Team Leader - Foster Care & Youth Services

Wesley Mission; Foster; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully maintained vehicle provided

Professional supervision

Career development

Job summary

Wesley Mission is seeking a dynamic Team Leader for Foster Care & Youth Services in the New England region. The role focuses on leading and expanding foster care and Supported Independent Living programs across Armidale and Tamworth, with autonomy to drive service growth and improve outcomes for children and young people.

You will work closely with carers, families, DCJ and community partners, providing mentoring, policy implementation and practice leadership in a values-driven organisation

Qualifications

• Required degree in Social Work, Psychology, Social Welfare, Human Services or related field.
• Experience leading teams and mentoring staff.
• Proven ability to build community partnerships and stakeholder networks.
• Strong written and verbal communication and report writing.

Responsibilities

• Lead and grow foster care and Supported Independent Living services across the New England region.
• Provide leadership, mentoring and support to carers, children, young people and staff.
• Develop and strengthen referral pathways and partnerships with DCJ and community organisations.
• Collaborate with leadership to shape and grow services in a developing region.

Skills

Leadership

Partnering & relationship-building

Communication

Time management

Teamwork

Education

Social Work / Psychology / Social Welfare (degree)

Tools

Microsoft Office

Case management systems

Job description

Team Leader - Foster Care & Youth Services

Team Leader - Foster Care & Youth Services

Lead Change Across the New England Region

Location: Armidale/Tamworth

Why Join Wesley?

• Lead and grow foster care and Supported Independent Living services across the New England region
• Full-time leadership role with genuine autonomy and community impact
• Fully maintained vehicle provided
• Professional supervision, mentoring and career development
• Opportunity to shape and expand services in a growing region
• Join a values-driven organisation that puts children and young people first

About us

Wesley Mission is a high profile, multi-faceted Christian organisation making a real difference in the community. We work with the most disadvantaged in our community by providing over 200 services ranging from aged care, homeless services, child and family care, counselling, employment, training and education, and health services.

About the Opportunity

Lead, Grow and Make a Lasting Difference

Wesley Dalmar Children’s Services has a long and proud history of supporting children, young people, carers and families across New South Wales.

An opportunity for a passionate and experienced Team Leader to lead and grow our Out of Home Care services across the New England region, including Armidale and Tamworth.

This is more than a leadership role. It is an opportunity to help shape the future of foster care and Supported Independent Living services in a developing region while providing guidance, mentoring and support to carers, children, young people and staff.

Working closely with children and young people in care, foster carers, birth families, DCJ and community stakeholders, you will play a key role in creating safe, stable and nurturing environments where children can thrive.

You will be supported by a highly experienced regional leadership team while enjoying the autonomy to build strong local partnerships, strengthen referral pathways, support carer recruitment and contribute to service growth across the New England region.

If you are looking for a role where you can combine leadership, relationship building and practice excellence while genuinely changing lives, we would love to hear from you.

What You’ll Bring

We’re looking for someone who combines strong leadership capability with a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for children and young people. To be successful, you will have:

• Qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Social Welfare, Human Services or a related discipline
• Demonstrated experience working with children, young people and families, ideally within Out of Home Care, Permanency Support Programs or related community services
• Experience building community partnerships and stakeholder networks
• Leadership experience or the capacity to provide professional guidance, mentoring and support to staff, carers and stakeholders
• Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with carers, families, DCJ, community organisations and other key partners
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare professional reports, case documentation and correspondence
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a dynamic environment
• Experience supporting positive outcomes for children and young people through strengths-based, trauma-informed and person-centred approaches
• Confidence working both independently and as part of a broader team
• Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office and contemporary case management systems
• Availability to participate in some after-hours work as required
• Knowledge of therapeutic care frameworks and trauma-informed practice
• Experience working within the Permanency Support Program
• Experience leading teams, mentoring staff or providing practice leadership
• Knowledge of the Children’s Court system, relevant legislation and court documentation requirements
• Experience supporting foster carer recruitment, assessment, training or ongoing development
• Experience working with children and young people in Supported Independent Living or similar care settings
• Understanding of child protection practice and the NSW Out of Home Care sector

Highly Regarded Experience

While not essential, the following experience will be highly regarded:

Remuneration

Salary and employment conditions are in accordance with the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010. The agency provides regular supervision and support for all staff and opportunities for professional development.

6th November 2026

Wesley Mission is a Christian organisation requiring all staff to affirm its values and Worker code of conduct. We are committed to providing an environment in which children can feel safe and valued.

The suitable applicant will be subject to the relevant pre-employment checks for appointment to positions within Wesley Mission (including provision of a valid Working with Children Check clearance number). Wesley Mission is committed to diversity, inclusion and reconciliation. Guided by our vision of doing all the good we can because every life matters, we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and social demographics, and strongly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply.