Residential Team Leader

Are you an experienced disability professional who thrives in complex support environments and knows how to bring out the best in a team? Harbour Residential Care is seeking a confident, experienced and hands-on Residential Team Leader to oversee two individualised Supported Independent Living (SIL) homes in the Illawarra region, each supporting one participant with complex disability and behavioural support needs.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about positive behaviour support, confident in managing challenging situations and committed to developing capable, consistent and high-performing support teams. We're looking for someone who can lead by example, remain calm under pressure and make a genuine difference to the lives of the people we support.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Residential Team Leader with Harbour Residential Care, you will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership, coordination and quality of support delivered across two SIL homes. This is a hybrid operational role, combining administrative and leadership responsibilities with direct, hands-on support within the homes. You'll be actively involved in service delivery, working alongside your frontline teams to embed best practice, strengthen staff capability and achieve positive participant outcomes.

Our participants have complex support needs, including autism, intellectual disability, significant communication and sensory processing difficulties, and behaviours of concern that may include:

• Physical aggression towards others, including hitting, kicking, scratching, grabbing and other potentially harmful behaviours.
• Significant self-injurious behaviours and risks of harm to self.
• Property damage and other behaviours presenting risks to personal and environmental safety.
• High levels of anxiety, emotional dysregulation and behavioural escalation associated with changes in routine, environmental triggers or unmet support needs.

Substantial practical experience supporting people who present with these types of behaviours is essential for this position. You must be confident recognising early warning signs, implementing proactive strategies, responding safely to escalating situations and coaching others to do the same.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor and support frontline disability support workers across both homes.
• Provide direct participant support as part of a blended administrative and frontline roster.
• Ensure consistent and effective implementation of individualised Behaviour Support Plans, support strategies and risk management procedures.
• Coach staff in positive behaviour support, proactive strategies, emotional regulation and safe de-escalation techniques.
• Maintain strong oversight of incidents, behaviour data, reporting, documentation and continuous improvement activities.
• Promote a positive team culture focused on accountability, communication, learning and participant‑centred care.
• Work collaboratively with participants, families, allied health professionals, Behaviour Support Practitioners and other stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with NDIS Practice Standards, safeguarding requirements and relevant organisational policies.
• Participate in quarterly rotational on‑call arrangements, providing operational guidance and escalation support when required.

What We're Looking For

• Substantial demonstrated experience supporting people with complex disabilities and high‑risk behaviours of concern, particularly physical aggression, self‑injury and significant behavioural escalation.
• Strong practical understanding of Positive Behaviour Support, Behaviour Support Plans, proactive strategies, de‑escalation and dynamic risk assessment.
• Confidence in responding to behavioural incidents and providing effective guidance, coaching and support to frontline staff.
• Experience supporting people with autism, intellectual disability, complex communication needs and sensory processing difficulties.
• An understanding of restrictive practice requirements, participant rights, safeguarding and NDIS compliance.
• Strong communication, problem‑solving, organisational and interpersonal skills.
• Willingness and capability to balance administrative responsibilities with rostered direct participant support.
• Willingness to participate in rotational on‑call duties and responsibilities.
• Ability to meet relevant NDIS worker screening and employment compliance requirements.

Highly Desirable:

• Certificate III or IV in Disability, Community Services or a related field, or relevant leadership and management qualifications.
• Previous leadership, supervisory or senior support worker experience within a SIL environment.
• Formal training in positive behaviour support, crisis prevention, de‑escalation or behaviour response frameworks.
• Experience providing coaching, mentoring and practical guidance to teams supporting participants with complex behavioural needs.

Why Join Harbour Residential Care?

At Harbour Residential Care, we're building something exciting, and we're looking for people who want to grow with us. We offer a supportive, energetic and learning‑focused environment where ideas are encouraged, achievements are celebrated and continuous improvement is part of what we do every day.

You’ll benefit from:

• A fun, collaborative and passionate leadership team.
• Ongoing coaching, mentoring and professional development.
• Opportunities to expand your skills through practical training and shared learning.
• Genuine opportunities for career growth and progression.
• The opportunity to have a meaningful influence on team culture, service delivery and participant outcomes.
• A workplace that values initiative, accountability, creativity and a willingness to learn.

Ready to Make an Impact?

We're looking for someone with the experience, resilience and leadership capability to confidently support our participants and empower the teams around them. If you're an experienced disability professional who enjoys a challenge, leads with compassion and takes pride in delivering high‑quality support, we'd love to hear from you.