Official Community Visitor (OCV)

VACANCY

Official Community Visitor (OCV)

Salary: Part-time/Sessional work: $34.14 per hour, plus expenses

The OCV role: OCVs are statutory appointees of the NSW Minister for Families, Communities and Disability Services under the Ageing and Disability Commissioner Act 2019 and the Children’s Guardian Act 2019.

OCVs visit children and young people living in residential out-of-home care (OOHC) services, and adults living in disability supported accommodation services and assisted boarding houses in NSW.

OCVs play a critical role in undertaking mainly unannounced visits, seeing what is happening for individual residents, and raising issues of concern that require resolution. The OCV role is generally one of local resolution in the first instance, by speaking with residents and staff, reviewing records, and bringing issues of concern to the attention of the service provider to enable early and quick resolution, wherever possible. OCVs are not case workers, auditors or investigators.

The work is sessional (part-time) and visiting hours are variable (typically 15–40 hours per month). Most visits are conducted in the late afternoon/evening and on weekends, as this is when residents are more likely to be home. OCVs are required to conduct visits on a regular basis throughout the year, and complete all visits allocated to them.

OCVs are usually allocated services to visit within the geographic area in which they live.

Who we are looking for

• Do you have experience working with people with disability and/or children and young people? Do you have a good understanding of issues relating to the needs, rights and interests of children and young people and/or people with disability living in residential care?
• Are you a skilled communicator who is able to engage with people with varied communication abilities (including non-verbal), and people in varied roles – including people with disability and/or young people, support staff, and senior managers?
• Do you have an ability to identify issues requiring resolution, and experience in handling complaints and/or solving problems?
• Do you have the ability to work independently, plan and prioritise tasks and issues, and undertake travel using your own vehicle?
• Are you willing and able to work afternoons, evenings and weekends? Are you able to undertake visits on a regular basis throughout the year?

Job Notes:

There are a number of OCV positions available to visit services in the following areas:

• Hunter (Newcastle area)
• Sydney metropolitan area – South West Sydney, Western Sydney and Northern Beaches)
• New England (Tamworth/Armidale)
• Western NSW (Orange)

Essential requirements

• Given the risks to people with disability and older people from COVID-19, all OCVs must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Holding a valid WWCC and submitting to a criminal record check are also requirements of the role.

Details

How to Apply

If this sounds like you, please apply online through I Work for NSW at https://iworkfor.nsw.gov.au/job/official-community-visitor-ocvs-386790 and include:

• your CV
• a two page Expression of Interest outlining your suitability and interest in the role based on the questions above
• your contact details, including the geographic area you live in
• the names and contact details of two referees.

Applications close at 11.59pm on 21 March 2023

Please submit your application online. If you experience technical difficulties when submitting your application, please contact ‘I Work for NSW’ on 1800 562 679.

The NSW Ageing and Disability Commission (ADC) is committed to building a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusion. We actively promote the employment of people with disability, people of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background, LGBTI+ and other diversity groups.

The ADC encourages applications from people with disability and will provide reasonable adjustments in our recruitment processes and in the workplace. If you need an adjustment in the recruitment process, please call or email the contact person listed below, and also advise us of your preferred method of communication.

Note: People employed by the ADC, the Office of the Children’s Guardian, or the Department of Communities and Justice are not eligible to apply. In addition, a person will not be engaged as an OCV if:

• they are employed by a visitable service (i.e. a residential out-of-home care service; disability supported accommodation provider; or assisted boarding house), and/or
• they have full-time employment.

More information on the role

Please review the factsheets: ‘A week in the life of an OCV’ and ‘Interview with an OCV’ for information from OCVs about what the role is like:  https://ageingdisabilitycommission.nsw.gov.au/about-us/official-community-visitors.html

Click here to view the OCV scheme factsheet.

Information packages:       OCV Information Package

Job Inquiries:                         Pam Cuelho, OCV@adc.nsw.gov.au or 0448 588 141

Applications to:                    Apply online at https://iworkfor.nsw.gov.au/job/official-community-visitor-ocvs-386790

Ageing and Disability Commission