Community Services Worker

The Community Services Worker provides frontline support to visitors by creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. The role involves engaging with individuals experiencing vulnerability, assessing immediate needs, delivering practical assistance, and providing crisis support and referrals.   Working within a trauma-informed and harm minimisation framework, the position promotes dignity, independence and wellbeing while managing visitor flow and maintaining safety across shared spaces.  You would be required to work a mixture of shifts across 9AM – 9PM. This role full-time – 7.6 hours per day, 38 hours per week.  

ABOUT THE ROLE

Greet visitors, build rapport, conduct basic assessment of need and direct visitor flow through the service Provide crisis support and respond to immediate visitor issues such as lack of housing, mental health crises and other health emergencies Manage the provision of practical assistance including allocation of showers, toiletries, emergency clothes and emergency meals Promote independence, self-determination and self-worth in visitors through one-to-one and community engagement Utilise a trauma informed care approach to all interactions with visitors Operate within a harm minimisation framework when working with visitors engaged in high- risk behaviours Maintain a safe environment through monitoring visitor behaviour and managing incidents as they arise, including dealing with aggression, challenging behavioural issues, substance use, overdose, suicidal ideation, complex and co-occurring mental health presentations Collaborate and work effectively with volunteers and with other programs within Wayside for the advancement of visitor care objectives 

ABOUT YOU

TAFE level qualifications in Community Services Work, Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs or other relevant area, and/or extensive experience in the areas of addressing the needs of disadvantaged populations Experience working with at-risk populations and understanding of related issues, both practical and systemic (including but not limited to Juvenile Justice, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, CALD, trauma, homelessness, mental health, alcohol and other drugs) Knowledge of and ability to operate with regard to trauma-informed principles Initiative, flexibility and the ability to work as part of a team in a demanding environment 

ABOUT WAYSIDE

Wayside Chapel has provided unconditional love, care and support to the most marginalised people on and around the streets of Sydney since 1964. Our mission is to create a community with no ‘us and them’, and address underlying issues of inequality, wellbeing and loneliness.   From our centres in Kings Cross and Bondi and through outreach teams, we offer a range of support services that place dignity, respect and low at the heart of what we do.   Every day, we walk alongside people facing homelessness, addiction, mental health challenges and isolation. We provide care that is trauma informed, respectful and human.   

OUR VALUES

 Connection - Moving Together

 Accountability – Doing the Work  

 Dignity – Seeing the Person 

 Courage - Staying in the Room 

 Openness – Looking a Little Deeper 

WHAT’S IN IT FOR YOU?

Five weeks’ annual leave Flexible/hybrid working options 3 days flex leave  $15,900 of your annual salary tax-fee through generous NFP salary packaging Paid cultural and ceremonial leave for First Nations employees Cultural loading allowance Employee Assistance Program – free, confidential counselling service Tenure Leave after 2 years employment Gifted day of Christmas Leave Access to monthly External Clinical Supervision Wayside is a registered portable long service leave employer Tenure Leave after 2 years employment  

HOW TO APPLY

To apply, submit your resume and a brief cover letter outlining your relevant experience and why you’re passionate about this opportunity.  For any questions about this role, please email

recruitment@waysidechapel.org.au

Wayside is an Equal Opportunity Employer that provides an inclusive work environment and embraces the diverse talent of its people. We value people of all cultures, languages, capacities, sexual orientations, gender identities and/or expressions. We are committed to achieving a diverse workforce and strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Before an offer of employment, candidates will be required to complete the pre-employment checks, including reference checks and a background check.