Wombat Housing Support Services is one of the largest providers of housing and support services to people in the Western Metro Region. It is a community-based organisation managed by a Board. 

The culture of Wombat is about:

• Integrating new programs and ideas
• Providing services that are accessible, transparent, fair & equitable
• Being sensitive to the needs of diverse cultural & language groups
• Recognising the right of all age groups to access appropriate services, including children, young people and older people 
• Cross program service delivery
• Embracing and generating change that is positive
• Accountability, inquiry and reflection
• Hearing and accounting for different views
• A workforce representing diversity in experience, age and ability
• Valuing staff and encouraging wellbeing
• Providing a flexible and supportive work environment.

Wombat’s existing services include:

• Support & Advocacy for social housing tenants
• Support programs for Department of Human Services youth clients 
• Transitional support services for Families, Single People and Youth
• Support program for young people on parole & Leaving Care 

Wombat is also the auspice for the Western Homelessness Networker and managers the LGBTI+ capacity-building project and Continuing Care Living skills project. 

Tenancy Plus

Tenancy Plus is an advocacy and support program for social housing tenants. The aim of the program is to prevent homelessness and improve outcomes for tenants through sustaining and supporting tenancies.

Wombat delivers Tenancy Plus in the Inner Western catchment of the West Metropolitan Region. 

The Tenancy Plus team supports new social housing tenants to establish successful tenancies, and provides support to existing tenancies that are at risk. 

The Position

Role

The position provides case managed advocacy and support to social housing tenants, particularly where there is a risk of failed tenancy.  

Scope

With the support of the Team Leader, Program Manager and program team, the Tenancy Plus case managers play a critical role in the development and delivery of effective support services to social housing tenants in the inner west. Tenancy Plus Case Managers deliver services on an outreach basis from a single site in Melrose Street North Melbourne. Tenancy Plus Support Workers provide direct service delivery within a case management model.

Reporting and Accountability

The Tenancy Plus Case Manager is accountable to the Wombat’s Executive Officer via the Program Manager. The Team Leader oversees general program operations and provides day-to-day guidance to case managers. 

Support and Supervision

The Tenancy Plus Case Managers participate in regular program meetings facilitated by the Team Leader and individual supervision with the Team Leader.

Bi-monthly external supervision is provided to the team, informal support and supervision is encouraged and forms a major part of the support and supervision structure.

Duties

Commensurate with SCHADS Level 5, workers are expected to adhere to established work practices however they will on occasion be required to exercise initiative and judgement and to be involved in service planning and coordination.

The role will involve performing the following duties in accordance with the philosophy, policies, work practices and protocols of Wombat Housing Support Services: 

• To deliver advocacy and support services to people eligible for services through Tenancy Plus
• To provide housing and related information 
• To assess the needs of tenants and potential tenants referred to the Tenancy Plus Program by Housing, Community Housing providers and other sources 
• To develop and monitor individual case plans in conjunction with the service user, the support team, the Tenancy Plus team leader and Program Manager.   
• To provide general support to tenants to maximise the likelihood of a sustainable tenancy
• To provide one on one intensive support to service users identified as being at risk
• To enable tenants to receive appropriate support from other agencies as required
• To respond appropriately to tenants’ needs for counselling, crisis intervention and conflict resolution
• To advocate to social housing landlords or VCAT on behalf of service users with respect to tenancy, maintenance, neighbourhood or other disputes and appeals
• To participate in team and individual case management support meetings, Tenancy Plus meetings and Wombat staff meetings
• To participate in Wombat working groups 
• To contribute to the maintenance of information, data and recording systems
• To network with other agencies to further the interests of Tenancy Plus service users
• To prepare written reports as required
• To contribute to the development of Wombat policies, programs and procedures
• To represent the interests of Wombat and Tenancy Plus in the west in consultation with the Team leader and Program Manager
• Other duties as directed by the EO.

The Conditions

The position is .8eft (7.6 hr day/ 30.4 hours per week).

The position is a fixed term till the end of March 2022.

Days worked will be negotiated with the Program Manager.

Job title: Tenancy Plus Case Manager

Salary: SCHADS award level 5 | Salary sacrificing is available, within the limit of the law.

Position reports to: Executive Officer 

Conditions: As per the Wombat EBA 2016, including:

• Five weeks paid annual recreation leave.
• Grace & Favour days between Christmas and New Year.

A Probationary Period of 3 months will apply 

Appointment is subject to a satisfactory Police Check and Working with Children Check. In the event that a candidate has resided overseas for more than one year in the preceding 10 years, an International Police check will be required prior to commencing work.

Key Selection Criteria  

• Substantial experience working with people in crisis, including people with challenging behaviours
• Experience in a relevant position in the Community Sector
• Working knowledge of the housing & support system and the causal factors of homelessness
• Demonstrated skill in case management tasks, assessment and the development of case plans
• Experience in individual case advocacy requiring excellent verbal communication and writing skills
• Ability and commitment to communicate and engage with people from diverse backgrounds including cultural, language, age and other experiences.
• Ability to work as part of a team and to be accountable as an individual worker
• Basic competencies appropriate to the conduct of the position such as computer literacy, driver’s licence and data collection
• Knowledge or experience of the Residential Tenancies Act, VCAT Act and/or Office of Housing/ Community Housing Policies (desirable).

Enquiries: 

Carmelo Maccarrone (Tenancy Plus Manager) Ph: 8327 2222