Official Community Visitor (OCV)

Salary: Part-time/Sessional work: $35.15 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?

Locations:

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

• Hunter (Newcastle and Upper Hunter area)
• Sydney metropolitan area (Western Sydney)
• New England (Armidale)
• Western NSW (Orange/Dubbo)

Details

Download Position Description

Essential Criteria

Essential requirements

• Given the risks to people with disability and older people from COVID-19, the OCV scheme expects all applicants to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
• Appointments are subject to reference check and pre-employment check clearances:

o   National Criminal History Record Check

o   Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

Other Information

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/official-community-visitors.html

Click here to view the OCV scheme factsheet.

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.

How to Apply

How to apply:

Please submit an application online via I Work for NSW and include:

• a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements of the role
• an up-to-date résumé (maximum 3 pages).
• your contact details, including the geographic area you live in
• the names and contact details of two (2) referees

Applications close by: 13 October 2024 at 11.59pm

Note:

People employed by the Ageing and Disability Commission, 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:

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

Ageing and Disability Commission