Home Based Care Team Leader

MacKillop Family Services; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 84,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

SCHADS Level 6 salary 58.37–60.95/hr

Salary sacrifice up to $18,550 per yr

Wellbeing support

Sanctuary Model framework

First Nations career pathways

Aboriginal Staff Network

Job summary

MacKillop Family Services is seeking a Home Based Care Team Leader in Preston, Melbourne. You will lead intake, assessment, and placement for children in the Home-Based Care Houses and supervise a team of caregivers, ensuring safe, trauma-informed practice.

You will guide case managers, coordinate care plans and drive service improvement while fostering strong community partnerships. This full-time role reports to the Home Based Care Coordinator.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams of case managers and foster carers.
• Tertiary qualifications in social work, psychology or related field.
• Experience with foster carers, children and families with complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Lead intake, assessment and placement for children and young people in the Home-Based Care Houses Program.
• Develop and review LAC care plans and monitor progress against goals.
• Provide leadership, supervision and support to case managers and carers.
• Build relationships with children, young people and carers to support development and engagement.
• Ensure placement, caregiver and program compliance including checks and reporting.
• Prepare high-quality case documentation and maintain data across systems.
• Recruit and support foster carers, including assessments and panel presentations.
• Contribute to service improvement and trauma-informed practice via Sanctuary Model.

Skills

Leadership

Supervision

Team mentoring

Conflict resolution

Education

Social Work

Psychology

Community Services

Job description

About the role:

Are you ready to step into a leadership role where your work truly matters? We’re looking for a passionate and committed Home Based Care Team Leader to join our dedicated team in Preston, right in the heart of Melbourne’s vibrant northern suburbs. This is more than a job, it’s your opportunity to lead with compassion, shape meaningful change, and make a real difference in the lives of children and young people.

In this rewarding role, you’ll oversee the operations of our Home Based Care Houses program, ensuring a safe, therapeutic, and trauma-informed environment for those in our care. You’ll support and supervise a team of caregivers, conduct assessments and annual reviews, and provide guidance to the program’s case manager, ensuring each young person receives thoughtful, coordinated support tailored to their needs.

Beyond the daily responsibilities, you’ll contribute to the growth and innovation of the Home-Based Care Houses initiative and help shape the direction of the broader Home-Based Care program. Your leadership will not only impact your team but will also play a key role in building stronger, more resilient communities.

What we offer at MacKillop:

• SCHADS (Level 6) $58.37– $60.95– Dependent on qualifications & experience
• More money in your pocket – salary sacrifice up to $18,550 per year, which allows you to reduce the amount of tax you pay.
• Wellbeing that matters - Free, confidential support for mental, physical, financial and social wellbeing.
• Sanctuary Organisation - MacKillop’s work is underpinned by the Sanctuary Model, an evidence supported, whole of organisation framework that brings our values to life. The model reinforces our ability to create a safe environment that teaches people to cope effectively with stress and trauma, and to heal.
• First Nations career pathways – Warrungarli Strategy supporting recruitment, retention and professional development
• Community & connection – Opportunity to join Ngindaay Guumaldanha, our Aboriginal Staff Network

This is a full time opportunity based in Preston within our Out of Home Care program. The position reports to the Home Based Care Coordinator.

In this role, you’ll:

• Lead intake, assessment and placement processes for children and young people entering the Home-Based Care Houses Program, ensuring safe and suitable care arrangements.
• Develop, implement and regularly review Looking After Children (LAC) Care Plans, monitoring progress against goals and best interest outcomes.
• Provide leadership, supervision and professional support to Case Managers and foster carers, ensuring high-quality, child-focused practice.
• Build strong relationships with children, young people and carers, supporting positive development, educational engagement and access to therapeutic services.
• Ensure all placement, caregiver and program compliance requirements are met, including mandatory checks, assessments, reporting and statutory obligations.
• Prepare high-quality case documentation, reports and records, maintaining accurate data across relevant systems and funding requirements.
• Recruit, assess and support foster carers, including conducting caregiver assessments, presenting to panels and delivering ongoing supervision and reflective practice.
• Contribute to service improvement, team development and the implementation of best-practice, trauma-informed care through the Sanctuary Model and continuous professional learning.

Key Selection Criteria:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Leadership and supervision experience including the supervising staff and carers. Proven ability to lead, mentor, and support a team of case managers and support staff. Desirable: experience in managing performance, fostering positive team cultural and navigating conflict resolution.
• Appropriate tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Community Services or related fields.
• Experience in working with Foster Carers, Children and Families, especially those with complex needs.

Please address the full Key Selection Criteria outlined in the PD as part of your application.

For more information, please contact:

Emma Cockell at [e-mail]

We value the unique knowledge, perspectives, and cultural contributions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Your experience and insights are important to us, and we strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.

You must have a:

• Valid and current Driver’s Licence;
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check (paid for by MacKillop);
• Valid Employee Working with Children Check;
• Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check (for risk assessed / client facing roles). MacKillop can assist successful candidates with their application.

Our Commitment:

MacKillop celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person at MacKillop has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person’s ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

It is our goal that MacKillop Family Services continues to evolve as a culturally safe, culturally competent, and welcoming organisation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities.

Shortlisting for this position may commence immediately so please submit your application as soon as possible.