Assertive Outreach Worker

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:

This position is part of the Rough Sleepers Initiative (RSI) program, which supports people sleeping rough in the City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, City of Yarra, City of Stonnington, City of Frankston and the City of Greater Dandenong.

The Rough Sleepers Initiative is comprised of Assertive Outreach Workers and Community Health Nurses from Bolton Clarke’s Homeless Persons Program (HPP) and works in close collaboration with a number of other key service providers.

The Rough Sleepers Initiative approach incorporates a set of specific principles, practices and tools developed internationally which are being adapted in the Australian context. These include, but are not limited to:

• Location and identification of people sleeping rough using assertive outreach
• Use of specific strategies and tools to identify and prioritise the most vulnerable and unwell for intensive support
• Street level service delivery, interim housing support and links to other support services
• Referrals to various housing and accommodation options

The Assertive Outreach Worker position provides assertive proactive and persistent outreach to identify, engage and support clients to achieve sustainable outcomes.

Launch Housing Leadership Framework

At Launch Housing, we believe that leadership is not defined by position or title – but by the mindset you bring and the actions you take. We also believe that leadership is learnable – that there is a body of knowledge, skills and dispositions associated with leadership that can be learned.

The Launch Housing Leadership Framework outlines the key expectations and behaviours required for effective leadership at every level. This role is aligned to the Leading Self proficiency level within the framework, reflecting the responsibility to demonstrate professionalism, personal accountability, self-awareness, and continuous development.

Permanent part-time role (68.4 hours per fortnight) based at Collingwood, working 8:00am-4:06pm per day.

What you'll be doing:

• Finding, identifying and engaging with people who are sleeping rough.
• Assertive and persistent outreach to provide purposeful assistance to clients with complex needs and challenging behaviours. 

• Working with Advance to Zero projects and completing referrals to the City of Melbourne, City of Port Phillip, City of Yarra, City of Stonnington, City of Frankston and City of Greater Dandenong Service Coordination project.

• Responding to secondary contacts such as council and emergency services. 
• Sensitively surveying people who are sleeping rough, providing program intelligence for effective resource allocation. 

• Utilising assessment tools to identify people in the most need of program resources. 
• Offering appropriate and timely support, including referral, assessment, and advocacy.
• Short term support to a nominated case load of clients to assist in seeking suitable housing options.
• Ensuring clients are exited to appropriate supports.

What we're looking for (key selection criteria):

• A tertiary qualification in human services, social work or other relevant discipline (desired). 
• Demonstrated understanding of the issues which those experiencing homelessness confront, and skills and aptitude in working for people who are marginalised and disenfranchised. 

• Experience in the provision of support, and an understanding of the principles of case-management, in achieving effective outcomes for clients with complex needs.

• Knowledge of the housing service system.
• Experience of outreach working, interim support and working with clients who have complex needs.
• Demonstrated ability to build positive relationships and communicate with people of diverse backgrounds and abilities, coupled with the ability to act with empathy, sensitivity and understanding. 

• Demonstrated capacity to work flexibly, and have the ability to manage competing demands and the setting of boundaries and limits.
• Good interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written. 
• Competence in using PC-based office applications and internet.
• A valid Victorian driver’s licence (mandatory).
• Understanding of, or a demonstrated commitment to upholding, Child Safe Standards in the workplace.
• Demonstrated commitment to the values of Launch Housing and our mission to end homelessness.

For more information please contact careers@launchhousing.org.au using the subject line: Assertive Outreach Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs

A position description is attached.