POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position title:
Initial Assessment & Planning Team – Team Leader
Location:
Glenroy Community Hub
Reporting to:
Manager Accommodation Services
Direct Reports:
Initial Assessment & Planning Team
VincentCare Victoria was established by the St Vincent de Paul Society in Victoria in 2003 to provide a
range of professional accommodation and support services to people that are facing disadvantage and
those that are ageing throughout metropolitan and regional Victoria,. VincentCare Victoria works within the
Christian Mission of the St Vincent de Paul Society having been charged with providing an extensive range
of structured social services often in partnership with government and like organisations. VincentCare
Victoria’s primary focus is to
o provide quality services for the homeless, the aged, people with a disability, and men and
women struggling with complex needs including substance abuse and mental health needs;
and
o to advocate for vulnerable and disadvantaged people, respect their dignity and rights and
understand their needs so as to provide them with support and encouragement and enable
greater independence
In early 2012, VincentCare’s Board approved a new strategic direction and service delivery model for
VincentCare Victoria. This new organising model ensures that we fulfil our mission to provide a range of
tailored, adaptable, flexible and quality support services across the service continuum for the most socially
disadvantaged adults and older people in our community. This will be achieved by placing those experiencing
homelessness at the centre of all our operations. Hubs will be the face of VincentCare with each hub
comprising a different mix of accommodation and services driven by the needs of the catchment population:
Seniors’ Living Hub comprises seven residential aged-care facilities across inner and metropolitan Melbourne
and rural Victoria, providing a total of 350 beds and services for the aged
Glenroy Community Hub comprises:
▫ VincentCare Community Housing Services: a large housing gateway and support hub
▫ HomeConnect: VCV, in partnership with other service providers operates an early
intervention/homelessness prevention project for people who have experienced, or are at risk of,
homelessness
▫ Family violence services: two women’s refuge services operate in Melbourne and rural Victoria
▫ Access Point Services: serves as the initial point of contact for people seeking housing and homelessness
services in the Hume/Moreland area of Melbourne.
Inner Melbourne Hub comprises:
▫ Ozanam House: a supported crisis accommodation service for homeless men
▫ Homeless drug dependency program: intensive drug and alcohol case management support to residents
referred from Ozanam House
▫ Ozanam Community Centre: provides a range of support, health, housing and recreational opportunities
for homeless people, or those at risk of homelessness
▫ Quin House: an abstinence based residential service supporting men with substance abuse issues through
the delivery of a range of therapeutic and support programs
▫ Life after dependency program: assists clients once they leave Quin House to maintain a stable housing
and substance free lifestyle by addressing a range of psycho-social needs including education, employment
and housing
 Adult support services: intensive case management support through adult and youth outreach services
and youth support programs
Social Enterprises Hub: comprising Ozanam Enterprises, an Australian Disability Enterprise providing
employment to over 80 people through a social firm model. Ozanam Enterprises provides a range of supported
employment and training opportunities to people with disabilities or facing other forms of disadvantage.
ROLE SCOPE AND PURPOSE
The position exists to provide a day to day central point of reference and contact to the Initial Assessment
and Planning (IA&P) Team in the delivery of services to people who are homeless or at risk of
homelessness across the local government areas of Moreland & Hume, and homeless men across
Victoria seeking access to Ozanam House.
The position is responsible to ensure that the IA&P Team provide services to the highest quality and
consistent with the Opening Doors Framework, the Victorian Homelessness Assistance Service
Standards, and applicable funding and service agreements.
Key functions of the role include providing practise expertise and regular staff supervision to ensure
service continuity with the IA&P team in working directly with clients and in line with the model as
developed by the Northern Local Area Service Network, including to undertake initial needs assessment
and prioritization, level one interim response, advocacy to access accommodation services, referrals,
completion of housing applications and advocacy to access private, public and community housing for
eligible clients, liaison and networking, and further to monitor the maintenance of assessment and referral
functions to Ozanam House. The position is responsible to comply with established organizational
budgets, including HEF and reporting.
