Welcome to the Resource Hub for the ACT Residential Care Program

ACT Together, incorporating Barnardos will no longer be providing residential care services in the ACT from 5pm on 31 March 2023. The ACT Government is working with MacKillop Family Services to commence the management and operation of the residential care homes from this date.

MacKillop is a national child and family welfare organisation with extensive experience delivering therapeutic and trauma-informed services. We are driven by an unwavering commitment to the wellbeing and safety of all children, young people and families. Our work is trauma-informed and we are deeply committed to helping children to heal from the adversity they have experienced, and to rebuild their trust in the world around them. We also understand the healing power of culture and belonging. We are deeply committed to cultural safety and to Aboriginal self-determination. We value every person’s ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

We understand you are currently undergoing a consultation process regarding the potential end of your employment at Barnardos.

Given MacKillop is a new provider, current employees of Barnardos will not automatically be transferred into their existing roles. However, we have a range of positions available at MacKillop from 5pm on 31 March and we encourage all Barnardos employees to apply. Wherever possible, we hope to maintain the relationships and teamwork that are so important in the stability of care of young people.

All roles will be paid under the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services (SCHCADS) Award. Salaries are currently paid within the below bands and are subject to qualifications and experience:

• Therapeutic Youth Workers: Level 3 ($67,263 - $72,124)
• House Supervisors: Level 5 ($88,757 - $92,775)
• Case Workers: Level 5 ($88,757 - $92,775)
• Coordinators: Level 7 ($104,875 - $109,253)
• Therapeutic Specialists: Level 8 ($113,786 - $118,265)
• After Hours Support Workers: Level 3 ($67,263 - $72,124)

You can view the pay rates within each SCHCADS band here.

Information packs will be provided to Barnardo's employees at Information sessions scheduled for Thursday 16 and Friday 17 February. If you are interested in a role with MacKillop, you can submit the employment application form, along with your CV to ACT@mackillop.org.au

Those who apply for a Youth Worker position will be invited to undertake psychometric testing. This is a standard requirement for all residential care employees at MacKillop. Following this, applicants will attend a short interview. Reference and probity checks will then be conducted and roles will be offered to successful applicants.

MacKillop will commence managing residential care services from 5pm on 31 March and will have roles available from this time. We have developed a process to expedite our recruitment process, to ensure successful candidates are able to start at this time, thereby minimising disruption to you and the children and young people we care for.

To help expedite the process, we encourage those who seek to apply to submit their MacKillop employment application form, alongside their CV and contact details of two professional references to ACT@mackillop.org.au following the information session.

Entitlements such as annual and personal leave will not be carried across to MacKillop. Please liaise with your HR or Payroll contact at Barnardos to discuss your current entitlements.

Barnardos and MacKillop are legally required under the ACT LSL Portability Act to pay employees LSL into the ACT Portability Scheme. We pay long service leave to the fund on a quarterly basis.

For example, if you have been working for Barnardos for 4 years and commence a role with MacKillop, our Payroll team will contribute directly into your LSL account with the scheme, so that you can access your long service leave once you accrue 5 consecutive years in the sector regardless of employer.

The ACT Portability Scheme manages your LSL and further information is available via the ACT LSL Portal.

All permanent MacKillop employees undergo a 6-month probation period from the date their employment commences. Casual employees are not subject to a probationary period.

We understand Barnardos are providing you with both EAP and outplacement support. MacKillop will also provide you with access to our Employee Assistance Program upon commencement of employment with us. We have already appointed a Regional Manager, Ben Chapman and a Director, Rebecca Cormack to lead the program. Both Rebecca and Ben are ACT locals who are committed to the success of the residential care program.

Our HR team will be conducting information sessions in the ACT from 16-17 February. These sessions will provide a forum to ask any questions you have, and the HR team will also be available to support you throughout the recruitment process.

