Care Services Manager – Strive Community Care

Strive Community Care is a best practice community services provider specialising in supporting clients and organisations within the family preservation, Out of Home Care (OOHC), disability (NDIS), and youth sectors – particularly the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and CALD communities. 

Strive Community Care Pty Ltd was established in 2020 by two community services professionals driven to create a social purpose organisation that actively supports vulnerable people.

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As a For-Purpose organisation, Strive Community Care is geared to providing quality and innovative support to those in Queensland with a history of trauma and/or a psychosocial disability, to build capacity, achieve goals, and maximise opportunities in life. These services are offered in the family preservation, OOHC, disability and justice fields within the community services sector focused on protecting and empowering those with the most complex needs. 

They are committed to supporting children and their families within the child protection system and those with a disability, and marginalised communities impacted by disadvantage and exclusion, thus creating greater equality in society through contributing to stronger people and families.   

A unique approach that sets them apart from other organisations is the holistic approach they take to children and young people in their care. With a strong emphasis on therapeutic care, the organisation is driven to provide exceptional services with a genuine intent for the care of children, young people, and families in their care. 

Having established their footprint in the Southeast corner of Queensland, the quality of their service, and a growing need has seen substantial growth in the company. Strive Community Care is looking to expand its services into new regions within Queensland, beyond its current stronghold in the Southwest region. This includes areas like Brisbane and Moreton Bay, where they aim to establish a presence despite existing challenges with regional acceptance and pre-existing provider relationships. Strive is not only focused on out-of-home care but is also expanding its services within the NDIS sector. This diversification allows them to support a broader range of clients with different needs, enhancing their impact and reach. 

With the expansion journey ahead, Strive are actively seeking a dynamic and experienced Care Services Manager to join their Senior Leadership Team. This pivotal role involves managing Regional Managers and overseeing the efficient delivery of high-quality services. The ideal candidate will bring substantial experience in senior management, particularly within the OOHC and NDIS sectors, along with a strong educational background. As a proven leader in developing staff and positive workplace culture, they will be responsible for budget management, stakeholder engagement, compliance, and risk management, ensuring that operations of Strive meet the highest standards.  

With a focus on growth management and leveraging networks for new opportunities, the successful candidate will play a crucial role in supporting the rapid expansion of Strive and making a significant impact in the community care sector. 

Strive Community Care is currently navigating several challenges as it grows. High staff turnover rates pose a significant issue, making it essential to provide new hires with a positive onboarding experience to retain talent and maintain service quality.  

Expanding into new regions requires building relationships with local stakeholders, which can be difficult without pre-existing connections. Additionally, maintaining high standards of service delivery and compliance becomes more complex as the organisation grows, necessitating effective risk management and quality assurance practices.  

Implementing new systems like Clear Care and ShiftCare involves a learning curve and potential disruptions, so ensuring smooth transitions and staff adaptability is crucial. Financial management across expanding operations requires careful planning and oversight to ensure stability while supporting growth initiatives. 

Moreover, with growth comes increased scrutiny and the need to comply with various legislative requirements, making regulatory compliance a critical focus. Maintaining the organisation’s values and culture during rapid growth can be challenging, requiring a balance of driving standards with empathy and kindness to foster a supportive work environment.  

Competing with established providers in new regions also presents a challenge, necessitating differentiation and leveraging of strengths to gain a foothold in these markets. Addressing these challenges effectively is crucial for Strive Community Care to sustain its growth and continue providing high-quality services. 

The Care Services Manager will lead and manage Regional Managers, oversee service delivery, budget management, stakeholder engagement, and compliance. Based at the Seventeen Mile Rocks office with flexibility for remote work 1-2 days per week, the role involves using advanced tools and systems such as ClearCare (CRM), ShiftCare (NDIS CRM), Employment Hero (HRIS), PayCat (Payroll), and NoahFace (Clock-in system). Key challenges include managing growth, leveraging networks for new opportunities, and improving staff retention. This position offers a dynamic environment with significant opportunities for professional growth and impact in the community care sector. 

You’ll manage two Regional Managers with potential for team expansion as the organisation grows. Key challenges include addressing growth management by freeing up senior leadership for business development, leveraging pre-existing networks to open new opportunities, and improving onboarding and retention practices to reduce high staff turnover rates. This role provides a dynamic environment with significant opportunities for professional growth and impact in the community care sector. 

The Care Services Manager will be a key member of the Senior Leadership Team at Strive Community Care, responsible for managing Regional Managers and overseeing day-to-day service delivery, budget management, stakeholder engagement, and compliance. 

Requirements 

• Experience: Minimum of 10 years in senior management, preferably in out-of-home care and NDIS sectors 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree in social work, Community Services, Psychology, or related fields – a Master’s degree is preferred. 