The position works as part of a small leadership team, and prioritisation of specific tasks, including policy
work and networking is determined in conjunction with the Accommodation Services Manager.
ROLE ACCOUNTABILITIES
In addition to a demonstrated familiarity with the functions as described in the Initial Assessment & Planning
Worker Position Description the following will form Key Responsibilities of the IA&P Team Leader position.
Key Result Area
Key Accountabilities
Client
Excellence in
Housing
Information,
Assessment,
Planning &
Referral
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Provide a central and consistent point of reference for the team in delivering high
quality housing assessments, planning, information, referral and advocacy to people
who contact the service, either by phone or in person, in line with established
standards and procedures through clear and consistent application.
Support team members to provide a caring and comprehensive service to persons
experiencing homelessness, including:
o Crisis intervention
o Undertaking quality and comprehensive Initial Assessments
o Advocacy with accommodation and support providers
o Interim Response (level 1)
o Assessment of and assistance with future long- term accommodation options.
o Assess requests for financial assistance and provide financial assistance via
HEF
Provide a high quality and transparent assessment and referral procedure to
Ozanam House, in line with organisational policy & procedure and Opening Doors
Provide secondary consultation to other services in the areas of housing
information, initial assessment, planning and referral
Oversee provision of quality and consistent level one Interim Response in line with
LASN agreements & organisational policy & procedure
Work with accommodation providers to enable access to quality options for clients of
the service, this will include options for both crisis and long-term accommodation
Lead the team in creative and durable responses to client needs and oversee that
plans for clients are appropriately made, documented and actioned with the highest
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Liaison and
networking
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Contribute to the
evaluation and
development of
the service
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Leadership &
Advocacy
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Budgets &
Reporting
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General
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respect for client self-determination in the delivery & documentation of services
To maintain strong working relationships with other Access Point services in the
catchment in order that client services are delivered in such a manner that reduces
duplication in service provision.
Ensure that all client contacts are documented in a timely and professional manner
and that staff are conversant and compliant with confidentiality principles and
privacy legislation.
Allocation of work tasks to ensure an equitable share of the work load and flow
Liaise with community agencies on matters arising from individual client work as
identified by self and team and as directed by Manager / Hub Manager
By negotiation, undertake liaison and networking activities with agencies in the
catchment area who are also working at a broader level to positively impact the
experience of those who are experiencing homelessness.
Establish and maintain a thorough knowledge of local community agencies and
relevant resources and ensure that this knowledge is shared and utilised within the
team.
Maintain regular contact with housing providers such as real estate agents,
community and public providers of crisis and long- term housing in order to build
strong practise knowledge within the team. Site visits to agencies may be required
from time to time through negotiation with the Operations Co-ordinator
Work to enable the best possible working relationship with the local OoH Area
Offices.
In conjunction with both the IA&P and Leadership teams, participate in the ongoing
evaluation of policy, procedure and service delivery, including monitoring of
outcomes achieved on behalf of clients.
Participate in the organisational Accreditation process and actively support the work
of the Continuous Quality Improvement Network
By negotiation and reflective of your Annual Workplan, undertake relevant
professional development programs and maintain an appropriate working
understanding of relevant policies and regulations in the area of housing and
homelessness.
Enable the staff team to achieve and maintain high level data integrity in their work
in order that this is available to inform service development.
Fulfil all administrative tasks related to the position and as required undertake
additional duties as directed
Monitor compliance with established HEF budgets, including provision of weekly
expenditure reports to the Operations Co-ordinator and the prior approval for all
discretionary expenditures.
Provide monthly reports, including consolidated team data and reflect information
raised through the team worker reports
Make recommendations regarding the utilization of locum staff in line with approved
budgets
Provide other reports as required or requested from time to time
Monitor compliance with established HEF budgets, including provision of weekly
expenditure reports to the Operations Co-ordinator and the prior approval for all
discretionary expenditures.
