Executive Area: / Employment, Education & Training
Award: / LMA/ Labour Market Assistance Industry Award 2010
Award Classification / Level 1
Reports To: / EET Coordinator
Date of Review / September 2016
Organisational Environment
OUR VISION
A safe and inclusive community freed of crime and prison.
OUR MISSION
We help people transition from prison, assist them in the community, stop them from re-offending and divert others from committing crime.
OUR ETHOS
“Create another chance”
OUR CORE VALUES
· PASSION – Our heart and passion is at the core of everything we do.
· BELIEF IN HUMANITY – We believe that everyone deserves another chance and is entitled to opportunities which can help them to change their lives and realise their potential.
· INTEGRITY – We are genuine in our relationships with clients and each other, always true to ourselves and courageous in our approach.
· PIONEERING SPIRIT – We are willing to explore and develop new and innovative solutions and take on the challenges that confront us.
OUR OPERATIONAL GOALS
· Recover: We promote, support and believe in the values of hope and recovery in all of our work.
· Rehabilitate: We develop rehabilitation programs that divert people from committing crime or re-offending by helping them address and change problem behaviour.
· Reintegrate: We reintegrate people from prison back into the community, housing them and assisting them to successfully re-enter the workforce.
OUR HISTORY
The agency was established in 1983 as the Epistle Centre, by ex-offender Stan McCormack to support prisoners to find housing, employment and to stop their offending behaviour. Over 30 years ACSO has grown and diversified to provide life changing support programs for people in or at risk of entering the criminal justice system.
ACSO is an organisation with a bold vision to create a safe and inclusive community freed of crime and prisons. It’s our goal to reduce re-offending and our mission is to help people transition from prison, assist them in the community, stop them from re-offending and intervene to divert others from committing crime.
OUR SERVICES
We offer innovative services responding to unemployment, mental illness, disability, homelessness, substance use and offending behaviour in Victoria and New South Wales. These services are delivered through our ‘wrap around’ service delivery model that integrates early intervention and prevention programs, housing, high risk and complex needs services, community reintegration and education, training and employment services; to achieve better outcomes for our clients and the communities we serve.
ACSO embraces diversity within its workforce and as such encourages applications from appropriately qualified and skilled people from a range of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including those from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Island heritage.
ACSO is committed to ensuring children in our care or the care of those we support are safe and protected from harm.
For further information please visit our website at: www.acso.org.au
Organisational Context
Strengthening the management of ACSO’s operations at a regional level is critical to support our approach to providing local, ‘place based’ programs. Regionally ACSO needs to ensure its existing services meet demand, are contractually compliant and new or additional programs are able to be resourced and provided in specific areas of need.
Strategically led by the Chief Operating Officer, the General Manager Operations (Victoria) leads a team of functional (contract) specialists and regional operational teams to identify and implement strategic initiatives and achieve and deliver contract and operational KPI’s. Specific high level contract supports and input is provided by the General Manager Operations (Victoria) and their team of Functional experts to ensure that regional teams are:
· operationally geared to work in accordance with best practice principles and methods, and
· the quality of services and programs available within regions are maintained and delivered in accordance with contractual obligations and evidence based practice.
This position reports to the Coordinator under general direction. The Coordinator leads a small to medium sized team of staff delivering a group of quality ACSO programs and services.
Direct Reports: None
Financial Delegation: As per ACSO Financial and Other Delegation of Authority Instrument – please refer http://wiki.acso.org.au/display/Policy/
Site work: Richmond and Glenroy sites,, occasional travel to other sites may be required.
Position Summary: DES Employment Consultant/Post Placement Support Officer
This duel responsibility role will undertake consultancy and post placement support duties:
Working within ACSO policy and guidelines and DES Program, the Employment Consultant consults and engages with stakeholders to provide; guidance, coaching and advocacy. Using strengths based assessment approach to focus on the abilities and aspirations of the client to maximise a sense of job choice and control of their employment pathway. Proactively engage with employers, services and any other identified cultural specific support to successfully meet the aim and objective of the clients’ employment pathway plan.
The Post Placement Support Officer is responsible for contributing to the DES Program performance by supporting job seekers and employers by maintaining employment placements and achieving DES benchmark and Performance outcomes (with emphasis on achieving full outcomes for our most disadvantaged job seekers. The role involves providing specific on the job training, job placement support, maintaining ongoing employment, engaging, up skilling our DES job seekers and enhance their employment qualities whilst utilising internal and exterior networks.
Key Working Relationships
Key working relationships of the Disability Employment Consultant/Post Placement Support Officer may include the following:
Internal
· Coordinator
· Functional Managers
· Senior Functional Managers
· Regional Staff
External
· Jobseekers
· Employers
· Other employment related and related service providers (VET Providers, Community Organisations/RTO”s, TAFE’s LLEN’s)
· DSS (Contract and Account Managers
Key Result Areas
The key result areas of this role support the ACSO Regional Model and will include:
1. Key Operational Responsibilities & Requirements:
· Provide effective intake and assessment for clients entering the program in order to develop pathways to employment and training and address any barriers
· Provide individualised vocational guidance to participants through one on one and facilitated group activities
· Maintain several data bases and systems as required by the funding body and other partners
· Maintain all ACSO systems as required, including risk management and client database
· Provide accurate and on time reports as required
· Building and maintaining employer relationships through assertive engagement with employers and job seekers
· Provide onsite training and support
· Implement immediate strategies to nurture at risk placements to either ensure placement continuity or re-placement.
