Senior Youth Worker, Full-Time - Springwood

About the Organisation

Life Without Barriers is a leading social purpose, not for profit organisation of 8,000 employees working in more than 500 communities across Australia. We support children, young people and families, people with disability, older people, and people with mental illness. We work with people who are homeless and refugees and asylum seekers.   

Make a real difference in the lives of vulnerable Australians with this unique opportunity to provide both corporate expertise and community support. With a focus on people, not profit, Life Without Barriers’ corporate services team partners with our direct support staff, clients, and their families to ensure we continue our mission to change lives for the better.  If a truly inclusive, collaborative, and fast-paced work environment sounds like your next career move, this is an opening not to be missed.

We want to employ people who reflect the diversity of our clients to ensure we can support each client's individual needs and wants. We encourage people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander background and people with disability to apply.

About the Role

Guided by the six principles of the CARE model, the Senior Youth Worker provides direct care and mentoring of children and/or young people with a wide range of responsibility for specialised program activities, child/young person development and supervision, and promotion of a safe environment. Activities may take place in community settings or in the child or young person’s home. 

Our Senior Youth Workers are required to have extensive experience supporting people with complex trauma and pain-based behaviours including drug use, engaging in risk taking and possibly socially isolating behaviour. The Senior Youth Worker will also provide guidance and support to Youth Workers and actively work together in a unified approach to meet the needs of the young person. You will also be responsible for the administrative and reporting requirements for the house. There will also be a requirement to undertake some case management tasks.

This role is being offered as a permanent full-time position located in Springwood. Due to the nature of the role, you will need to have some capacity to work after hours shifts.   

Key Responsibilities

• Form and maintain professional, nurturing relationships with children and young people by building trust through visible interest and active engagement.
• Act as an appropriate adult role model, seeking to engage young people in purposeful activities aimed at developing life skills and self-worth.
• Support the involvement of family and where applicable, facilitate family visits/connection and the promotion of positive family relationships with children and young people, to suit individual needs.
• Promote and encourage positive relationships with peers and other persons significant to the child/young person.
• Assist the child/young person to participate as full as possible in making decisions about the activities undertaken.
• Personal care as required.

Skills & Experience

• You must have obtained or be willing to work towards your Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention (or similar) If you are unsure if you meet these minimum qualification standards, please visit https://peakcare.com.au/hopehealing/min-quals-res-care/ 
• It is essential that you have experience working with young people, ideally in a residential setting, but successful applicants may have transferable experience from a background working in mental health, alcohol and other drugs or youth detention centres.
• Patience, and a genuine understanding of complex trauma, and the impact this has on young people.
• Valid unrestricted Australian drivers’ licence.
• Reliable vehicle you are willing to use for transporting clients to and from appointments.
• Valid Senior First Aid Certificate and CPR Certification.
• Be willing to hold and maintain 3rd party insurance on the vehicle and ensure your vehicle is regularly serviced.
• Complete Hope and Healing Framework Foundations prior to starting.

Successful candidates will be required to clear probity checks including National Criminal History Record Check and Working with Children Check (where relevant to the role).

Please note: To be considered for and appointed to a position at Life Without Barriers, you must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with a minimum of two (2) doses or hold a valid medical exemption certificate, in accordance with Life Without Barriers Employee COVID-19 Vaccination Policy. You will be required to provide evidence of your vaccination status during the recruitment process.

Benefits

• Rewarding role with extensive opportunities for professional development.
• Competitive hourly rate and access to salary packaging through Maxxia.
• Ongoing career opportunities.

How to Apply

Include your resume and covering letter in one document, click ‘Apply’ and follow the prompts. For any enquiries including persons with disability that require adjustments, contact Joelene at recruitment@lwb.org.au

Applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible as applications are continuously reviewed prior to the closing date; and as such the closing date is subject to change without notice. Current application closing date is midnight Tuesday 14th May 2024.

Life Without Barriers supports the Royal Commission into violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation of people with disability. We believe people with disability need to be heard and for these experiences to influence how support services like ours are delivered. View our statement (https://bit.ly/2GzZGWA)