About the opportunity
This is a role within the Youth Services Team with a specific focus on working within a team environment to provide information, referral, “drop in support”, crisis services and strengths-based casework that is driven by the needs of young people experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Dubbo, NSW. Specifically the Caseworker will conduct an effective intake and assessment to determine client needs and appropriate practical supports and referrals, work in partnership with the young person to develop and action their case plan and connect them with appropriate services, activities and supports to help them achieve positive outcomes.
This a full time permanent role based in Dubbo, NSW.
Key Responsibilities:
- Provide information, crisis support, advocacy and referral for young people, and their families within their communities.
- Provide flexible, strengths-based time limited casework for young people, addressing a range of issues including accommodation, abuse, drug and alcohol use, unemployment, mental health, domestic violence, education and parenting.
- Develop one-on-one working relationships with allocated young people so as to meet their immediate and longer term accommodation needs; and enhance their social living and community survival skills, attitudes and knowledge.
- Strengthen connections with other staff/agencies including accommodation providers in the Western NSW region and develop strong partnerships with these services to ensure a flexible and comprehensive service delivery to young people and their families.
- Identify and maintain a range of accommodation brokerage options for young people in Dubbo, including crisis support. To assist in the development and review of brokerage guidelines to ensure equitable support for young people that access Doorways for Youth who are requesting financial support.
- Facilitate young people's participation in the development and evaluation of the service and encourage client feedback
- Assist in the development, maintenance and review of the Doorways for Youth service model within the Review recommendations, SHS Quality Assurance standards and guidelines, and Uniting policy, values and principles.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive, honest and productive relationships with young people and or their families and to develop a support plan, provide casework support and follow up.
About You
- Relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Sciences or working towards same or relevant professional experience and/ or demonstrated prior learning with relevant life and work experience with young people.
- Demonstrated understanding of the issues impacting on homeless young people and their families, particularly in regional and Aboriginal communities.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive, honest and productive relationships with young people and/ or their families to develop a support plan, provide casework support and follow up.
- Ability to provide effective assessment and referral for a variety of issues and facilitate young people’s access to services that will meet their needs.
- Demonstrated commitment to services driven by the needs of young people
- Current drivers licence and willingness to transport service users
- Valid NSW Working with Children’s Check
If you have any questions or require further details then please contact Zoe Banbury on zbanbury@uniting.org. Applications close on the 6th of April.
Employment with Uniting is subject to satisfactory background checks which include a National Police Check and Reference Check.
