CUSTODY NOTIFICATION SERVICE (CNS)

CUSTODY WELLBEING SERVICE (CWS)

Assistant Managing Lawyer (includes Shift work)

The Assistant Managing Lawyer plays a pivotal role in supporting and assisting the Managing Lawyer CNS to oversee the efficient and effective management and adminstratino of the Custody Notificaiton Service and the Welling Service at the Aboriginal Legal Service of WA Ltd (ALSWA).

Full Time Fixed Term contract

Salary commensurate with experience $93,158 to $103,533 per annum plus superannuation

Salary packaging is available

5 weeks annual leave per year, plus leave loading

Shift penalty rates for work conducted outside standard hours

CNS operates 24-hours, 7-days a week, which requires flexible availability to work days/nights/weekends/public holidays – shifts are 8 hours long

Outside of standard working hours requires ability to work from home

About the services

Custody Notification Service

The Aboriginal Legal Service of WA Limited (ALSWA) provides a 24-hour seven day per week custody notification service (CNS) for all Aboriginal people detained in a police facility in Western Australia.

The CNS provides a culturally competent and thorough welfare service complemented by access to necessary legal advice. The CNS adopts a dual welfare / legal approach and is staffed by culturally competent, trauma informed employees.

The CNS maximises the ability for the immediate health and welfare needs of Aboriginal people taken into police custody to be identified and addressed and consequently reduce Aboriginal deaths in custody.

Custody Wellbeing Service

The WA Police Force (WAPOL) has provided funding to ALSWA to deliver the ALSWA Custody Wellbeing Service (Perth Watch House) (CWS). Through provision of culturally secure face-to-face support by Aboriginal staff at point of custody, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander detainees will receive early access to appropriate supports to address underlying causes of offending behavior and thereby reduce offending behavior.

About the role

Due to the 24-hour seven-day model, all roles will require flexibility of hours with contact time outside of normal working hours including weekends and public holidays. When outside of standard hours coverage is required, the successful candidate must be able to conduct their duties from their home (or other approved location).

The duties of the Assistant Managing Lawyer include:

Support the Managing Lawyer – CNS and CWS to oversee the conduct of all custody notifications made, ensuring a 24-hour seven day a week operation of the CNS and that all telephone calls on the CNS phone line are answered on a first call basis, and if not possible, the call is returned within one (1) hour of receiving the notification or, if that is not possible, as soon as practicable after receiving the notification.

Support the Managing Lawyer – CNS and CWS to oversee the running of the Custody Wellbeing Service.

Assist with the supervision and professional development of legal practitioners, graduates and legal volunteers, including supervising legal work of all CNS employees and allocating work as required.

Assist with providing regular feedback on performance of all CNS and CWS staff.

Be available to assist CNS lawyers and CNS and CWS support workers with any queries in relation to the scope of work provided through the CNS and CWS.

Leading, developing and maintaining a high performance and continuous improvement culture that addresses performance issues, develops the team and promotes the full potential of each team member.

Undertake work on roster as required and necessary.

Undertake responsibilities of the Managing Lawyer – CNS and CWS in their absence and as delegated.

Ensure that the immediate health, safety, and wellbeing needs of the detained person are identified and work with CNS and the CWS to ensure those welfare concerns are addressed.

Work collaboratively with the other units of ALSWA including regional offices and programs.

Assist with the management of the data entry and reporting that is undertaken in accordance with professional procedures for the role and the CNS and CWS teams.

Assist the Managing Lawyer – CNS and CWS and HR for the successful recruitment of new employees to the CNS and CWS when required.

Support the Managing Lawyer - CNS to monitor compliance with CNS and CWS’s funding, legal practice frameworks and statutory requirements.

Perform other duties as directed.

About you

A responsible person who is compassionate and self-motivated with well-developed interpersonal skills and personal integrity. You have the ability to identify issues of relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Western Australia, including access to justice and the difficulties faced when interacting with the criminal justice system. A commitment to providing trauma-informed and culturally-safe legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

To be considered for this opportunity, you will need to meet the following criteria:

A proven ability to mentor and/or supervise legal and non-legal staff.

Ability to identify issues of relevance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Western Australia, including access to justice and the difficulties faced when interacting with the criminal justice system.

Excellent interpersonal skills, including demonstrated ability to communicate sensitively and effectively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are experiencing complex trauma and other circumstances of vulnerability, including mental illness.

A commitment to providing trauma-informed and culturally-safe legal services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people including the ability to communicate and deliver plain language legal advice and information.

Highly developed communication skills (interpersonal, written and verbal) with experience in conflict resolution and the ability to communicate well over the phone.

Negotiation and conflict resolution skills to manage workplace issues.

Exceptional time management skills with a demonstrated ability to prioritise tasks and work flexibly and efficiently.

Demonstrated ability to work both independently and as part of a team comprising legal and non-legal staff with a willingness to learn and share knowledge with others.

Proficiency in the use of MS Office (MS Word, Excel, Outlook) and the capacity to quickly acquire competency in the use of CNS’s client database.

Demonstrated ability to maintain confidentiality.

Ability to work flexible hours to cover a 24-hour seven day per week roster including shifts outside of standard working hours (8am to 5pm) including on call 24-hour seven day per week to assist with staff queries or issues that arise.

Ability to work from home (or other approved location) when covering any shift outside the office hours of 8am until 5pm.

A good level of resilience, self-care and focused management of own wellbeing.

SHIFT HOURS

Day Shift 8.00am to 4.00pm

Afternoon Shift 4.00pm to 12.00am

Night Shift 12.00am to 8.00am

Please note, shift work is an essential requirement of this position Applicants need not apply if unable to work shifts, in particular afternoon and night shifts

About us

ALSWA is a not-for-profit independent government funded organisation working to provide high quality representation and assistance to the Aboriginal community in WA.

ALSWA has 11 offices across regional WA and practices in the areas of criminal, civil, human rights and family law, as well as law reform, community legal education, and programs to assist Aboriginal youth, bail support, work and development permit scheme and the Custody Notification Service.

We have a friendly, caring and diverse work environment. We offer attractive employment benefits including salary packaging (making part of your salary tax-free), free counselling services to employees and immediate family through our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), flexible working arrangements and opportunities for professional development. We also provide five weeks of annual leave per year with leave loading.

We live our values of caring, sharing and respect.

How to apply

To submit your application, please click the 'Apply' button or send your application to [email protected]. Your application must include a copy of your resume, a cover letter outlining your strengths, and confirm your ability to work shifts. Selection criteria is not required.

If you wish to discuss this opportunity in further detail, please call 9265 6666 and ask to speak to ALSWA Human Resources.

APPLICATIONS CLOSE: Sunday 25 May 2025

For full position details, roles and responsibilities please visit the employment section of www.als.org.au.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are seeking to increase the diversity of our workforce to better meet the differing needs of our clients and to improve equal opportunity outcomes for our employees. ALSWA strongly encourages applications from Indigenous Australians. We also encourage applications from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and people with a disability. We provide an environment that values diversity and supports all staff to reach their full potential.