South Australian Public Service
JOB AND PERSON SPECIFICATION
1. POSITION IDENTIFICATION
Title of Position : Housing Project Co-ordinator
Classification : ASO5
Location : Offender Development – Adelaide CBD
Reports To : Principal Policy Officer
PSM Act
Job Status:
Financial Delegation:
√
Ongoing
CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
Position No: TBA
Division : Offender Development
Contract 1-5 Yrs
Temporary 1-12 Mths
Casual
√
FTE
1.0
$
JOB AND PERSON SPECIFICATION APPROVAL
……............................................……/….…/2009
Chief Executive
JOB SPECIFICATION
2.
KEY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The Project Co-ordinator, Offender Development, is accountable to the Principal Policy Officer, Offender
Development and is responsible for the development and coordination of policies and processes for the
Integrated Housing Exits Program, which is for prisoners and people on remand who have been in
custody up to 12 months, and are at risk of homelessness.
3.
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4.
KEY STAKEHOLDER INTERACTION
Reports to the Principal Policy Officer, Offender Development Directorate;
Collaborates within the Offender Development Directorate and will liaise and work closely with staff
within Custodial Services and Community Corrections (including Case Management Coordinators
and Case Management Consultants);
Consults and develops working relationships with the Department for Families and Communities,
Homelessness Strategy Division and Housing Services, Housing SA, as well as with external
stakeholders pertaining to the development and implementation of housing and support programs
for offenders and people on remand.
DIRECTORATE PROFILE
The Offender Development Directorate develops, manages and evaluates professional services for
offenders.
These services ensure a coordinated approach to prisoner and offender assessment, case planning,
provision of psychological services, intervention and management, particularly of high risk, serious
offenders.
5. SPECIAL CONDITIONS
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The appointee will be subject to a Criminal History Check prior to confirmation of appointment.
A current South Australian Driver’s Licence is essential, and must be willing to drive.
Some out of hours may be required and some intrastate and/or interstate travel may be required.
Travel on light aircraft may be required.
The incumbent will be required to enter into an annual performance agreement for the achievement
of specific outcomes.
6. HIGHLIGHTED EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS
A requirement to understand, observe, conform and adhere to:
 Legislative requirements that apply to the role. This includes but is not limited to the Public
Sector Management Act; Correctional Services Act, Occupational Health Safety & Welfare Act,
Equal Opportunity Act, the Workers Rehabilitation & Compensation Act and various relevant
industrial awards and enterprise agreements.
 General public sector aims/standards including the Government Code of Conduct and DCS’
Human Resource policies/guidelines including personnel management standards, employee
conduct standards and DCS Employee Code of Conduct and DCS Core Values system.
7. KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
Implement the coordinated delivery of accommodation and support policies and services in the
Integrated Housing Exits Program by:
 Co-ordinating and implementing policies, processes and systems that support the sustainable
delivery of housing and support services;
 Developing frameworks that can operate effectively within custodial settings to provide the links
between pre and post release case management;
 Developing intake, risk and needs assessment tools and procedures to effectively identify and
support program participants;
 Working co-operatively with Housing SA (DFC) to facilitate the Housing Outreach Program and
the allocation of suitable program properties;
 Working co-operatively with the Homelessness Strategy Division to refine the current model to
achieve agreed program goals and targets;
 Developing communication strategies to achieve a clear understanding of the aims and
outcomes of the Program;
 Developing education and training programs to support DFC Case Management Coordinators,
Case Management Consultants and external providers to ensure holistic services are provided in
line with Program goals.
Develop processes with external stakeholders to enable contribution to pre and post release
case management processes by:
 Facilitating access to knowledge about internal DCS systems for external stakeholders to create
seamless processes for clients pre and post release;
 Developing appropriate referral, assessment and intake tools and procedures that complement
internal DCS systems and external agency practices;
 Co-ordinating and participating in case management reviews as appropriate.
Develop and implement processes that assist clients to goals that promote independent living
skills and gain access to appropriate support services to reduce the risk of re-offending by:
 Developing program processes, planning and tools that involve client participation and consent
to ensure effective client outcomes;
 Developing mechanisms with housing providers to ensure appropriate levels of tenancy support;
 Developing and monitoring effective exit planning to ensure achievement of case goals and
reduce the risk of re-offending;
 Develop client feedback forms to assist in monitoring program outcomes.
Provide additional support to the Offender Development Directorate by:
 Providing formal communication and related documentation (including policies and frameworks)
associated with the Enhanced Community Corrections model;
 Undertaking relevant project development activities;
 Maintaining effective links and relationships within the Department and external organisations, as
required.
