House Lead in Canberra

The House Lead supports day-to-day operations in a residential Out-of-Home Care (OOHC) home, ensuring a safe, therapeutic and culturally safe environment for Children and Young People. The role anchors house standards, mentors the team, manages rosters, and coordinates daily living routines and maintenance. The House Lead partners closely with the Operations Support Supervisor (OSS), Services Manager (SM) and Therapeutic Specialist to deliver consistent, trauma-informed care aligned to organisational policies and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.

Duties & Responsibilities

• House standards, culture and practices: model and embed trauma-informed, therapeutic and culturally safe care; ensure consistent adherence to organisational policies and procedures and therapeutic models.
• Rostering and staff utilisation: prepare the monthly roster, including weekend coverage; coordinate casual shift filling to maintain continuity for Children and Young People.
• House setup and operations: coordinate house set-up with OSS; manage grocery orders and shopping within budget; reduce ad hoc "top-up" purchases; maintain the house and client schedule (education, health, haircuts, shopping, sport/exercise, community activities).
• Maintenance oversight: log maintenance requests and follow up with OSS; ensure the living environment remains safe and fit for purpose.
• After-hours and communications: manage house-related communications, including after-hours updates and required notifications; ensure timely completion of shift notes and incident reports.
• Child safety and wellbeing: uphold the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations; support participation and voice of Children and Young People in decisions; promote physical, psychological and cultural safety.
• Risk, incident and reportable conduct: identify and escalate risks; participate in incident management, trend reviews and mitigations with SM/OM; comply with mandatory reporting and local reportable conduct requirements.
• Care planning and collaboration: implement individual plans (health, education, wellbeing); collaborate with CYPS/CYF caseworkers, clinicians, families and cultural advisors.
• Records and compliance: maintain accurate records (shift notes, incidents, medication, case documentation); follow organisational quality, risk and audit processes.
• Work Health and Safety (WHS): take reasonable care for own and others’ safety; follow safe work procedures; report hazards and injuries; support safe practices in the home.
• Staff support: provide day-to-day guidance, mentoring and positive feedback to Support Workers; role-model professional boundaries and therapeutic interactions; contribute to induction and on-the-job coaching.

Key Requirements

• Experience delivering support to Children and Young People in residential OOHC or related human services.
• Knowledge of trauma-informed and therapeutic care approaches, and the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations.
• Understanding of mandatory reporting obligations and ACT Reportable Conduct Scheme.
• Demonstrated ability to lead house routines, manage rosters and budgets, and maintain a safe environment.
• Strong communication skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with Children and Young People, colleagues and stakeholders.
• High standards of record keeping and incident reporting.
• Current Working with Vulnerable People registration (or ability to obtain).
• Current Police Check (or ability to obtain) and driver's licence.
• Willingness to undertake Child, Youth and Families Suitability Check First Aid and CPR (or willingness to obtain).

Highly desirable:

• Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (Residential and Out of Home Care) or equivalent.
• Be able to manage complex and high-risk behaviours, including working with YP with complex mental health challenges and AOD misuse, with histories of complex trauma.
• Training in de-escalation and behaviour support (e.g., TCI or equivalent).
• Experience supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People and embedding cultural safety.
• Familiarity with therapeutic residential care models and practice frameworks.
• Experience collaborating with clinical practitioners and statutory agencies.