Intake Practitioner

Family and Disability Services; Sydney; On-site; AUD 69,000 - 96,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary Packaging (NFP)

12 weeks parental leave

Diversity and inclusive leave

Career development opportunities

Employee discounts platform

Job summary

UnitingCare Queensland is seeking an Intake Practitioner for the Gold Coast Homelessness Service. You will handle walk-in, phone and third-party enquiries, perform intake and risk assessments, and coordinate with case workers for timely housing support.

You’ll engage with people in crisis, utilise SHIP/QHIP data, and contribute to a compassionate, not-for-profit team with strong safeguarding practices.

Qualifications

• Minimum Cert IV in human services or related field.
• Current Driver’s Licence and Blue Card.
• Strong written and oral communication; IT proficiency.
• Experience in community services sector.
• Ability to engage with people in crisis.

Responsibilities

• Set up the Gold Coast Homeless Hub drop-in service and follow up after-hours enquiries.
• Respond to enquiries by phone, email, walk-in and third parties.
• Capture data in SHIP and QHIP systems.
• Undertake screening, triage and risk assessment with clients.
• Provide intake and assessment to identify housing needs.
• Support clients post-intake until allocation to a Case Worker.
• Coordinate access to daily drop-in services (breakfast, meals, showers, laundry).
• Build rapport with individuals and families in crisis.
• Demonstrate empathy, advocacy, de-escalation and conflict resolution.
• Collaborate with Regional Manager and staff to assess risks.

Skills

Screening

Triage

Risk assessment

Data entry

Communication

Education

Cert IV in Human Services

Tools

SHIP

QHIP

MS Office

Job description

Intake Practitioner | Homelessness Service | Bilinga Employment Term: Casual Location: Gold Coast Homelessness Service, Bilinga Remuneration: $58.38 p/hr + Super + NFP salary packaging

Make a meaningful difference with UnitingCare Queensland At UnitingCare we are leaders in crisis response, the protection of vulnerable people and children, financial resilience and family wellbeing. Our FaDS (Family and Disability Services) team work passionately across Queensland to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. As an Intake Practitioner, you’ll be encouraged to grow, develop and feel empowered to make the everyday easier for the people we care so passionately about. Let’s make a meaningful difference, together!

Your part in our UnitingCare team

The Intake Practitioner is the first point of contact for all walk-in, phone-based and third-party enquiries to Gold Coast Homelessness Service. In responding to clients who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, the Intake Practitioner utilises a screening, triage and risk assessment process and provides high quality intake and assessment prior to referral to case management and/or accommodation services.

• Daily set up of the Gold Coast Homeless Hub drop-in service and follow up of any after hours enquiries via phone, email or third parties.
• Managing and responding to all enquiries by phone, email, walk-in and third parties, including QLD Homeless Information Platform (QHIP)
• Capturing required data on relevant internal spreadsheets and client management systems (SHIP, QHIP).
• Undertake screening, triage and risk assessment process with all clients seeking a housing and homelessness response, with Service Leader oversight as required.
• Provide clients with access to thorough Intake and Assessment in order to identify their strengths and needs in relation to housing barriers and housing goals.
• Manage clients who have completed Intake by providing interim support up to the point of timely allocation to a GCHS Case Worker for case management support.
• Coordinate access to daily practical drop-in services including breakfast, lunch, shower and laundry facilities, phone, computer and device charging.
• Build rapport and work effectively with individuals and families in crisis who present for Intake or Drop-In Access and may also be highly vulnerable.
• Demonstrate strong empathy, advocacy, de-escalation and conflict resolution skills.
• Work in partnership with Regional Manager, Service Leaders and program staff to identify and assess potential risks (including child protection issues).

What makes a difference for us?

• Minimum Cert. IV in human services or related field (Tertiary qualification in human services or related field highly desirable)
• Current Drivers Licence, Positive Notice Blue Card
• Demonstrated competence in oral and written communication including proficiency in Information Technology systems (including Microsoft Office- Word, Excel and Outlook)
• Demonstrated experience in the community services sector
• Ability to engage with people in crisis who present with a range of complex needs
• Ability to engage with a diverse range of people and display culturally competent practice
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team as well as responsibly within an autonomous setting
• Commitment to learning and professional development including participation in regular supervision practices
• Commitment to working within the beliefs, mission and values of UnitingCare Community and adhering to policies and organisational requirements and processes

What makes a difference for you?

• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
• NFP Salary Packaging: Save tax and increase your take home pay by salary packaging your everyday living expenses and bills (up to $15,900) and meal entertainment (up to $2,650) per annum.
• To learn more about this benefit watch the video via the following link: SalaryPackagingExplained
• A recognition and rewards platform, providing employee discounts at hundreds of retailers, including everyday expenses, holidays, health insurance, annual awards celebration, wellbeing and employee assistance programs
• 12 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid partner leave, available after 6 months service, in addition to the government scheme
• Diversity and inclusive leave, offering paid gender affirmation leave and cultural leave options (paid and unpaid) for those who may celebrate Lunar New Year, Diwali, Ramadan, NAIDOC weeks and other significant cultural events
• Career development opportunitiesto challenge yourself, grow and make a meaningful difference
• A positive and inclusive team based on respect, shared standards, strong values and a commitment to serving others

We’d love you to be part of our UnitingCare family. Joining our FaDS, team, you’ll also be welcomed as part of the UnitingCare family. The second-largest Queensland employer, we’re a proud not-for-profit with more than 16,500 staff and 9,000 volunteers across our brands of BlueCare, Lifeline, ARRCS, The Wesley Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital, and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, and have been leading by example for more than 100 years.

Child safe, Child friendly UnitingCare is committed to being a Child Safe, Child Friendly organisation and will: provide welcoming, safe and nurturing services for children implement measures to prevent child abuse and neglect within our services appropriately and immediately address child abuse and neglect if it does occur abide by the Child Safe Standards and adhere to the Reportable Conduct Scheme

Diversity & Inclusion

Our approach is simple– everybody iswelcome here. At UnitingCare, diversity is at the core of our who we are, our mission and our values.We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees no matter their sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity.Demonstrating our commitment to reconciliation and building long-term employment opportunities for First Nations peoples, UnitingCare strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for this position.

Safe workplace

We work hard to make our services welcoming and safe for every person. We are united in keeping children, young people and the elderly safe from harm, within our services, workplaces and the communities we support. We are committed to speaking up loudly for their safety.

Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed in creating services and workplaces that are welcoming and safe for every person. We work together to protect children, young people, adults and the elderly from harm within our services and the communities we support. We speak up for their safety to ensure their voices are heard. Our recruitment and workplace practices reflect our dedication in preventing abuse, harm and exploitation across UnitingCare.

When you join the UnitingCare family, you are part of something bigger. We are a proud not-for-profit with a compassionate and inclusive team who are committed to the work we do. People who want to make the world a little better through small moments that leave big impacts. For more than 100 years we’ve been inspired by our mission to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. www.unitingcareqld.com.au We’re on a mission to make a meaningful difference every day, working with thousands of Australians to ensure they live life in all its fullness. We want people who are great as individuals, and even better in a team. People who stand up for what is right. Who are open to new ideas. Who champion innovation. Who lead through learning, and lead by example. So, if you’re looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful difference, to grow, thrive and to be rewarded, it’s time you joined our UnitingCare familiy.