Director – Centacare Family Services, Geraldton, WA

Where people matter

Led by Bishop Michael Morrissey, Geraldton is one of the three largest Diocese in Australia. Covering a large part of Western Australia, with remote communities, Centacare Family Services provides a significant part of the Social Services support for the Diocese.

Centacare Family Services offers a range of family relationships and community services to individuals, couples and families. These services include:

• Counselling Services – one-to-one counselling and group workshops for couples, children, adolescents and families;
• Family Separation – helping families maintain positive relationships during conflict and separation;
• Family Support – including remote community services, financial difficulties support, marriage preparation and parenting;
• Victims of crime – support for victims, family violence and child witnesses.

Centacare is positioned in the following locations: Geraldton (main office); Kalbarri; Carnarvon; Exmouth and Mt Magnet. Their support is provided by a staff of approx. 50 professionals as well the dedication of nearly 60 volunteers. They have total annual income of nearly $4m of which over 90% comes from Commonwealth and State funding bodies.

Mission Statement

Centacare Family Services offers family relationships and community services to individuals, couples and families.

As a Catholic agency we provide professional assistance in a manner that promotes human dignity and enhances growth and wellbeing.

Values

In order to enact Centacare’s Mission Statement, we are committed to the following values:

• Service: Guided by Christ’s example we serve all those who reach out for help.
• Compassion: We are committed to listening, to understanding and assisting in the best way possible.
• Justice: We provide a service that is non-judgemental, promotes equality and respects cultural differences.
• Excellence: We promote excellence in services and programmes through staff who are committed to working as a team and to pursuing on-going professional development.

Living in Geraldton

Located 424 kilometres north of Perth with a population of over 40,000, Greater Geraldton has been named one of Australia’s regional capitals. The City boasts a prosperous economy and a number of industries including agriculture, mining, fishing, manufacturing, construction, retail and tourism.

With the best of coastal and rural living, Greater Geraldton has stunning weather all-year round. It is recognised as one of Western Australia’s top places to live, work or study. It is the capital of the Mid West region.

Greater Geraldton is also home to a number of private and public schools from K-12 as well as the opportunity for higher education studies with the Geraldton University Centre, Durack Institute of Technology and the Batavia Coast Marine Institute.

Further Information

Additional information can be viewed by visiting the Centacare website located at  https://centacaregeraldton.org.au/about-us/

A range of videos on Geraldton can be assessed at https://www.cgg.wa.gov.au/live/my-home/greater-geraldton-videos.aspx

Position Overview

Position Title: Director

Reports to:       Bishop of Geraldton, through the Board of Management

Position Overall Purpose

Within the context of Centacare in the Geraldton Diocese:

1. Lead and manage to ensure that service delivery is maintained; of high-quality; and in keeping with Catholic Social Teaching principles.
2. Develop, promote and coordinate the delivery of a range of family support services which are:

• client focused
• consistent with the organisation’s Constitution and budgetary guidelines
• adhere to ethical standards
• meet the legal requirements of statutory bodies and funding contracts.

Key Responsibilities

Dimensions of responsibility include:

1. Leadership

• Assist staff in understanding the philosophy and practice of Centacare’s Mission Statement;
• Ensure staff, in their work practices, reflect the mission, vision and values of Centacare.

2. Planning and development

These responsibilities include preparing plans for the short and long-term objectives of Centacare Family Services in collaboration with the Board of Management. 

3. Human Resource Management

These responsibilities include working with Programme Managers to identify staffing needs and recruit and select staff in accordance with Centacare policy and procedures. 

4. Financial

These responsibilities include preparing an annual budget for approval by the Board of Management and manage expenditure in line with the budget and delegation schedule.

5. Administrative

These responsibilities include ensuring that Programme Managers and other staff prepare and submit reports and programme related statistical information in accordance with Centacare and funding body requirements; or as requested by the Board or the Bishop.

6. Professional

These responsibilities include ensuring programmes maintain an effective client focus, high quality service and professional standards of work that are compatible with the requirements of the relevant funding bodies.

