Position Description Community Development Worker Weave Community Hub in Woolloomooloo

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1 Position Description Community Development Worker Weave Community Hub Woolloomooloo Position Title: Program: Supervised by: Supervises: Responsible for: Location: Community Development Worker Weave Community Hub in Woolloomooloo Weave Community Hub Team Leader Student placements, volunteers, external facilitators, contractors as required. Using narrative therapy and community development processes and principles to strengthen the capacity and cohesion of the Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, Darlinghurst Community and respond to community-identified needs. Facilitating innovative and creative community-led projects, events and groups in consultation with the local community. Also, creating and supporting a warm and welcoming community-owned space for the whole community at the Weave Community Hub based in Woolloomooloo. Weave Community Hub. 49 McElhone Street, Woolloomooloo EMPLOYMENT DETAILS AND REMUNERATION Employer: Hours per week: Status: Award: Classification: Weave Youth and Community Services Inc. 28 hours per week Ongoing depending on funding. The terms and conditions of employment are those applying under the Social Community Home Care and Disabilities Industry Award 2010 (SCHADS) and the National Employment Standards also apply. SCHADS Social and Community Services (SACS) stream: Level 4 Paypoint 1-4: $ $38.10 per hour. Generous Salary sacrifice available.

2 Position Context Funded by Family and Community Services, Weave Community Hub offers holistic, client-centred support services including casework, groups, parenting programs and educational opportunities for local families with children 0-12 years and young people aged Weave s Specialist Homelessness Service team is also based at the Weave Community Hub, providing counselling and casework for young people aged at risk of homelessness in the City of Sydney LGA. The centre also offers community capacity building and community hub activities and supports for the whole community. Weave Youth and Community Services For over 40 years, Weave has been providing a range of services to socially and economically excluded young people, women and families who live in the City of Sydney Local Government Area as well as the Maroubra/La Perouse and Inner West regions. Weave was established in The team at Weave are dedicated, experienced and are well recognised for their engaging work with young people, women and families, culturally-appropriate practice with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, community development work and pioneering new therapeutic approaches. For more information about Weave please visit our website: SUMMARY OF THE POSITION Weave is informed by narrative therapy principles in our work with individuals and communities, recognising existing strengths, skills and connections, resisting the use of negative labels, and believing that people and communities have the solutions to their own lives and problems. The Community Development Worker is expected to use these attitudes and principles to facilitate the community to challenge negative dominant stories about themselves and to create their own preferred collective identity. A key aspect of the role includes the creation of a warm and welcoming community hub space at the Weave Community Hub. The Hub is to become a focus for developing and expanding opportunities for community participation that strengthen the community s voice, sense of control over their own community, build connections and community harmony and reduce isolation. Ongoing consultations with the whole community will lead to the development and implementation of community led projects and groups that meet the needs of the community in Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, and Darlinghurst areas. Other tasks include developing project ideas, project plans, recruiting people to participate, complying with budgets, seeking funding opportunities, consulting with people,

3 evaluating the project via further community conversations, feedback forms, data collection, data entry and reporting. Building service capacity in the following areas: Community participation and engagement Partnering with other NGO and Government providers Documentation of service delivery KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES Facilitate the community to challenge negative labels and develop their preferred identity, develop a community development strategy in line with and accountable to this. With the community, identify existing community strengths and connections and build on these. With the community, identify where connections amongst isolated members need to be built and work with the community to grow these. Facilitate focus groups and regular community conversations using a narrative therapy approach Create a warm, welcoming community hub space that resources the local community and provides equitable access to all community members. Complete project plans and briefs Maintain neutrality in the face of community disputes Support and consult with community members and engage participants for groups and projects Seek funding opportunities when required Keep up to date records of attendance and complete data entry Evaluate projects with the community Provide reports on the outcomes of projects Consult with the Weave Community Hub team and the wider Weave team and the wider community about ideas and trends Enhance and support community participation structures and processes across Weave. Assist with reporting to funding body Maintain client data and statistics Attend regular meetings with the Weave Community Hub Team Leader Engage with key people in the community to promote Weave s Woolloomooloo programs and Weave at large to the wider community. Undertake other related duties as agreed with the Team Leader General Carry out any administrative or clerical tasks as required within the course of the work Other duties as required. General Accountabilities of all Weave Staff Work as part of the wider Weave team displaying effective team membership

4 Participate in Weave staff meetings, retreats, planning days, training and performance appraisal as required Attend regular supervision as arranged with your supervisor. Perform all duties in accordance with the Weave code of conduct and the Weave policies and procedures Work in line with EEO policy and WHS safety standards, ethical practice principles and a commitment to the principles of cultural diversity Take responsibility to ensure that Weave is a warm, inviting and hospitable environment for everyone to be. Treat people like you would if they came to your home. Notice when things are untidy and take responsibility for cleaning and tidying as part of the team. A clean and well-presented space gives a message to the community that we value them. Make sure all visitors to the centre are welcomed and looked after including offering cups of tea, coffee, water etc. and that they get the assistance they came for or at least information and referral if Weave cannot assist directly. Hospitality is a shared responsibility of the whole of The Weave team and is included in the job descriptions of all staff. Whilst it is understood that each worker has specific duties, there is a natural overlap of roles. Expectations of workers roles can change according to the needs of the community and available resource Essential SELECTION CRITERIA General Criteria: Qualifications in Community Development Work, Event Management, Social Work or other relevant Human Services discipline. Experience in using community development processes and principles, facilitating group work, project work and undertaking event management projects with the communities. Excellent networking skills and experience collaborating with other agencies. Creative thinking and problem-solving ability. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Good understanding of social justice in the context of urban issues and the impact of gentrification on lower income households, particularly those faced by people who live in the Woolloomooloo, Kings Cross, and Darlinghurst areas. An understanding of the issues faced by Aboriginal people in Sydney and culturally-safe practice. Models of working: An understanding of narrative therapy in a community setting. Understanding of dual diagnosis (co-existing mental health and substance misuse issues). Ability to navigate complex community dynamics and conflict with diplomacy. Good understanding of Strength Based and Trauma Informed models of working.

5 Understanding of the impacts of lateral violence in a community context. Ability to self-reflect, manage and seek appropriate support when required, particularly for vicarious trauma. Common sense and an excellent sense of humour. Work Practice: Ability to work effectively as part of a team as well as individually. An ability to show personal initiative in dealing with center based responses to walk in clients. A commitment to EEO policy OH&S safety standards, ethical practice principles and a commitment to the principles of cultural diversity. Current NSW Class C driver s license. Willingness to use own vehicle for work purposes when required. Generous mileage allowance available. Current NSW Working With Children Check clearance Desirable: Current first aid certificate or willingness to obtain one Applications including: How to Apply: Ø An up to date Resume and Ø A document specifically responding to each of the Selection Criteria and outlining how you meet each one should be ed to: recruitment@weave.org.au *Closing Date for applications is midnight on Sunday January 21 st 2018 **Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply For further information: Please contact Freya Conomos or