, or similar.
• Senior First Aid Certificate or willingness to obtain.

As a Mercy Community employee, we’ll offer you:

• The chance to make a genuine difference in people’s lives
• A friendly, collegiate and supportive workplace
• Flexible start and finish times/work from home opportunities
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (confidential counselling service)

This position offers a competitive remuneration package of $86,055 - $89,868 gross per annum in line with level 6 our Enterprise Agreement, dependant on experience. You can also increase your take-home pay by salary sacrificing and other benefits available within our Enterprise Agreement.

About Us…

Mercy Community is a not-for-profit organisation, focused on the provision of innovative and responsive services in the areas of child protection, multicultural community support, family mental health, community and residential based aged care and disability support services. We are a strongly committed team that works hard and truly lives our values – Mercy, Acceptance, Excellence, Dignity, Empowerment and Integrity.

We encourage and welcome candidates from all cultural backgrounds and recommend that you view our website for more information.