ABOUT US

Women’s and Girls’ Emergency Centre (WAGEC) is a feminist, grassroots organisation that supports women and families in crisis and advocates for social change in the community. We work on the lands of the Gadigal, Wangal and Dharug people of the Eora Nation.

Every night, we support 200 women and children impacted by homelessness, domestic violence and systemic disadvantage. We do this by providing material aid, case management, biopsychosocial support, accommodation, and crisis responses. Equally, we seek to address the underlying causes of gender based violence through primary prevention activities with communities that want to be a part of the global movement to end gender based violence in a generation.

THE ROLE

The program is funded by Department of Communities and Justice Specialist Homelessness Service as a specialist children and young person program to recognise children and young people as clients in their own right and provide support tailored to their needs. The program provides safety and wellbeing assessment, case planning and support tailored by and for each CYP and their caregiver. The aim is to restore a sense of normalcy, facilitate access to needed supports and set up the child/young person to not only survive their adverse childhood experiences but go on to live rich, rewarding lives.

As a Child and Young Person (CYP) Team Leader, you will provide operational oversight and leadership to the CYP Case Managers to foster strengths-based, trauma informed and person-centred case management to children and young people in our family refuges.

This is a full-time, permanent role based in Burwood.

The core responsibilities of the role are:

• Build positive working relationships with other staff, leaders and managers in Sydney West and beyond
• Provide operational guidance and support to team members
• Oversight of CYP activities in refuge; collaborate with Service Managers and Case Managers to welcome new families and provide information to encourage engagement with CYP program
• Identify and manage risks, escalating as needed - lead Child Protection best practice
• Hold a small complex caseload; provide case management directly with children and young people in partnership with the parents/carers, ensuring that their needs are identified and addressed appropriately
• Provide occasional after-hours On-Call duties as part of a rotating roster
• Proactively and positively contribute to WAGEC’s culture and impact

ABOUT YOU

• You have at least three years’ experience working within a crisis setting with families with complex needs, including homelessness and domestic and family violence
• You have experience in a team leadership, senior case management or practice lead role and have demonstrated leadership skills consistent with WAGEC's values and CARE Model
• You work from a trauma-informed, client-centred, strengths-based approach with families experiencing complex issues including homelessness, domestic and family violence and mental health challenges
• You can juggle priorities, work collaboratively and communicate clearly with teams and management
• You're able to balance gaining the trust of children and their caregivers, with having difficult discussions concerning child safety and wellbeing
• You recognise and respond to risk, especially to children and young people and a strong understanding of mandatory reporting responsibilities and processes
• You deliver and model effective assessment and outcomes-based case planning for children and young people
• You understand the causes and impacts of vicarious trauma, self-care strategies and a commitment to workplace safety
• You have a degree level qualification in a relevant area including Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, Community Services, Early Childhood education, or commensurate experience, and are committed to continuous learning
• Please read the position description attached and check out our range of services here.

Due to the nature of the work, and this team's current structure, this particular role is not suitable for new graduates without 3-4 years relevant work experience.

*If you think you have the experience to do this role but don’t meet all our selection criteria, please get in touch anyway to discuss your situation. We recognise that sometimes the right candidate for a job is based in personal qualities not just qualifications.*

To be female is a genuine occupational requirement of this role under Section 126A of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).

And when we say ‘women’, we mean women+ including non-binary people and people who identify as a woman. We strongly encourage women with lived experience, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and women of all cultures and identities to apply. 

If you have any questions or if you would like assistance in applying, please contact the People and Culture team via [email protected], using the subject line: Child and Young Person Team Leader enquiry via EthicalJobs, or 0437 615 061.

OUR ETHICAL STANCE

Our collective ethics are how we approach our work. By putting these words into action, we work justly, promote dignity and understand the impacts of our work on us and our communities.

• Feminist: Women are the primary source of truth of their own experiences and solutions.
• Respect: We seek first to create mutual benefit.
• Integrity: We all know what is expected of us.
• Collaboration: We are stronger and more sustainable together.
• Hope: We have a positive future orientation.
• Strength: We know we’re strong when we are in harmony despite uncertainty.
• Structure: We use process to enable everyone to be their best now and into the future.
• Social Change: Change at any scale transforms the world.
• Leadership: Using our individual or collective power and/or authority to influence others, to make progress on what matters.

WAGEC is a child-safe organisation, committed to the safety, well-being, and empowerment of all children who we engage with in our services and community. We have a whole organisation approach to upholding children's rights and striving to prevent all forms of harm, abuse and neglect for children and young people.

Why work with us?

At WAGEC we are committed to caring for our people to help them excel in the work they do. Our additional employee benefits include:

• Wellbeing Policy including 2 days of paid well-being leave each year
• Cultural Supervision, Wellbeing and Ceremonial Leave for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers
• 12 weeks Paid Parental/Adoption Leave Policy
• $500 self-care allowance each year
• EAP: Free access to Sonder - a revolutionary employee care platform for health, medical, safety and wellbeing support
• Flexible Workplace Arrangements
• External monthly clinical supervision (frontline workers)
• Salary Packaging options
• Professional development and training opportunities
• 5 days Professional Development leave per year
• Discounts to various local shops and businesses, including 30% off all WAGEC merchandise.

A position description is attached.