PSP Operations Manager

Wandiyali is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation, established in Newcastle in 1997. We are the largest accredited Aboriginal provider of PSP OOHC within Newcastle, Lake Macquarie, Hunter Region, and Port Stephens. Wandiyali also has a number of Preservation Programs and support services that work closely with children, young people and families.

Wandiyali is a Child Safe organisation committed to the safety, wellbeing and Cultural safety of all children and young people. We have zero tolerance for child abuse and are committed to creating safe, inclusive and Culturally responsive environments where children and young people are respected, heard and empowered. All employees are expected to share and actively uphold Wandiyali’s commitment to child safety and safeguarding.

The PSP Operations Manager (ITC) provides operational and practice leadership and support across the Permanency Support Program. The role is accountable for safe, Culturally responsive, therapeutic and high-quality care, ensuring positive outcomes for children and young people. The Operations Manager (ITC) is responsible for working collaboratively across the PSP department, ensuring residential operations and casework practice operate as one coordinated care system around each child or young person. The role provides leadership to ensure practice is aligned with:

• NSW Child Safe Standards for Permanent Care;
• NSW Therapeutic Care Framework and Ten Essential Elements of Therapeutic Care;
• Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) Framework, recognising the interconnected importance of body, mind and emotions, family and kinship, community, culture, Country and spirituality;
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle (ATSICPP);
• OCG requirements, DCJ Permanency Support Program requirements and relevant NSW legislation,
• Organisation’s policies, procedures, values and Cultural governance.

Working closely with the General Manager PSP and broader Permanency Support Program leadership team, the Operations Manager oversees day-to-day service delivery, workforce performance, placement stability, therapeutic practice, Cultural connection, risk management, safeguarding and regulatory compliance.

• Commitment to Wandiyali’s vision, mission, values and Aboriginal community control; Cultural confidence and substantial experience working with Aboriginal children, families and communities.
• Relevant qualification and leadership experience in statutory OOHC, including foster/kinship care and residential and/or intensive therapeutic care.
• Strong knowledge of NSW PSP, the Aboriginal Case Management Policy and Aboriginal Child Placement Principles, NSW Standards for Statutory OOHC, OCG accreditation and reportable conduct obligations.
• Strong leadership skills including the demonstrated capacity to be dynamic, prioritise and problem solve alongside leading trauma-informed and Culturally responsive therapeutic practice.
• Strong knowledge and experience leading programs with dispersed 24-hour services, including supervision, training, rostering and workforce planning.
• Proven budget, funding, contract, risk, incident, quality improvement and performance reporting capability.

Clear communication, sound judgment, respectful conflict resolution and ability to work effectively with community, employees and stakeholders.