Provide monthly reports, including consolidated team data and reflect information
raised through the team.
Provide other reports as required or requested from time to time.
To participate in a range of organisational meetings and other formal and informal
meeting structures as identified and agreed.
Provide regular (minimum monthly) Supervision to team members and participate in
regular Supervision with the Operations Co-coordinator and Annual Appraisals with
the Manager.
Consistently work to the highest ethical level, and within privacy, human rights and
duty of care frameworks & legislation
KEY SELECTION CRITERIA
Qualifications
 Relevant tertiary qualifications and/or experience in the delivery of services to people experiencing
homelessness
Experience - Essential
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Experience in leadership position/s including the provision of regular staff supervision and
managing staff performance
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Ability to lead and motivate staff teams
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Demonstrated capacity to manage multiple tasks in a busy and demanding environment and
capacity to plan and prioritise your own workload to deliver timely and quality outcomes
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Demonstrated experience in undertaking needs assessment in a welfare context and in the
provision and planning of information and referral services
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Ability to work collaboratively within a small team and contribute to consistent, yet innovative work
practises
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Demonstrated capacity to interact with others with sensitivity and diplomacy, a positive approach
in the work environment and the ability to build effective professional relationships with colleagues,
clients and other service providers.
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Highly developed interpersonal skills and excellence in written and verbal communication and
computer literacy skills which have been demonstrated in the work context
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Current and contemporary working knowledge of government, community and private sector
housing programs, policies, developments & issues. Including a comprehensive knowledge of the
SAAP, Family Violence and Youth Justice Service systems.
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Strong demonstrated understanding of the Opening Doors framework and its’ applicability to the
service setting
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Current Victorian Drivers License and Working With Children Check
Skills and Personal Attributes
Knowledge of Homelessness and Service Systems:
 Well developed understanding of the issues and needs facing people who have or are currently
experiencing homelessness, including AOD, mental health, disability, family violence, trauma and legal
issues
 Demonstrated understanding of the causes and effects of homelessness
 Demonstrated experience across a range of service systems, which could include AOD, mental
health, public health care system, family violence, youth or adult justice systems, and child
protection/family services
 Knowledge of and commitment to the principles of social justice, human rights, self-determination and
empowerment;
Direct Service Delivery:
 Demonstrated ability to contribute to and generate innovative service responses to clients experiencing
homelessness
 Demonstrated ability to work from a rights and strengths based approach that enshrines and promotes
 self-determination and flexibility;
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Demonstrated ability to intervene in critical incidents and manage challenging behaviours;
Demonstrated ability to plan and effectively use operational resources in line with agreed strategic
directions
Relationship Building:
 Demonstrated ability to build rapport with clients in innovative and flexible ways;
 Demonstrated capacity to interact with others with sensitivity and diplomacy and to build effective
relationships with colleagues, clients and other service providers;
Team Work:
 Knowledge of and commitment to a workplace culture that promotes self care, resilience and reflective
practice
Communication Skills:
 Highly developed verbal, non-verbal and written communication skills;
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High degree of facilitation and conflict resolution skills;
Time Management, Administration and Computer Literacy:
 A positive approach to work and a capacity to recognise and deal appropriately with challenging
situations, including the ability to manage multiple tasks in a busy and demanding environment;
 Demonstrated administrative accuracy and detail, including timely case note entry
 High level of computer literacy, including familiarisation with Microsoft Office programs, including
Word, Excel and Outlook;
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Familiarisation or experience in using the SHIP database;
Mandatory requirements
All appointments within VincentCare Victoria are subject to satisfactory completion of a police check and
character/performance reference checks. Police checks will be undertaken for the selected candidate prior to
any job offer being confirmed. Police checks are also undertaken on a periodic basis during the period of
employment.
Sign off
Employee
Manager
Human Resources