Careers
14 October 2024
Community Service Worker: Supported Accommodation Service
About Catherine House
Catherine House is a quality-accredited, not-for-profit organisation that works holistically with women affected by homelessness. Catherine House continually looks for innovative housing and support solutions for women experiencing homelessness. Our goal is not just to house women, but also to offer life-changing opportunities that will enable them to move forward and live a life that is purposeful and meaningful to them.
In January 2021, Catherine House proudly joined the Housing Choices Group of Companies to become part of Housing Choices South Australia (HCSA). Housing Choices is a leading national non-profit community housing organisation that holds the same values as Catherine House.
About the Role
Join our dedicated team as a Community Service Worker (CSW) in our Supported Accommodation Service in a flexible casual role that offers diverse shift patterns, including days, evenings, and weekends. As a CSW, you’ll have the chance to make a real impact in clients’ lives, providing essential support tailored to their needs. Whether working independently, alongside a co-worker, or within a team, you’ll play a vital role in creating a safe and welcoming environment. Your responsibilities may range from client-focused support to housekeeping and meal preparation, ensuring our services align with individual care plans.
What you’ll do
- Collaborate with team members to deliver high-quality, client-centered support in line with program goals.
- Assist clients with daily tasks such as meal preparation, housekeeping, and developing independent living skills.
- Support case workers with client administration, including intake documentation and housing needs assessments.
- Monitor client safety and wellbeing, providing crisis management and support as needed.
- Participate in client handovers and reviews, communicating effectively with the team to ensure a safe environment.
- Facilitate group activities aimed at building clients’ independent living and social skills.
- Manage a variety of administrative tasks, including data entry and responding to client inquiries.
- Maintain cleanliness in shared spaces and assist with food preparation and service as required.
Desired Skills and Experience
To excel as a Community Service Worker (CSW), you will need a strong foundation of relevant qualifications and experience, particularly in supporting vulnerable clients with complex needs. Your background should reflect a deep understanding of mental health issues, trauma-informed care, and the challenges faced by women from diverse backgrounds. You will bring not only your expertise but also a commitment to fostering a supportive and respectful environment for clients, ensuring their dignity and autonomy are prioritised.
- Relevant post-secondary qualification with extensive experience in similar roles supporting vulnerable clients.
- Mental Health First Aid and Child Safe Environments Training (or willingness to complete within two months).
- Food Safety Certificate (or willingness to attain within two months).
- Proven experience in crisis management and de-escalation techniques for client behavioral issues.
- Strong knowledge of mental health diagnoses and trauma-informed, person-centered care.
- Familiarity with the NDIS and its implementation in South Australia.
- Proficiency in client case note recording and electronic data systems.
- Well-developed interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively and build rapport with diverse populations.
- Must be able to work overnight shifts.
What we offer in return:
- Make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable clients, empowering them to achieve their goals and improve their well-being
- Salary Packaging for living expenses, meal, and entertainment expenses
- Excellent career development opportunities
Please note that it is a minimum requirement of this position that all appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Criminal History or Police Check conducted by Catherine House and the successful post holder to:
- Agree and undergo any other employment screening as required by Catherine House – including but not restricted to Working with Children or Vulnerable Persons and NDIS Worker (this will be as applicable based on the state location and/or function of the role)
- Agree and comply with Child Safety policies and procedures
- Provide a current driver’s license and willingness to travel across locations, if and as required.
How to apply
Download a copy of the Position Description here.
Housing Choices reserves the right to cease recruitment proceedings earlier upon appointing a suitable candidate for the role. This opportunity is only open to candidates with appropriate legal working rights within Australia. Housing Choices recognises the benefits of a diverse workforce. We celebrate and respect our people’s differences and are committed to being inclusive. We strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and persons with a disability to apply.
We recognise that applying for positions can be challenging. You might be questioning if the role aligns with your skills or if your experience is sufficient. At Housing Choices, we value the unique skills and perspectives new team members can contribute to our culture. Even if you don’t perfectly match the criteria, we encourage you to reach out – we’re interested in hearing from you.
We base our hiring decisions on your skills, experience, and enthusiasm. When you apply, please let us know any accommodations you require during the recruitment process.