Our leadership charter

This Charter has been developed by leaders, for leaders.

About the charter

This Charter has been developed by leaders, for leaders.  It outlines the behaviours identified as most important to position the department to achieve its outcomes through 2020 and beyond and create a positive workplace. These are the behaviours our staff and stakeholders can expect of the executive leadership group.

As a leader I will

  • Do what I say I am going to do
  • Be visible and accountable for my actions and decisions
  • Recognise good work and acknowledge positive behaviour
  • Encourage innovation and support my staff to be career curious 
  • Be fair, supportive and encouraging of staff in their work and their ongoing development
  • Promote the department’s commitment as a learning organisation by growing leaders and fostering mobility
  • Promote a respectful and supportive workplace by dealing promptly with poor performance, conflict and inappropriate behaviour
  • Champion a diverse, inclusive culture
  • Role model and respond positively to flexible working
  • Regularly give and seek feedback from staff and stakeholders
  • Be open and transparent with staff by sharing available information readily
  • Actively manage staff workloads to provide a safe, healthy and engaging work environment
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues in the department, across government and with partners outside government

As a collective leadership group we will

  • Look out for each other and be kind
  • Deliver on the department’s shared vision
  • Proactively progress our strategic directions
  • Contribute to robust debate and own the agreed decision
  • Actively create a working environment where staff go home safely everyday and we support each other
  • Present a consistent and united view to our staff and partners
  • Work as one, sharing the load and helping each other succeed
  • Translate client voice and keep their needs at the centre of everything we do
  • Constantly reinforce the importance of high-quality services that support the safety and wellbeing of our clients and protect children from harm
  • Call each other on inappropriate behaviour when we see it and create an environment where all staff feel safe to speak up
  • Collaborate with our partners and stakeholders to identify and support person-centred innovation
  • Plan for longer term success as a steward of the VPS
  • Ensure responsiveness to Ministers and their offices

In all that we do we will live by our values

  • Responsiveness
  • Integrity
  • Impartiality
  • Accountability
  • Respect
  • Leadership
  • Human Rights