Contribute to reporting requirements by:
 Monitoring and evaluating client outcomes and departmental goals and targets, in particular
improved outcomes for Aboriginal clients and women;
 Drafting discussion papers, briefings and frameworks related to the Integrated Housing Exits
Program;
 Liaising with key stakeholders within the Department, the Department for Families and
Communities and non government providers to ensure communication and reporting
requirements are met (including the feedback of research data);
 Providing regular reports to the Homelessness Inter Ministerial Committee and the
Homelessness Strategy Unit, Housing SA, Department of Families and Communities;
 Supporting and contributing to monitoring and evaluation processes by contributing to the
National Data Collection (SMART) data set.
Responsible and accountable for maintaining a safe work environment by ensuring so far as is
reasonably practicable that the employee is, while at work, safe from injury and risks to health
by:
 Ensuring work practices and facilities comply with the principles of Occupational Health Safety
and Welfare, Public Sector Management, and Equal Opportunity legislation by maintaining a
sound working knowledge of legislation and regulations and disseminating information to staff;
 Liaising with Regional staff, Human Resources Division staff, Department of Premier and
Cabinet inspectorial staff, and other relevant agency staff to facilitate the awareness and
implementation of safe and fair work practices.
Other duties as required commensurate with the level and scope of this position.
8.
QUALIFICATIONS
Desirable:
A relevant tertiary qualification in Social Sciences
Certificate in Training and Assessment
9.
PERSONAL CRITERIA
9.1 Essential Criteria
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A demonstrated understanding of issues and risk factors which place a person at risk of
homelessness with particular emphasis for people in correctional facilities.
An demonstrated understanding of the relationship between homelessness and offending
behaviour.
An understanding of effective case management processes that contributes to reducing the risk
of homelessness and reoffending and the factors that provide for long term sustainable
independent living outcomes.
An understanding of intake, referral, assessment, monitoring, with particular emphasis in pre
and post release settings of correctional facilities.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement projects integrating the service responses from
multiple agencies.
Demonstrated ability to develop, coordinate and monitor policies and processes to support case
management strategies with external stakeholders in particular non-government agencies.
Demonstrated ability to develop and implement training to staff with various skills and abilities.
Demonstrated ability to establish effective relationships, liaise and engage in appropriate formal
and information communication with key stakeholders.
Demonstrated ability to manage workload within agreed timelines and objectives, with minimal
supervision.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively and sensitively within a culturally diverse environment.
Experience
 Previous work history in institutional settings.
JOB PROFILE
PROGRAM COORDINATOR, OFFENDER DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORATE
The following information has been prepared for potential applicants to the position of Project
Coordinator, Offender Development Directorate. It has been prepared to provide additional
information to the job and person specification.
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The Department for Correctional Services is committed to building a safe, just and fair
society, where the supervision and rehabilitation of offenders is humane and the rights of
victims are respected. The Department works in partnership with other criminal justice
organisations, other departments and the community, to prevent crime and reduce repeat
offending. The Department employs approximately 1600 staff and has responsibility for nine
prisons and sixteen community correctional centres across the state.
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The Offender Development Directorate is responsible for the provision of high quality, integrated
therapeutic rehabilitation services to offenders, including high risk and offenders with complex
needs.
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The Integrated Housing Exits Program focuses on providing suitable accommodation and
case management support for people leaving custodial settings in South Australia, both those
who have been sentenced and those on remand. It aims to assist them with successful
reintegration into the community and to reduce the risk of re-offending.
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The Program was previously a Social Inclusion Board initiative partnering with the
Department for Correctional Services (DCS) to manage and lead the program to reduce
homelessness for people exiting custodial settings. It is specifically for those who have been
in custody up to 12 months, given this group often “fall through system gaps.”
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In December 2008 the government of South Australia signed a National Partnership
Agreement on Homelessness (NP) with the Commonwealth Government. The aim is to
facilitate significant reform that will improve the responses to reducing homelessness. This
project forms a part of the NP Implementation Plan.
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The Offender Development Directorate (DCS) is responsible for the day to day management
of the program and for jointly achieving program targets.
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DFC has responsibility for program funding and jointly achieving program targets.
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The position of Project Coordinator is located in DCS Central Office, located on the 6th floor at
33 Franklin Street, Adelaide.
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The successful person will be able to demonstrate excellent strategic planning skills,
communication skills, project development and training skills.
Marja Elizabeth
DIRECTOR
OFFENDER DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORATE
JULY 2009