ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidates will:

• Demonstrate leadership capabilities, leading projects and portfolios of work
• Develop team capability, providing coaching, mentoring and feedback to others
• Have strong organisational skills, working independently to prioritise and adapt to competing demands
• Make confident decisions and recommendations, escalating high risk matters as required
• Possess strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills, using initiative and innovative thinking to shape outcomes, identify and respond to risk and solve complex problems
• Have knowledge of ECEC theory and practice, as well as the NQF, National Law, Children’s Services Act, and their respective regulations
• Have knowledge of regulation theory and practice, and ability to implement quality assurance frameworks, systems and processes giving effect to legislative and regulatory frameworks
• Manage difficult and complex stakeholder issues, with ability to influence and negotiate effectively with a range of stakeholders
• Effectively communicate complex information clearly, accurately and professionally, verbal and written
• Possess strong IT skills, navigating a range of computer systems, business rules and guidelines.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• Desirable: Relevant qualifications in early childhood education, teaching, or other human welfare studies, behavioural studies or similar.
• Essential: Successful applicants will be required to hold a valid Victorian Working with Children’s Check and Victorian driver’s licence.

Key accountabilities will include:

• Managing and reporting on approved education and care services’ compliance with the National Quality Framework (NQF)
• Undertaking the assessment and rating process for approved education and care services against the National Quality Standard
• Leading and conducting investigations following notifications of incidents or complaints
• Preparing and analysing evidence to determine the action to be taken in response to the seriousness of the non-compliance and developing reports and recommendations
• Applying a full range of regulatory tools to promote continuous improvement
• Managing systems and processes for the collection and reporting of information relating to service quality and regulatory issues
• Preparing detailed letters, briefings and reports relating to policy and operational issues
• Communicating legislative and regulatory requirements across licensed and approved education and care services, including through running information sessions and training programs
• Implementing quality assurance frameworks, systems and processes to give effect to legislative and regulatory requirements
• Mentoring and coaching Children’s Services Authorised Officers

4 X 3-YEAR FIXED TERM, FULL TIME VPS5 SENIOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES AUTHORISED OFFICER ROLES AVAILABLE ACROSS VARIOUS LOCATIONS:

• Western Melbourne Area (Footscray)
• Northern Melbourne Area (Coburg)
• Eastern Melbourne Area (Glen Waverly)
• Southern Melbourne Area (Dandenong)

ABOUT THE ROLE

An exciting opportunity is available for highly motivated individuals with strong attention to detail and a passion for meaningful work to support QARD with the compliance and quality assessment of ECEC services.
You will play an active frontline role in promoting quality improvement in ECEC services by conducting assessment and rating visits across regional and metropolitan areas and planning and leading investigations as part of the core functions of QARD. The role will also facilitate coaching and mentoring to colleagues, including Children’s Services Authorised Officers, in preparing and conducting assessment and rating visits, managing enquiries, complaint and incident notifications and conducting investigations. The role will at times have responsibility for key regulatory functions as determined by the Manager. The role will also be required to engage and provide specialist advice to internal and external stakeholders and provide leadership support across the team’s regulatory functions.

Key accountabilities will include:

• Managing and reporting on approved education and care services’ compliance with the National Quality Framework (NQF)
• Undertaking the assessment and rating process for approved education and care services against the National Quality Standard
• Leading and conducting investigations following notifications of incidents or complaints
• Preparing and analysing evidence to determine the action to be taken in response to the seriousness of the non-compliance and developing reports and recommendations
• Applying a full range of regulatory tools to promote continuous improvement
• Managing systems and processes for the collection and reporting of information relating to service quality and regulatory issues
• Preparing detailed letters, briefings and reports relating to policy and operational issues
• Communicating legislative and regulatory requirements across licensed and approved education and care services, including through running information sessions and training programs
• Implementing quality assurance frameworks, systems and processes to give effect to legislative and regulatory requirements
• Mentoring and coaching Children’s Services Authorised Officers.

The roles involve travel (usually by car) across the broader region, metropolitan and regional areas. In this active frontline role, you will be visiting multiple ECEC services in a day and across the week. Typical work arrangements involve a balance of working offsite independently while visiting ECEC services, with time in an office environment working as part of a bigger inclusive team. The role will at times include planned overnight stays. There may also be some flexible start and finish times to accommodate service visits.

QARD is responsible for:

• approving providers and services as required by the National Law and Children’s Services Act
• monitoring service compliance and conducting investigations in response to notifications and complaints
• assessment and rating of family day care, outside school hours care, long day care and kindergarten programs against the National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and School Age Care
• supporting legislative policy development