Acknowledgement of Country

Switchboard Victoria is based on the lands of the Yaluk-ut Weelam clan of the Boon Wurrung peoples. 
 
We acknowledge that our work takes place on lands that are under colonial occupation and that sovereignty has never been ceded. We hope to pay our deepest respects to Boon Wurrung elders, past and present, and wish to extend this respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People across this Country we know as Australia.

About Switchboard Victoria (Inc.)

Switchboard Victoria is a community-based, not for profit organisation that provides peer-based, volunteer driven support services for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and gender diverse, Intersex, Queer, Asexual and more (LGBTIQA+) people and their friends, families and allies. 

Our current activities include: 

• Phone and web counselling and referral – Switchboard is the Victorian partner in the national QLife service. QLife provides anonymous and free LGBTIQA+ peer support and referral for people in Australia wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships. 
• Community connections for older LGBTI people – Switchboard’s Out and About program aims to reduce social isolation and loneliness through creating friendship and connection between LGBTI seniors living anywhere in Victoria and peer volunteer visitors.    
• Rainbow Door - is a free specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing information, support, and referral to all LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family. Rainbow Door supports people of all ages and identities with issues that may include suicidal thoughts, family, and intimate partner violence (including elder abuse), alcohol and other drugs, relationship issues, sexual assault, social isolation, mental health and wellbeing. 
• Suicide prevention - research and development of suicide prevention resources and programs for LGBTIQA+ communities. 
• QTIBPoC Programs - The QTIBPoC programs aim to build greater equity for Queer, Trans, Intersex and Bla(c)k, Indigenous and/or People of Colour and People of Faith. In consultation with key stakeholders, Switchboard’s QTIBPoC Programs will build internal capacity to meet QTIBPoC community needs and extend into targeted services.
• Training Program – Switchboard delivers a range of training to the community and service sector organisations. Trainings offerings include LGBTIQA+ Inclusive Practice, How to Recognise and Respond to F/IPV, How to Talk About Suicide Safely, Everyday Racism in the Workplace and Peer Support Training. Staff are accredited to deliver LivingWorks programs ASIST and safeTALK.
• Rainbow Families - Connecting and supporting LGBTIQA+ parents, carers, and their families. Supporting services to develop and deliver rainbow family-inclusive better practice across Victoria.

About Rainbow Door

Rainbow Door is a specialist LGBTIQA+ helpline providing Information, support, and referral to LGBTIQA+ Victorians, their friends and family during and after COVID 19. The service will provide assessment and short term case management and link people to safe services to support them with issues including suicidal thoughts, Family and Intimate partner violence including elder abuse, housing, AOD, legal issues, social isolation, and health.

Rainbow Door operates from 10am – 5pm, 7 days a week through phone, email, and text services.

Position details

• Title - Rainbow Door Practice Lead
• Organisation - Switchboard (Victoria) Inc
• Employment type - 1 FTE. Classification & remuneration Social and Community Services Employee, Level 7 Pay Point 1 based on qualifications and experience to be confirmed as per the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award 2010. Tax benefit available from salary sacrifice, package of up to $15,899. Annual salary: $110,000 - $115,500
• Location - Victorian Pride Centre, 79-81 Fitzroy Street, St Kilda VIC 3181 St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3000. Option to work remotely as agreed with Manager.
• Reports to - Rainbow Door Manager
• Direct reports - Rainbow Door Team Leaders

Position overview

The Rainbow Door Practice Lead will provide direction and support to staff on the Rainbow Door including Helpline Workers, Case Managers and Team Leaders. The position will support staff to develop their skills and knowledge, enhance their practice and achieve best possible outcomes for service users.

The role will bring an expert level of understanding of the Multi-Agency Risk and Management Framework (MARAM) and associated information sharing schemes and have strong risk management and assessment skills and an advanced understanding of sectors such as mental health, intimate partner and family violence, AOD, suicide prevention and homelessness.

The Practice Lead will oversee case allocation in consultation with Team Leaders and Program Manager, provide secondary consultation internally and to external stakeholders and work with Switchboard management, Program Manager and Team Leaders to ensure Rainbow Door is providing high quality services to the community.

The Practice Lead will be a key contributor to the establishment of the Case Management program and the Case Management Framework, policies, and procedures.

The Practice Lead will work 38-hour week, Monday – Friday and will report to Rainbow Door Program Manager.

About the successful candidate

To be successful in this role, the candidate will have considerable experience working in family violence and areas such as sexual assault, mental health, child protection, homelessness, suicide prevention or other associated areas. The candidate will have demonstrated experience in supervising case management staff and possess advanced risk assessment and management skills.