• Skills: Proven track record in operations management, business development, risk management, high-level finance management, and quality assurance. Familiarity with TCI (Therapeutic Crisis Intervention) is essential. 

Responsibilities 

• Service Delivery: Oversee daily operations, ensuring high-quality service delivery. 

• Financial Management: Manage budgets and financials for all operations. 

• Stakeholder Engagement: Maintain relationships with the Department of Child Safety, NDIS stakeholders, and broader stakeholder cohort. 

• Compliance: Ensure operations comply with legislative and regulatory requirements. 

• Risk Management: Implement effective risk management strategies. 

• Quality Assurance: Maintain high standards through direct line management of the quality and compliance department. 

Challenges 

• Growth Management: Address growing pains by freeing up senior leadership for business development. 

• Network Building: Leverage pre-existing networks to open new opportunities. 

• Staff Turnover: Improve onboarding and retention practices to reduce high turnover rates. 

Work Environment 

• Location: Based at the Seventeen Mile Rocks office with flexibility for remote work 1-2 days per week. 

• Team Structure: Manage two Regional Managers with potential for team expansion as the organisation grows. 

• Tools and Systems: Utilise Clear Care (CRM), Shift Care (NDIS CRM), Employment Hero (HRIS), PayCat (Payroll), and Noah Face (Clock-in system). 

Culture 

• Values: Emphasis on genuine, person-centred leadership, empathy, and kindness. 

• Leadership Style: Balance between driving standards and maintaining a supportive, respectful environment. 

• Training and Development: Strong focus on continuous professional development and innovative training methods to develop quality practitioners and future leaders. 

Opportunities 

• Professional Growth: Scope for increased responsibilities and salary growth as the organisation expands. 

• Impact: Contribute to high standards of care and support, with a focus on reunification success rates. 

• Innovation: Implement new systems and ideas to enhance operational efficiency and service quality. 

This role offers a unique opportunity to lead and grow within a dynamic and impactful organisation, making a significant difference in the community care sector. 

Position Description

• Regional Managers: Directly manage and support two regional managers, with potential for team expansion. 
• Department of Child Safety: Maintain strong, collaborative relationships to ensure seamless service delivery. 
• NDIS Stakeholders: Engage with NDIS stakeholders to align services with their requirements and expectations. 
• Senior Leadership Team: Work closely with senior leaders to address growth management and strategic initiatives. 
• Quality and Compliance Department: Work closely with the quality and compliance team to uphold high standards and ongoing professional development of staff. 
• Community Networks: Leverage existing networks to open new opportunities and enhance service reach. 

The ideal candidate for this Care Services Manager role is a dynamic leader with a blend of confidence, competence, and calmness. They are unflustered and friendly, no matter what challenges the day brings. With a minimum of 10 years of senior management experience, preferably in the OOHC and NDIS sectors. They possess a proven track record in operations management, business development, risk management, and quality assurance. Their educational foundation includes a bachelor’s degree in social work, community services, psychology, or related fields, with a master’s degree being a strong advantage. 

This individual is adept at managing complex operations, overseeing budgets, and engaging with key stakeholders. They excel in maintaining compliance with legislative requirements and implementing effective risk management strategies. Their leadership style is person-centred, empathetic, and supportive, fostering a positive and productive work environment. They are skilled at leveraging existing networks to open new opportunities and enhance service reach. Additionally, they are familiar with Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) and trauma-informed practice principles, which is essential for this role. 

Driven by a passion for making a significant impact in the community care sector, they continuously seek professional growth and innovative solutions to enhance service quality. With these attributes, they are poised to thrive in this role and achieve career-defining success. 

The key focus of the Care Services Manager role is to ensure the efficient and high-quality delivery of services while managing and supporting regional managers. This includes overseeing daily operations, managing budgets, engaging with key stakeholders, ensuring compliance with legislative requirements, and implementing effective risk management strategies. The role also emphasises maintaining high standards through quality assurance and addressing growth management challenges to support the organization’s expansion and impact in the community services sector. 

Young at heart, Strive Community Care has the exuberance and energy to play a life-changing role in the lives of vulnerable children and young people in our community. A supportive and caring environment with a genuine intent to grow and develop their team.  

• A current QLD driver’s licence.  
• Evidence of entitlement to work in Australia.  
• National Criminal History Check (from within the last 12 months)  
• A valid Paid Employment Blue Card (QLD Working With Children Check) 
• A valid Yellow Card (Disability Worker Screening) 

When submitting your application, ensure your application includes: 

• An up-to-date resume (in Word format) 

• A covering letter (in Word format) outlining your interest and expertise relevant to the role 

Submit your application quoting reference number GCSCOM-W to apply@windsor-group.com.au. For more information please contact Gabriella Cirillo or Mike Conroy on 07 3211 0001. Your application will be acknowledged by email within one business day. 

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