MacKillop is focused on employees wellbeing and safety, and has a number of initiatives to support employees to be healthy and safe. These include:

• Sanctuary implemented in every program and home, ensuring a trauma-informed approach and providing practical tools for employees, young people and families who are working with or experiencing trauma
• Mental Health First Aid Training, which helps employees identify psychosocial factors associated with mental health and workforce fatigue and manage behaviours at early presentation
• EMDR therapy for employees offered where appropriate
• The Health in Preconception, Pregnancy and Postpartum (HiPPP) Portal, which provides information and resources to employees preparing to start a family.

MacKillop provides training to support employees to learn about MacKillop, our processes and policies and our approach to service delivery. Within the first three months, employees working in residential care complete:

• Welcome Day
• Sanctuary training
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention training
• Trauma-informed Care training
• Cultural Awareness training

This training is supported by an online learning platform that provides on-demand learning on a range of topics.

The leadership team including the new Coordinators will also provide ongoing operational support to House Supervisors and Therapeutic Youth Workers.

We anticipate that some of the roles will be very similar. A detailed list of the roles and responsibilities for each role are outlined in the Position Descriptions (see above).

Whilst it is possible, there are likely to be some changes to the homes and the structure. We value the relationships you’ve built with young people in the homes and will seek to maintain these relationships where possible. Our priority is to minimise disruption in the homes, and maintain stability for young people.

We will seek to maintain stability in the staffing models where we can. However management lines may change, dependent on who applies for positions with MacKillop and the outcome of the recruitment process. We encourage all current Barnardos employees working in the residential care program to apply for positions with MacKillop.

MacKillop will implement rosters that meet the needs of the operations of the home, are compliant with the Award and meet the contractual arrangements of employees. It is likely that the rosters will not remain the same as they are with your current employer. We will work with you through the contract stage to accommodate as best we can the needs of the home, young people and employees.

If you choose to apply and are appointed in a similar role to your current position, we will seek to place you in a team where you can maintain the relationships you’ve built with young people. Our priority is to minimise disruption and maintain stability for young people in the homes.

At MacKillop we are conscious of your wellbeing and recognise that proper rest breaks and time off is important. There may however be occasions where you may be asked if you are able to work additional hours that could result in overtime. This will need to be approved by your manager.

As we establish the program under the MacKillop model, we will implement a process of regular reflective practice. We will communicate with you as we introduce MacKillop processes and procedures, and recruit to the Therapeutic Specialist roles. However, MacKillop has a national Clinical Services team who will be accessible where required to support employees and young people in the home.

Yes. We are recruiting to a local After Hours team. In the event these positions are not filled by the commencement of services on 31 March, our national team (based in Victoria) will be available for After Hours Support.

We understand Barnardos is currently going through a process to inform young people that there will be a change of management. Upon commencement of the program under MacKillop management, we will work closely with the teams in each home to introduce MacKillop to the young people and their families. Our focus will be on maintaining routine and building relationships.

Within the ACT residential care program, MacKillop has established an additional Coordinator position that provides career development opportunities. This role works collaboratively with other employees, sector professionals and young people, and works across multiple homes.

Nationally, MacKillop employs over 1,500 people and offers over 80 programs. The opportunities for growth, change and learning within MacKillop are vast. We know our people are our greatest asset, and we invest in their professional development.

MacKillop employees are paid fortnightly on a Thursday.

At MacKillop , you can use some of your salary to pay for everyday expenses before income tax is calculated, meaning you pay less tax and have more money to spend. That’s because your salary packaging money is deducted first and then your tax is calculated on the remaining amount.

Your salary is still paid directly into your bank account from MacKillop. But the amount your salary packaging is deducted and paid first ie mortgage, car loan, school fees, entertainment card, utilities up to $18,500 per annum and then only the remaining amount is taxed.

You will find more information about salary packaging under the Working at MacKillop section of our website.

We encourage you to read more about MacKillop and our programs on this website, www.mackillop.org.au.

We encourage you to reach out if your questions are not answered in these FAQs. Please contact
Donna Meechan, HR Change Manager on ACT@mackillop.org.au or 03 9257 2354.