Team Leader Residential Services

Uniting Limited; Horsham; Hybrid; AUD 99,000 - 121,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% childcare discount

30% Office 365 discount

25% Uniting Op Shops discount

Salary packaging up to $15,900

Meal entertainment benefit $2,650/year

Purchase leave program (increase leave

Up to 10 weeks paid parental leave

Annual leave bonus 17.5% on leave

Public holidays opt in/out

Job summary

Uniting is seeking a confident and compassionate Team Leader for Residential Services in Victoria. You will guide a team delivering 24/7 care to young people aged 12–18, ensuring safe, therapeutic, and high-quality support. Collaborate with the Program Manager to drive day-to-day operations and staff development.

You’ll champion trauma-informed practice, build capability, and help young people achieve greater independence while partnering with families and key agencies to improve outcomes.

Qualifications

• Minimum Certificate IV in Child, Youth & Family Intervention or equivalent.
• Experience leading within child, youth or family services.
• Current driver’s licence, First Aid (CPR) and Working with Children checks.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day residential operations and service delivery.
• Coach staff and develop high-performing teams.
• Promote trauma-informed practice with young people.
• Ensure safety and wellbeing of youth aged 12–18.
• Foster partnerships with families and stakeholders.

Skills

Team leadership

Trauma-informed practice

Coaching staff

Risk management

Communication

Education

Cert IV in Child/Youth & Family

Job description

• Lead a passionate team supporting young people in residential care
• Make a lasting impact through trauma-informed leadership
• SCHADS Level 6.1, $58.37ph + super + salary packaging

Your new role

We're looking for a confident and compassionate leader to guide a team of Residential Support Workers delivering safe, consistent and high-quality care to young people aged 12-18. You'll create a positive team culture, build capability and ensure young people receive the support they need to thrive.

Working closely with the Program Manager and broader multidisciplinary team, you'll lead day-to-day operations, coach staff and champion trauma-informed practice. You'll play a key role in helping young people develop the skills, resilience and confidence needed for greater independence.

Your impact will include:

• Leading, coaching and developing a team of support workers.
• Creating a safe, nurturing and therapeutic home environment.
• Supporting young people to achieve their care and life goals.
• Managing day-to-day residential operations and service delivery.
• Building strong partnerships with families, DFFH and key stakeholders.
• Driving compliance, quality improvement and best practice outcomes.

About the Program

Our Therapeutic Youth Residential Services program provides 24-hour care and support to young people who are unable to live safely at home. Many of the young people we support have experienced trauma, abuse or significant life challenges and require stable, therapeutic care to help them heal and grow.

Through trauma-informed practice, our teams create safe and supportive environments where young people can build positive relationships, develop essential life skills and work towards greater independence and brighter futures.

At Uniting, we believe every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive, and our residential teams make that difference every day.

Benefits of working at Uniting

At Uniting, you’ll enjoy:

• Working in a values-led organisation with real community impact.
• Collaborative, high-performing team in a flexible hybrid role.
• A 10% discount for eligible employees on out-of-pocket childcare fees at Uniting learning services.
• A 30% discount on Office 365 subscriptions, and a 25% discount at our Uniting Op Shops.
• Up to $15,900 in salary packaging benefits that can be used for living expenses such as groceries, bills, clothing and streaming services.
• Saving on dining out and drinks with a meal entertainment benefit of $2,650 annually.
• Increase your annual leave entitlements through our purchase leave program
• Up to 10 weeks of paid parental leave for primary caregivers (4 for secondary)
• An extra 17.5% on top of your fortnightly pay when you take paid annual leave
• Opt in or out of public holidays and be respected for your unique background.

Your skills and experience

You're an experienced people leader who is passionate about supporting young people and building high-performing teams within a residential, youth or community services environment.

You will bring with you:

• Minimum Certificate IV in Child, Youth & Family Intervention, Youth Work or equivalent.
• Demonstrated leadership experience within child, youth or family services.
• Experience supporting vulnerable young people, ideally in residential care.
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed practice and risk management.
• Current driver's licence, First Aid (including CPR) and Working with Children requirements.

PD- Team Leader Residential Services Oct 2026.docx

For any questions, reach out to Jess Khan, at [e-mail] during business hours.

About Uniting

We create real change in people’s lives by working in partnership with people, communities, governments and other agencies to reduce the impact of poverty, trauma and disadvantage.

We provide compassionate care for people facing tough times and personal challenges. We support children and young people to break the cycle of disadvantage. We help families keep safe, together and thriving.

For over 100 years we’ve been fighting inequality, opposing discrimination, and responding to the needs in our communities across Victoria and Tasmania.

Visit us:

www.vt.uniting.org

We are an inclusive, values-led organisation and proudly welcome people of all identities, backgrounds and experiences. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, LGBTQIA+ people, and people with lived and living experience relevant to our work.

We are committed to inclusive hiring practices. You are welcome to share your pronouns and let us know if you require any adjustments during the recruitment process. We are here to support you.

Uniting is a child safe organisation and is committed to the safety, wellbeing and empowerment of all children and young people. We embed child safety in everything we do. Employment with Uniting is subject to relevant pre-employment checks, including a National Police Check and Working with Children Check.