About Orange Health Care
Orange Health Care is a community services organisation providing Child Protection Residential Care, NDIS Supports, SIL, Community Nursing, and Youth Services across North Queensland. Our Child Protection Residential Program provides safe, stable, trauma-informed, and therapeutic environments for children and young people with complex needs. We are seeking an experienced and motivated Children Services Manager to lead and oversee our residential child protection services across multiple homes in Townsville.
About the Role
The Children Services Manager will be responsible for the overall operational management of the Children Services Program, ensuring high-quality care, compliance, staff leadership, and positive outcomes for children and young people.
This is a senior leadership role requiring strong knowledge of the Queensland Child Protection system, residential care standards, workforce management, and compliance obligations.
The successful candidate will work closely with Child Safety Services, carers, families, internal leadership teams, and external stakeholders to ensure safe, compliant, and therapeutic service delivery across all residential houses.
Key Responsibilities
* Oversee the day-to-day operations of residential care homes
* Ensure all houses operate safely, efficiently, and in line with legislative and licensing requirements
* Provide leadership, supervision, and support to Case Managers, Team Leaders, and Residential Youth Workers
* Participate in after-hours on-call and incident escalation processes when required
* Maintain regular communication with Child Safety Officers, CSSCs, schools, allied health professionals, and external agencies
* Attend care team meetings, placement meetings, critical incident reviews, and departmental meetings
* Ensure all young people receive high-quality, trauma-informed care and support
Compliance & Quality Assurance
* Ensure compliance with:
o Child Protection Act 1999
o Human Services Quality Framework (HSQF)
o Statement of Standards
o Licensing requirements
o Organisational policies and procedures
* Oversee incident reporting, restrictive practices, medication compliance, documentation, and house audits
* Monitor staff Blue Cards, LCS checks, training compliance, and mandatory certifications
* Lead continuous improvement and quality assurance activities
Staff Management & HR
* Manage recruitment, onboarding, induction, supervision, and performance management processes
* Support workforce planning, rostering, and staff allocation
* Assist with disciplinary processes, investigations, and employee support
* Promote a positive workplace culture focused on teamwork, accountability, and professional development
Case Management & Documentation
* Oversee development and review of:
o Care Plans
o Safety Plans
o Cultural Support Plans
o Behaviour Support Strategies
o Crisis Management Plans etc
* Ensure accurate case notes, reporting, and documentation standards are maintained
Policy & Service Development
* Assist in developing and reviewing organisational policies, procedures, and operational frameworks
* Support service growth, program development, and accreditation activities
* Contribute to strategic planning and operational improvement initiatives
Essential Requirements
* Diploma or Bachelor qualification in Human Services, Social Work, Psychology, Youth Work, Community Services, or related field
* Demonstrated leadership experience within Child Protection Residential Care or Out-of-Home Care services
* Minimum 3-5 years of leadership experience in Child Protection Residential Care
* Strong understanding of Queensland Child Safety legislation and residential care standards
* Experience managing teams, rosters, compliance, and operational service delivery
* Current Blue Card
* LCS
* Current NDIS Worker Screening Clearance (Yellow Card) or willingness to obtain
* Current First Aid and CPR Certificate
* Current Australian Driver Licence
* National Police Check
* Strong report writing, communication, and organisational skills
Desired Skills & Experience
* Experience managing multiple residential houses
* Experience working with young people presenting complex behaviours and trauma backgrounds
* Knowledge of Hope and Healing Framework and trauma-informed practice
* Experience using care management systems and rostering platforms
* Strong conflict resolution and crisis management abilities
What We Offer
* Competitive salary
* Career progression opportunities
* Ongoing professional development and training
* Supportive leadership environment