The organisation:
The Uniting Church in Australia is a passionate and diverse Christian church, a community of people who are shaped by Jesus' teaching and example. The church in Queensland includes congregations, faith communities, presbyteries, schools and colleges, early learning centres, hospitals, aged care centres and many expressions of mission and community service. We are a multicultural church, committed to reconciliation with First Peoples and social justice for all, seeking to steward our resources wisely in the furtherance of God’s mission in the world.
The Queensland Synod is the state council of the Uniting Church who come together every 18 months for Synod in Session - a meeting to discern together and make decisions for the management of the Synod.
The Office of the Synod’s purpose is to act upon the discernment of the Synod, to enable, equip and encourage a renewing and growing Church across Queensland. We are mission-driven, service-orientated and relationally focussed.
Position purpose:
The primary purpose of this role is to provide administrative and program support to the Manager Safeguarding and Church Discipline Officer to respond to and action safeguarding, Person of Concern and church discipline inquiries and incidents.
The role will be the first point of escalation (referred on by the Presbytery Support Unit) for congregations and presbyteries for:
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Basic technical advice and assistance regarding safeguarding, person of concern and complaints/church discipline training, policies and procedures
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Initial technical advice regarding the initial response to and management of safeguarding, person of concern and complaints/ church discipline incidents
The role will be responsible for logging and updating incidents in our risk management system, Protecht, initial information gathering after incidents are reported and preparing basic documents from templates such as interview and investigation plans.
Note: professional advice regarding the management of interviews and investigations
The role will also organise meetings and interviews with individuals involved in safeguarding and complaints matters and will gather information from congregations and presbyteries.
The role will also be responsible for the administration and management of Synod’s risks and incident management technology system, Protecht and other document management and administrative activities.
The role may also provide broader administrative and program support to the Risk Team including relating to workplace health and safety matters, insurance claims and risk incidents and matters.
Key responsibilities:
- Provide tier 2 advice and assistance to congregations and presbyteries related to safeguarding, Person of Concern and church discipline inquiries (including training inquiries), incidents and matters.
- Undertake initial fact finding and information gathering
- Liaise with stakeholders and organise meetings to progress the investigation of matters
- Prepare documents from templates such as interview and investigation plans
- Process incidents and administer our risk management system, Protecht.
- Follow up outstanding correspondence on behalf of the Safeguarding and Church Discipline Team
- Provide administrative support to the Safeguarding and Church Discipline Team and broader Risk Department
- Scan and digitally archive documentation as required.
- Assist with risk reporting and risk data clean up.
- Model the values of the Uniting Church in Australia, Queensland Synod in day-to-day work including interactions with managers, lay staff, ministry agents, clients and stakeholders.
- Compliance with Queensland Synod policies, procedures and relevant legislation.
- Undertake other duties as and when directed within the scope of the role and the capabilities of the incumbent.
Key performance indicators:
- Timely, accurate and customer-service focused advice and assistance
- Accurate, well drafted and well considered investigation and interview plans
- All incidents logged in Protecht with accurate summaries and timely follow up of action items with stakeholders
- Quickly build strong relationship with key stakeholders such as congregations, presbyteries, Presbytery Support Unit and General Secretary.
- Administrative and process tasks are completed in a timely and accurate manner.
- Comply with delegations of the Office of Synod
- Maintain alignment with the Office of Synod purpose, culture and values (values referenced under additional requirements).
Reporting relationship and delegations:
- This position will report to the Manager Safeguarding and Church Discipline
Selection criteria:
Qualifications:
- Senior Certificate (Qld Year 12)
Experience and skills:
- Experience in a client-facing role in a relevant field such as safeguarding, health, nursing, community services, patient safety or similar.
- Familiarity with safeguarding. Person of Concern and Church discipline concepts or the ability to get up-to-speed quickly
- Experience conducting initial fact finding and interviews after incidents
- Ability to give clear, concise and practical advice and assistance
- Experience administering risk management IT systems such as Protecht or similar
- Experience with, or exposure to, Church bodies or other predominantly volunteer based organisations and the ability to build rapport and trust quickly
- Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and Outlook.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills both in verbal and written forms.
- Superior problem resolution and decision-making skills.
- Ability to triage and prioritise workload.
- Willingness to learn and develop.
Additional requirements:
- Current Driver’s license.
- The successful applicant must be eligible to legally work in Australia and proof of eligibility may be requested.
- Behave in accordance with the values of the Office of the Synod.
