Lifestyle Solutions is hiring Facilitators to work in their Family Governed Services in the Independent Living Support Initiative (ILSI), to assist people with a disability who have ageing carers make the transition from family based living to more independent living arrangements.

The ILSI program provides support through the creation of a person centred plan to help the person achieve their life goals and aspirations.

Start date: no later than 20 February 2012 in order to attend training and induction.

You will work alongside people with intellectual or physical disabilities of varying ages and their families and friends.

You will assist individuals develop a person centred plan; learn independent living skills; form a circle of support; build meaningful connections with the community and supervise mentors working with individuals.

This involves establishing close working relationships with people with a disability and their family members/supporters, assisting in areas such as developing and reviewing plans, connecting with local communities, advocating for people, recruitment and supervision of staff, liaising with other agencies and administrative functions.

It is essential that you think creatively, listen well, possess a genuine interest in inclusion and believe in empowerment for people with disabilities. You will also be familiar with person centred approaches, be a problem solver and relate well to people from all cultures and all walks of life.

You may currently be working in the human services sector, be looking for a career change where you can make a difference in the life of people or be a recent graduate who wishes to apply their creative skills in helping people reach their dreams and goals for a better life.

Closing date: 15 January 2012

Find out more about Facilitator roles at Lifestyle Solutions or search for jobs in disability and community care.

Lifestyle Solutions in Newcastle are seeking a  Coordinator for Person, Place and Planning (Team Leader).

Are you passionate about genuine inclusion for people with support needs? Join Lifestyle Solutions and become part of a team committed to making a difference to people's lives within our community.

Lifestyle Solutions are seeking an energetic, resourceful and committed person, for an immediate start with Glendale (Newcastle) Out of Home Care Services.

You will be experienced in working with young people with a disability and/or challenging behaviours with high and complex needs in residential care settings. You will be responsible for leading a team that provides care to young people and adults, in a personalised environment, as part of a multi-disciplinary team. Knowledge of Out of Home Care programs would be highly regarded.

Salary is paid in accordance with the NSW SACS Award Grade 4, with salary packaging available for all permanent staff.

Lifestyle Solutions is an EEO employer and welcomes applications from people from ATSI and CALD backgrounds.

All applicants are required to undergo employment screening through probity checks prior to commencing.

Closing date: 16 May 2011

Read more about the Coordinator position at Lifestyle Solutions and apply online, or learn more about frontline support roles in the disability and community care sector.

Since their launch a year ago, carecareers has supported over 200,000 people to discover more about working in the care sector and more and more organisations are linking into carecareers - making it a one stop shop for people currently working in the sector and for those interested in pursuing a career in this ever dynamic and evolving industry.

I'm not sure if you've spent time perusing through the carecareers website, but there are now 720 employers registered! What a great way to check out who does what, how they operate, and to gauge whether they are what you are looking for in an employee.

As a Manager at Lifestyle Solutions, a not-for-profit organisation that provides support to a range of people throughout Australia, I have used the carecareers site as a resource for both existing staff and potential staff who have expressed an interest in working with my team.

In addition to utilising the no-cost recruitment aspects of carecareers, Lifestyle Solutions has encouraged their staff to connect with other people working in similar roles, and to keep inspired about why they entered into the field in the first place.

I met with a young woman late last year who was interested in pursuing a career that involved working with people, and families in particular. She had been quite successful in her current workplace, but was looking for a new opportunity. I sent her away with an information package, some articles about supporting people with disability to have valued roles in their community, and a link to the carecareers site.

Later that week I received an email from her saying that she had completed the career quiz on the site and read some of the true stories from people already working in the sector. Using these tools and features can add life and a sense of ‘realness’ to the paperwork we give to potential employees.  
   
With the industry continuing to diversify and evolve, career prospects are widening. Now is the time for employees and employers to think differently about job seeking and recruitment. Organisations are looking for the right people to train, mentor and lead the way for the future. Potential employees are looking for an organisation that shares similar values and beliefs around supporting people. The carecareers website can be the vessel and the tool that links people to their ideal roles with the organisation that fits.

Working in this sector is not only about an empowering and rewarding role; it enables the regular everyday person to make a difference in someone’s life, in a family, and in the community. How can carecareers be useful for you?

Lifestyle Solutions is currently seeking Community Support Workers who are energetic, resourceful and committed, to provide support to children, young people and/or adults with a disability, and high and complex support needs, living in their Sydney Out of Home Care (OOHC) and Disability Residential Services.

Lifestyle Solutions is a Disability and OOHC service provider that supports and works alongside people in creating lifestyle opportunities, that provide dignity and community.  

Duties will include assisting people with personal care and domestic tasks, such as cooking and cleaning, transporting residents and assisting with recreation and community activities. Successful applicants will have experience working with people with disabilities, who have challenging behaviours and high support needs. 

Essential knowledge and skills

• Relevant experience in working with people with disabilities or related areas (mental health and youth services)
• Demonstrated commitment to ethical practices
• Proven experience that demonstrates initiative, enthusiasm, flexibility, and positive commitment to the duties and responsibilities of a Community Support Worker
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and relate well to people in care and their families
• Willingness to work shift work on a 7 day roster including weekends, sleepover shifts and public holidays as required
• Demonstrated interpersonal skills and the ability to liaise with and have knowledge of community resources and other services relative to the care of people with disability living in the community
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively with others as part of a team and contribute to team goals
• Competent oral and written communication skills, and competent administrative and documentation skills
• Current driver's licence
• Current First Aid Certificate or willingness to obtain one
• Computer literacy

Lifestyle Solutions is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes applications from people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds. All applicants are required to undergo employment screening through probity checks, prior to commencing.

Learn more about the Community Support Worker roles with Lifestyle Solutions or search for Sydney based disability and community care jobs.

Managing a range of programs across NSW has given me the opportunity to meet many people from many different walks of life, who have chosen a career that involves supporting people with disability to have access to and contribute to community life. One such person is Gary, who was a coach and bus driver for 12 years before making the switch to the disability and community care sector.

Gary has been employed as a Community Support Worker at the Lifestyle Solutions Great Lakes Day Program for almost 4 years. He was originally encouraged by a friend to introduce himself to the Program Coordinator; this friend thought he would be a great support worker for people with disability and that he would enjoy the change in focus from the previous roles he had held.

I spoke with Gary this morning about his work journey and experiences since changing his career and I was encouraged by his story. Gary has found his role to be rewarding on so many levels and the team he works alongside have always been supportive and non-judgemental. He has had the opportunity to put forward ideas about new programs and supports people with disability to have meaningful roles in their local community.

Gary recently completed his Certificate IV in Disability Work, and was commended by the assessor for his caring approach to supporting people. When I asked Gary what he would say to others who are contemplating a career in this field he mentioned the internal rewards and the opportunity to continue learning new things whilst meeting new people. Gary believes working in this sector is about being a people person and knowing, or learning how to communicate with people on all different levels. 

If I were to use a few words to describe Gary and the way he contributes to our team, I would say he is professional, supportive and caring. Without delving into the reasons why people choose to have a complete career change, Gary’s story just goes to show that you don’t necessarily need experience or qualifications to start a great career in this sector. Like Lifestyle Solutions, many organisations offer on the job training to committed employees, as well as opportunities for formal training.

Are you a career changer and working in the disability and community care sector? I’d love to hear about your journey and experiences.