Team leader _ The Cottage

Job Description:

• Full Time, Permanent position

• Fitzroy location – close to the CBD and public transport

• Lead a dedicated team providing compassionate care to people experiencing homelessness

About the Role

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced and compassionate Personal Care Supervisor to join The Cottage, part of St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne’s Health Care for the Homeless (HfTH) program. The Cottage is a unique five-bed health facility providing nursing and personal care within a welcoming, home-like environment for people experiencing homelessness who have complex health and psychosocial needs.

As Personal Care Supervisor, you will provide day-to-day leadership and operational oversight of The Cottage, ensuring patients receive safe, responsive and person-centred care. Working closely with the Cottage Care Coordinator/Registered Nurse and the broader multidisciplinary team, you will oversee service delivery, staffing, referrals, occupancy, resources and operational requirements.

This is a rewarding opportunity for an experienced health or community services professional who is passionate about supporting vulnerable members of the community and creating an environment where dignity, safety and holistic care are at the centre of everything we do.

Classification: IN37 - IN39 ($64,120.16 - $73,964.28 per annum).

Your Responsibilities

Service Delivery & Patient Care

• Ensure the delivery of a safe, effective and responsive service for patients of The Cottage

• Work alongside the Cottage Care Coordinator/Registered Nurse to triage referrals and coordinate admissions and occupancy

• Provide clinical, practical and therapeutic support to patients as required and within scope of practice

• Support staff with resident management practices and provide guidance and training where required

• Ensure clinical documentation, observations and handovers are completed accurately each shift

• Maintain and promote patient privacy, dignity and confidentiality at all times

• Respond to complaints or concerns escalated by staff and seek support from the Psychosocial Manager where required

Team Leadership

• Provide day-to-day leadership, guidance and support to Cottage staff

• Coordinate staffing and rosters to support safe, high-quality care and effective use of resources

• Lead recruitment activities, including oversight of position descriptions and onboarding

• Ensure new team members receive a comprehensive orientation to the operations and philosophy of The Cottage

• Support staff to maintain required credentialing, scope of practice, performance review requirements and appropriate supervision

• Provide immediate staff debriefing following challenging situations and facilitate access to additional support where appropriate

• Coordinate regular team meetings that encourage staff participation and effective communication

Operations & Continuous Improvement

• Oversee the day-to-day operations and maintenance of The Cottage, including equipment, food services, cleaning programs and consumables

• Monitor expenditure and identify opportunities to maintain cost-effective meal provision, dietary supplements, groceries and other resources

• Regularly review local policies and procedures to ensure alignment with organizational standards, objectives and values

• Identify and implement service improvements, evaluations and innovations that support broader Health Care for the Homeless priorities

• Maintain effective relationships and communication with internal and external stakeholders

• Complete routine administrative activities required for the effective operation of the service

About You

You are an experienced and compassionate health or community services professional who can confidently lead a team while maintaining a strong focus on person-centred care.

You will bring:

• A Certificate IV, Diploma or higher-level qualification in one of the following areas:

  • Aged Care

  • Mental Health

  • Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD)

  • Home and Community Care

  • Disability

  • Nursing

• Strong leadership, communication and interpersonal skills

• The ability to support and guide staff working with patients who have complex health and psychosocial needs

• Strong organisational skills and the ability to coordinate competing operational priorities

• A commitment to providing respectful, trauma-informed and person-centred care

• The ability to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams and internal and external stakeholders

What We Offer

Working at St Vincent’s means joining a values-driven organisation committed to supporting the wellbeing, development and success of our people.

You’ll enjoy:

• Salary packaging to increase your take-home pay

• A monthly Accrued Day Off (ADO) for full-time employees

• Access to Fitness Passport

• Employee wellbeing initiatives and programs

• Confidential, solutions-focused employee counselling

• Ongoing professional development and career opportunities

• Employee discounts and promotions through the St Vincent’s Foundation

• A supportive environment that encourages work/life balance

• A convenient Fitzroy location close to public transport, cafés and the Melbourne CBD

• A culture of continuous learning and improvement

About The Cottage – Health Care for the Homeless

The Cottage forms part of St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne’s Health Care for the Homeless (HfTH) program, which brings together services supporting people who are experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness. The program aims to better integrate and coordinate existing St Vincent’s services while developing innovative models of care that respond to the complex needs of this patient population.

The Cottage is a five-bed health facility located within a home-like terrace house setting, providing personal and nursing care for people experiencing homelessness. Patients may have a range of complex needs associated with homelessness, substance use, mental health, disability, complex aged care needs and family violence.

The service aims to address patients’ physical, social and emotional needs within an environment centred on safety, dignity, respect and holistic care.

Working at St Vincent’s

St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is a leading teaching, research and tertiary health service providing a diverse range of adult clinical services. Our work is guided by our values of Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence.

Application

Please submit your resume and cover letter with your application.

Shortlisting will commence immediately. We encourage you to apply promptly, as the advertisement may close early should a suitable applicant be identified.

We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities. Inclusion is fundamental to our mission, and we value the diversity that reflects the communities we serve.

Please visit our website for further information regarding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment at St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne.

St Vincent’s Health Australia has a duty of care under work health and safety legislation to eliminate and control the risk of transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases in healthcare settings. Successful applicants may therefore be required to meet mandatory immunisation requirements, including annual influenza vaccination.

Contact

Andrew Chan [email protected]

Closing Date:

26 October 2026 11:59pm

Reconciliation Action Plan:

At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at [email protected]

View Reconciliation Action Plan

Code of Conduct:

View Code of Conduct