Are you looking for a career with meaning; one that connects your personal values with an organisation that supports vulnerable and disadvantaged people in our community? Do you want to be rewarded with a competitive salary and benefits package; and receive training and ongoing development?

The Families and Young People Services Team currently has a vacancy for a permanent full time Team Manager, Foster & Kinship Care to join the Mercy Community who will be responsible for delivering a consistently high-quality service across the Greater Ipswich region.

The Role…

You will oversee a small and growing team and be responsible for building strong working relationships with clients and stakeholders, and ensuring the program operates in accordance with models of practice, service guidelines/frameworks and Mercy Community and co-agency values, policies and procedures.

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

• Tertiary degree or above in Social Work, Behavioural Sciences, Psychology or related discipline.
• A demonstrated high-level understanding of statutory child protection processes including a sound knowledge of, and sensitivity to, the range of issues impacting upon vulnerable families and 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.
• Experience in assessment and working closely and creatively with families, ensuring engagement between all stakeholders with a strengths-based focus to meet the social, emotional and psychological needs of the children and young people in their care.
• A well-developed professional therapeutic practice framework for working with families, children and young people subject to statutory involvement in order to facilitate positive change within families to enhance the safety and wellbeing of children and young people, including highly developed evidenced-based risk assessment skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with a demonstrated ability to use Microsoft Word to produce accurate written case notes and reports that are clear and structured, and evidence sound theoretical understandings within a structured management and accountability framework with strict confidentiality considerations.
• Demonstrated time management skills, with the ability to balance and prioritise various client engagement and administrative requirements.
• A demonstrated ability to both self-motivate and exercise creativity and initiative in your work, as well as providing supervision, mentoring, direction and feedback to team members in relation to their work performance and practice.
• Evidence of current vaccination against whooping cough or willingness to obtain prior to commencement, unless applicable exemption provided.
• Demonstrated intermediate ability to use computer IT systems including MS Word and Excel.
• Queensland Provisional Green or above Driver’s Licence.
• 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.
• Experience in the recruitment, training, assessment, support and monitoring of foster and kinship carers.
• Certificate IV Training & Assessment.

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

• The chance to make a genuine difference in people’s lives
• Monthly supervision and professional support
• The opportunity to increase your take-home pay by salary sacrificing
• Continued professional development opportunities

• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (confidential counselling service)
• Career pathways for those wishing to grow within the company
• A friendly, collegiate and supportive work place

This position offers a competitive remuneration package in line with our Enterprise Agreement (dependent on qualifications and experience). You will also have the opportunity to increase your take-home pay by salary sacrificing and other benefits.

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 and Employee Value Proposition.