Case Manager - Supporting Families Program

Job description

Why join Launch Housing Launch Housing is an independent Melbourne based community organisation passionately committed to ending homelessness. From providing high quality housing and an innovative range of support, education and employment services, we bring solutions to homelessness under one roof for thousands at risk of, or experiencing the crisis and trauma of homelessness. With over 400 staff working across 16 locations in metropolitan Melbourne, we combine direct action with advocacy, research and innovation to drive widespread change. Our people are the backbone of our organisation and supporting their wellbeing and professional development is critical to our ability to help our clients and the community. We value lived experience and diversity in our staff, and provide high-quality training & supervision, wellbeing days, access to an Employee Assistance Program and much much more to ensure your career with us is fulfilling. Don’t just walk past homelessness. Join the solution. **Our permanent and fixed-term employee benefits include:** • Contributing to useful and rewarding work and giving something back to the community • Wellbeing days, ceremonial leave, carers leave and study leave • Flexible working arrangements • Purchased leave • 17.5% leave loading • 8 weeks’ gender neutral paid parental leave after 12 months of service for both the primary and secondary carer • Training and career growth opportunities across Launch Housing • A portion of your income can be tax-free by salary packaging your personal expenses • Additional tax-free salary packaging on dining and accommodation expenses • Positive, supportive and progressive work environment **About the opportunity:** The Supporting Families Program (SFP) provides intensive case management to families and children who need medium-term support to sustain safe and appropriate housing. The program’s aim is to prevent families from entering the homelessness service system by delivering tailored, flexible support. Case Managers work in an outreach capacity with families for up to twelve months, developing and delivering case plans that respond to each family’s specific needs. A Team Case Management approach underpins the work, ensuring coordinated service delivery. The program supports families and children to strengthen community connections and, where appropriate, links them with local resources including education, training, health, employment and recreational opportunities. A strong focus is also placed on the needs of children, with Case Managers actively engaging them in educational, health and support services. Reporting to the Team Leader – Families Housing & Support, the team is based across Launch Housing’s Collingwood Hub and the South Melbourne family crisis accommodation service. The program is jointly overseen by the Team Leader and Coordinator of the Families Housing & Support area and supports families residing in the Bayside Peninsula and North-East Melbourne areas. The SFP sits within Launch Housing’s Specialist Child & Family Services, which form part of the broader Families & New Beginnings function. Permanent, part-time role (60.8 hours per fortnight) based at Collingwood. As part of our commitment to increasing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employment, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates will be given priority consideration. All other candidates are welcome to apply. This approach is a special measure under section 12 of the Equal Opportunity Act 2010 (Vic), designed to promote substantive equality. ### What you'll be doing: - Engaging with clients to determine eligibility for the organisation's services and referring clients to other more relevant services if required. - Developing case plans in conjunction with clients and implementing strategies that enable clients to achieve their goals by building on their strengths and focussing on solutions. - Providing outreach-based support services to families with children to assist them to establish or maintain their housing. - Ensuring clients maximize all government and community income assistance and support. - Initiating and maintaining contact with vulnerable clients using flexible engagement strategies to achieve case plan goals. - Supporting families to link in with resources in the community including education, training, health, employment and recreational opportunities. - Working from a family-oriented case management framework, including centring the needs of children and actively engaging children with educational, health and support services. ### What we're looking for (key selection criteria): - Demonstrated experience in housing or case management, or a relevant tertiary qualification. - Ability to demonstrate cultural sensitivity and to adjust personal style in response to client differences. - Ability to develop and maintain positive collaborative relationships with external stakeholders to effectively enhance the support of clients. - An ability to relate effectively and sensitively to families experiencing housing crisis. - Demonstrated experience in client facing human services, with a preference for an understanding of housing and homelessness policy, context and systems. - A demonstrated understanding of the impact of homelessness on families, in particular children. - Experience providing case management and support in an outreach capacity with an emphasis on practical assistance to maintain housing (desirable). - A valid Victorian driver’s licence (mandatory). - Understanding of, or a demonstrated commitment to upholding, Child Safe Standards in the workplace. - Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with people from diverse backgrounds. - Demonstrated commitment to the values of Launch Housing and our mission to end homelessness.