Residential Team Leader (High Intensity)

Residential Team Leader (High Intensity)

Full-Time | SCHADS Award – Social and Community Services Employee Level 3, Pay Point 3 to Pay Point 4

Are you an experienced disability professional who thrives in complex support environments and knows how to bring out the best in a team?

Harbour Residential Care is seeking a confident, experienced and hands-on Residential Team Leader to oversee two individualised Supported Independent Living (SIL) homes in the Illawarra region, each supporting one participant with complex disability and behavioural support needs.

This is an exciting opportunity for someone who is passionate about positive behaviour support, confident in managing challenging situations and committed to developing capable, consistent and high-performing support teams.

We're looking for someone who can lead by example, remain calm under pressure and make a genuine difference to the lives of the people we support.

ABOUT THE ROLE

As a Residential Team Leader with Harbour Residential Care, you will be responsible for the day-to-day leadership, coordination and quality of support delivered across two SIL homes.

This is a hybrid operational role, combining administrative and leadership responsibilities with direct, hands-on support within the homes. You'll be actively involved in service delivery, working alongside your frontline teams to embed best practice, strengthen staff capability and achieve positive participant outcomes.

Our participants have complex support needs, including autism, intellectual disability, significant communication and sensory processing difficulties, and behaviours of concern that may include:





Physical aggression towards others, including hitting, kicking, scratching, grabbing and other potentially harmful behaviours.

Significant self-injurious behaviours and risks of harm to self.

Property damage and other behaviours presenting risks to personal and environmental safety.

High levels of anxiety, emotional dysregulation and behavioural escalation associated with changes in routine, environmental triggers or unmet support needs.

Substantial practical experience supporting people who present with these types of behaviours is essential for this position. You must be confident recognising early warning signs, implementing proactive strategies, responding safely to escalating situations and coaching others to do the same.

Your Key Responsibilities

Lead, mentor and support frontline disability support workers across both homes.

Provide direct participant support as part of a blended administrative and frontline roster.

Ensure consistent and effective implementation of individualised Behaviour Support Plans, support strategies and risk management procedures.

Coach staff in positive behaviour support, proactive strategies, emotional regulation and safe de-escalation techniques.

Maintain strong oversight of incidents, behaviour data, reporting,



documentation and continuous improvement activities.

Promote a positive team culture focused on accountability, communication, learning and participant‑centred care.

Work collaboratively with participants, families, allied health professionals, Behaviour Support Practitioners and other stakeholders.

Ensure compliance with NDIS Practice Standards, safeguarding requirements and relevant organisational policies.

Participate in quarterly rotational on‑call arrangements, providing operational guidance and escalation support when required.

What We're Looking For

Substantial demonstrated experience supporting people with complex disabilities and high‑risk behaviours of concern, particularly physical aggression, self‑injury and significant behavioural escalation.

Strong practical understanding of Positive Behaviour Support, Behaviour Support Plans, proactive strategies, de‑escalation and dynamic risk assessment.

Confidence in responding to behavioural incidents and providing effective guidance, coaching and support to frontline staff.

Experience supporting people with autism, intellectual disability, complex communication needs and sensory processing difficulties.

An understanding of restrictive practice requirements, participant rights, safeguarding and NDIS compliance.

Solid communication, problem‑solving, organisational and interpersonal skills.

Willingness and capability to balance administrative responsibilities with rostered direct participant support.

Willingness to participate in rotational on‑call duties and responsibilities.

Ability to meet relevant NDIS worker screening and employme

📌 Residential Team Leader (City of Wollongong)
🏢 Harbour Residential Care
📍 City of Wollongong