7. Safeguarding Children Responsibilities

These responsibilities include providing services in line with Centacare’s safeguarding children policies and procedures and State and Commonwealth legislation. 

8. Other Responsibilities

This includes actively participating in the process of Professional Supervision.

A detailed position description and organisation chart will be provided at a later stage of the recruitment process.

Reason for Vacancy

After 24 years as Director of Centacare, Sr Mary Ryan is retiring.

Commencement

The commencement date is negotiable, however, ideally, this will be during July 2019.

Location and Travel

This position is located in the main office at 3 Maitland Street, Geraldton, WA. Given the nature of this leadership role, a significant amount of travel within the Diocese should be anticipated.

Conditions of Employment

• Salary: $140,000 p.a.
• Superannuation: 9.5% and is in addition to the salary shown above.
• Packaging: Centacare is a PBI employer and can offer significant tax benefits to an employee. However, as such benefits rely on personal choice & circumstance, we leave it to the individual to calculate the ‘grossed up’ value to their package.
• Annual Leave: 4 weeks Annual Leave as well as the close down period between Christmas and New Year.
• Status: Full time
• Hours of Work: 38 hours per week
• Probationary period: 6 months
• Some relocation assistance (if required) will be negotiated with the successful applicant.
• A National Police Check (less than three months old) and WA Working with Children Check will be required prior to appointment.
• Applicants will require a current Drivers Licence to fulfil the requirements of the role.

Selection Criteria

We invite expressions of interest from people who align with the following:

• Capacity and willingness to work within the philosophy and ethos of the Catholic Church and Centacare;
• Senior management experience, in a not for profit organisation, in the delivery of social service programmes;
• High level of communicational skills;
• Ability to sustain effective, positive and influential relationships with a broad range of stakeholders;
• Tertiary qualifications in a Social Science related discipline together with a track record of ongoing personal and professional learning.

 Are You Interested in this Opportunity?

If you are interested in this role, then simply complete the ‘Express Your Interest’ panel on this page; or email us at jobs@traksearch.com stating your interest and nominating ref number TS1406. Whichever you choose, please provide a brief resume and contact telephone number.

At this stage we do NOT ask you to address the selection criteria or provide an application document – just complete the panel on this page or send a brief email to Trak Search to indicate your interest in ‘Centacare Director TS1406’; and provide your brief resume and contact telephone number.

If you are NOT interested in this role but would like to be advised of future leadership positions, click here to register for our weekly job alert.

Any questions can be directed to either (a) our Director John Chesher by telephone (0417 068 220) or (b) email our office via jobs@traksearch.com. The timeline and details for this project are outlined below. All emails and applications are acknowledged within 48 hours.

The Selection Process

Key dates are as follows:

Trak Search has been instructed to provide a process that is welcoming for people interested in this role. Significant aspects include:

• Throughout the process, Trak Search is available for confidential discussions and to provide information to allow you to explore this opportunity and determine your interest in the role.
• A range of additional information will be provided to you as we progress through this process.
• At the outset you will not be required to: complete an application form; provide a lengthy document to address the selection criteria; or supply referee details. However, you will be invited to supply us with additional information (verbally and in writing) as you progress through the process.
• A late application could be accepted, providing it does not adversely impact other applications or the schedule. Please be aware however that any application received after close of business on the date noted above is more likely to be returned to you.
• At the appropriate time we will seek written consent to speak with referees – listing referees on your resume does not signify consent to do so.
• We expect to contact one work-related referee prior to shortlisting, with additional references completed later in the process.  You should always expect that before reaching the final stage of the project, we will ask to speak with at least one person who has: directly managed you; recently; and for a significant period of time
• All information provided to Trak Search will be made available prior to shortlisting, in confidence, to the Bishop’s office or his nominee unless you instruct Trak Search otherwise.

You are also encouraged to view our Collection Statement which provides details on the manner in which we collect and use information obtained from you during your engagement with Trak Search.