Position Description
Document Number: MDAS-PNC-FOR-050.01
Position DetailsTitle: / Case Worker, Youth Support Services
Division: / Family Services / Team: / Youth Services
Supervisor: / Team Leader, Youth Services / Location: / Mildura
Classification: / Schedule B – Level 3 / Date Approved: / 16th September 2016
Award: / Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award 2010
Position Summary
The Youth Support Service will provide a high quality, timely service response to intervene early, prevent escalation of emerging issues and divert young people aged 10 to 17 away from youth justice by addressing the underlying causes of offending behaviour.
The objectives of this program are:
To intervene rapidly to prevent escalation of emerging issues and address the needs of young people who are at risk of entering the youth justice system and divert these young people away from the system; and
To prevent further progression of young people who are at the early stages of involvement with the youth justice system (in particular, involvement with Victoria Police) by addressing the underlying reasons for offending behaviour.
Capabilities (Key Selection Criteria)
Case Management / Demonstrated understanding of issues contributing to young people offending.
Knowledge of relevant guidelines and principles pertaining to youth justice or other relevant experience.
Provide intensive, flexible and tailored assessment and case management support to young koori people
Supports clients to achieve their identified goals or aspirations through the provision of quality service
Sound understanding of the local Aboriginal community, family dynamics and issues faced within the local community.
Demonstrated experience in assessment skills including the capacity to apply a range of intervention strategies.
Organisation and Planning / Uses knowledge and experience to develop and implement systems to plan and monitor own performance.
Highly developed organizational skills and a demonstrated capacity to work flexibly and within timeframes, utilising stress management skills, maintaining self care.
Problem Solving / With a strengths based approach, solve problems based on operational knowledge and experience, scanning for useful information, looking for underlying causes and suggesting alternative actions for clients and staff.
Communication and Interpersonal Skills / Communicate, consult, liaise and negotiate with a broad range of people both Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal people at all levels to achieve broad project objectives and goals.
Understands underlying needs and issues of stakeholders, and negotiates effectively to develop and implement solutions.
Respect Cultural Diversity / Take action to provide services that are inclusive of Aboriginal people and engage in learning about other cultures to better establish relationships and improve services.
Demonstrate knowledge of local Aboriginal culture.
Qualification/s: / Relevant qualification at Certificate IV in Community Services or higher with relevant experience, or experience attained through previous appointments, services and/or study of an equivalent level of expertise or willingness to undertake the qualification.
Diploma of Community Services with a background in Youth Work (desirable).
Accountabilities
Case Management / · Support and supervise at risk Koori young people with families, schools and other support systems to help address risk factors that contribute to early disengagement from school and lack of opportunities for identified youth.
· In conjunction with Police and the local community, identify issues contributing to offending by Koori young people.
· Using a strengths based approach, develop and implement a range of programs and activities for Koori young people including a scheduled combination of recreational, cultural, educational and other activities.
· Support and encourage attendance and achievements in educational, training and employment
· Connect/reconnect young koori people into educational, training and employment pathways and support them in maintaining these connections
· Liaise with Police, DET, Schools and other relevant services.
· Attend and actively participate in regular care team meetings.
Program Development and Review / · Work in partnership with the Police, Department of Education and schools in identifying quality improvements that are necessary to efficiently and effectively deliver services to support and provide positive outcomes for at risk Koori youth.
· Contribute positively to MDAS’s policy development, planning, monitoring and evaluation of the Youth Support Services program
· Assist with the development of an appropriate programs aimed at meeting the needs of the young person/s and the objectives of the Youth Support Services program.
· Positively promote the program to young people, the community and other key stakeholders.
· Maintain and promote referral pathways and protocols to and from the program.
· Ensure that the program is linked to peer programs across agencies, and building and maintaining strong relationships with stakeholders.
Administration / · Provide reports in an agreed format to the Team Leader, and to others as required.
· Participate in relevant agency and community meetings.
· Maintenance of accurate program and client data, and participant records.
· Fulfil program requirements regarding statistics and other data collection requirements, and community development activities.
· Ensure that case records are kept in accordance with the recording and data requirements of both the agency and the funding body.
· Maintain confidentiality at all times and professionalism in line with organisational code of conduct and values.
Reporting and Compliance / · Initiate quality activities within your department to demonstrate a genuine commitment to continuous improvement across MDAS.
· Actively participate in quality activity reports within your division ensuring that a quality culture of Do, Check and Act is evident in your work conduct.
Corporate Responsibilities / · Support values that respect historical and contemporary Aboriginal cultures so that Aboriginal people are recognised as having a special connection with the State.
· Promote compliance with relevant legislation and MDAS policies.
· Assist with and support any internal or external audit processes.
· While at work, comply with OH&S requirements as noted in the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004.
Approval
Classified by: / ______/ Signature: / ______
Supervisors Name: / Andy Charles / Employees Name: / ______
Supervisors Signature: / ______/ Employees Signature: / ______
Dated: / 016.09.2016 / Dated: / ____/_____/______
Case Worker, Youth Support Employees Initials: ______