· Support Employment consultants in sourcing suitable vacancies for their caseloads
· Communication with employers in accessing Wage Subsidies and Work place Modifications
· Effectively utilising IT systems as required by the Department of Social Services and CoAct
· Undertake other relevant duties as required by the Coordinator, Regional Manager and/or Manager.
2. Performance Requirements – Key Performance Indicators
· Contribute towards achieving a KPI of 8 placements per month
· Achieve monthly 13 week outcomes (80 % of all placements to progress into 13 week outcomes)
· Achieve monthly 26 week outcomes (90% of all 13 week outcomes to progress into 26 week outcomes)
· On successful achievement of the 26 week full outcome, ensure clients are engaged into On Going Support (OGS) Service.
· Full compliance with DES contract and National Standards for Disability Services
3. Training and Supervision:
· Participate as required in supervision, professional development, ACSO’s Quality Accreditation program and organisational Strategic Plan and team wide activities.
· Other duties as required.
Staff Core Capabilities
ACSO has defined the following staff capabilities to facilitate effective outcomes for the organisation and the communities we serve.
Emotional Health / · I Remain above the line when everything else is changing· I recognise when my behaviours are below the line and I am able to come back above the line
· I reflect and move forward and don’t get stuck
· I am able to adapt to and cope with change
· I take the time to understand the views of other
Customer Service focus / · I am always responsive to the needs of our customers (internal and external)
· I believe that our customers are our first priority
· I take the time to understand customer needs and I prioritise my actions accordingly
Values alignment / · I believe in giving people another chance
· I believe people can change
Social Conscience / · I am committed to supporting ACSOs work to break the cycle of crime and change lives, and embrace the ethos that we can do this one person at a time.
Digital Literacy / · I understand the value and importance of digital technology in delivering ACSO’s work
· I embrace digital technology even if I don’t fully understand it
· I am willing to invest time and energy in embracing new digital technology to support the delivery of my work
Technical expertise / · I am skilled and qualified to perform my work position at ACSO
· My technical expertise is highly regarded by my peers
Selection Criteria
Essential Criteria:
All applicants must hold a current Drivers Licence and will be subject to a National Police History Check and Working with Children Check
Qualifications:
1. Relevant tertiary qualifications in employment services, case management or other related fields.
Knowledge and Skills:
2. Knowledge & previous experience working with jobseekers within the Disability Employment Services and the current fair work Australia legislation.
3. Provide quality case management support to clients
4. Demonstrated employer networks and an understanding of the local labour market
5. Demonstrated proficiency in computer applications including Windows, MS Office Suite, Internet and Information Management systems.
6. Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to negotiate, liaise and consult with a wide range of stakeholders including clients, government and non-government organisations, employers etc.
7. Demonstrated understanding he range of disabilities that may impact the job seekers ability to engage in employment or are facing multiple barriers to employment
8. Demonstrated time management and organisational skills including the ability and commitment to achieving set Key Performance Indicators that reflect quality employment outcomes for our jobseekers.
Desirable:
9. Effective conflict resolution skills and the ability to work with difficult or challenging individuals and their behaviours
10. Ability to work with culturally diverse individuals and use culturally appropriate methods of engagement
Confidentiality
· Any information obtained in the course of employment is confidential and should not used for any purpose other than the performance of the duties for which the person was employed. Please refer to ACSO General Condition of Employment.
Workplace Health and Safety
Related legislation: OHS Act (2004) and associated Regulations and Australian Standards
· ACSO recognises its moral and legal responsibility to provide a safe and healthy work environment. ACSO will maintain, as far as practicable, a working environment that is safe and minimises risk to the health and wellbeing of all staff, clients, contractors and visitors. Staff will at all times conduct themselves in a safe and responsible manner, with due regard to minimising potential risks within the workplace.
· ACSO encourages staff to take a constructive role in promoting improvements in health and safety, and to assist ACSO in achieving a healthy and minimal risk work environment. It is a condition of employment that staff comply with all health and safety related policy and procedures and take part in activities designed to improve the health and safety of the workplace.
Training and Development
· All staff will be required to participate in the annual performance development review process which will be conducted by their designated Manager.
· Staff will be expected to take part in any training or courses relevant to their area of work as may be deemed appropriate.
Other Relevant Information and Conditions
· ACSO is an EEO Employer
· ACSO is a totally smoke free workplace
· Some on-call and out of hours work may be required
· It is a condition of employment that all staff take part in ACSO's Quality Improvement Process, and that they take part in and assist in any evaluations of the whole or any part of the Program or of ACSO or its other programs as required.
· The position is subject to the terms set out in the ACSO Human Resources Policy, Staff Code of Ethics, and any future addition or variations to them. Tenure of the position is conditional upon ongoing observance of the ACSO Staff Code of Ethics (attached).
Authorisation
I have read, understood and accepted this position description as the basis of this role.
______
Employee Signature Authorised Manager’s Signature
ACSO reserves the right to review and amend this document at its discretion.
PD –Disability Employment Consultant/ Post Placement Support Officer September 2016
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