They will be a ‘people person’ and be committed to supporting staff and building a positive and healthy workplace culture. They will possess excellent communication and relationship management skills, good time management, and will understand and work with the many barriers faced by LGBTIQA+ people in our community.

Key responsibilities

Key responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

Program Delivery, Practice and Coordination:

• Provide expert subject matter advice on matters relating to family violence response, research, practice frameworks and approaches and practice development.
• Facilitate reflective practice sessions to enhance and support program practice.
• Oversee development, monitoring, and review of case plans for service users who require short term case management.
• Take a lead role in delivering practice forums on identified topics.
• Provide secondary consultation to internal and external stakeholders.
• Along with Team Leaders and Program Manager, ensure the program operates in accordance with current legislation, guidelines, and organisational policies.

Staff Management:

• Lead the development of strategies that influence the direction of teams and build a culture of high performance and innovation.
• Provide direct supervision of Rainbow Door Team Leaders.
• Oversee case allocation in consultation with Team Leaders and Program Manager.
• Manage conflict and performance issues within the team through supervision and escalate where appropriate.
• Assess training and development needs of staff and support meeting those needs through formal training, supervision, self-directed learning, and other appropriate avenues.
• Ensure policies and procedures are implemented and adhered to by staff.

Service Development and Quality:

• Lead service development and practice to ensure that the programs are inclusive, culturally safe and actively values diversity.
• Develop and lead continuous quality improvement activities, including file and case reviews, data analysis and provide advice and recommendations for training, practice and skills development.
• Participate in the development and review of program and organisational policies, procedures, and systems.
• Contribute to research, program evaluations, conference presentations, public forums and the delivery of training regarding family violence.
• Participate in the development of quality improvement and evaluation frameworks and mechanisms to monitor and evaluate projects and program outcomes.
• Work with Switchboard management, Program Manager and Team Leaders to ensure Rainbow Door is providing high quality services to the community.
• Support ongoing internal capacity building to ensure Rainbow Door services are effectively addressing the needs of LGBTI people. This could include, for example, advising on and/or delivery of staff training, key practice resources and input into program review and evaluations etc.
• Work with other Switchboard colleagues to ensure services are culturally safe for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander service users.
• Work with Switchboard colleagues to ensure practice is delivered through an anti-racist lens.

Relationships and Partnerships:

• Develop and maintain collaborative partnerships with community agencies, government bodies and other services.
• Establish and maintain a thorough knowledge of relevant community agencies and resources ensuring knowledge is shared and used within the team.
• Facilitate secondary consults to staff, other Switchboard programs and external stakeholders.
• Represent Switchboard at relevant networks and forums.

Organisational Accountabilities:

• Comply with Switchboard policies and procedures, practice manuals, service agreements and other relevant agency or legislative obligations.
• Complete monthly reports to the Program Manager
• Lead by fostering a collaborative and respectful culture and working environment across the organisation.
• Undertake other role related duties as requested by the Program Manager or Executive.

Selection criteria

Essential:

• Applicant must identify as part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, gender diverse, Intersex, asexual communities (LGBTIQA+) [Switchboard Victoria has an exemption under Equal Employment]
• Have demonstrated experience supervising staff providing case management, outreach, or similar direct service provision.
• At least five years’ experience working in specialist family violence services roles providing practice leadership and high-level risk assessment and risk management guidance.
• Have demonstrated experience working in key community services fields such as sexual assault, suicide prevention, mental health or similar.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex caseloads.
• An understanding of the barriers that LGBTI individuals may face in engaging with LGBTI communities. or organisations.
• Completed training in the MARAM Framework.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills with demonstrated ability to communicate effectively, both written and verbally, with people from a wide range of professional and cultural backgrounds.
• Tertiary qualification in social work, psychology, gender studies, community development, or other relevant area.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to prioritise tasks and meet deadlines.

Desirable:

• A strong understanding of what it means to take an antiracist and intersectional approach to your work.
• Experience working on a helpline.

To find out more and apply

Please make yourself familiar with Switchboard’s purpose and programs by visiting our website at www.switchboard.org.au.

Click "Apply Now". Please carefully review the selection criteria for this position, which you should systematically address in your application (both essential and desirable criteria – 2 pages maximum).

NOTE: Applications that do not address the Selection Criteria will not be considered.

Contact

For information, please contact Jake Peterson (Rainbow Door Manager)

Email: [email protected] using the subject line: Rainbow Door Practice Lead enquiry via EthicalJobs

Switchboard values diversity and is committed to the principles of cultural and ethnic diversity, social inclusion, and anti-racism. We promote a workplace that actively seeks to welcome and value unique perspectives. Switchboard especially welcomes and encourages applications from people who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander; trans, gender diverse or intersex; disabled; carers; live with HIV, are culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD), People of Colour or People of Faith.