Youth Refuge Caseworker

**Introduction**:
CORE Community Services Ltd. is a not for profit organisation serving South West Sydney for over 40 years. We provide a wide range of services, activities and programs across 5 Services - Children's Services, Youth Services, Multicultural Communities, Aged and Disability Care (ADC) and Community Engagement.. Our mission is to provide tailored diverse client centric services and opportunities that support and empower vulnerable communities to thrive, resulting in the best outcomes for all individuals.

**Description**:
This is a temporary maternity coverage position for 6 months.

The aim of this position is to provide an environment of care to enhance the social and living skills of clients in the Refuge that meets their physical, emotional and developmental needs.
The position focuses on providing accommodation to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness predominately in the age range of 14 -18. The program will focus on working with young people and supporting them with accommodation, education and training pathways within the South Western Sydney district, with a focus on Campbelltown, Fairfield, Liverpool, Wingecarribee and Wollondilly LGA.
To achieve these outcomes of this position, this service will work with a range of agencies within the skilled youth workers, the local area and with relevant government departments.
The position will provide flexible, specialist services that accord with principles of self
- determination and meet the needs of this vulnerable target group. The position would be required to work as part of a large team and also, at times, in isolation.

**Responsibilities Include**:
Record and assess referrals received from various agencies on the behalf of the young people requiring the services of the Refuge
Undertake initial needs assessment and risk assessment for young people upon intake or referral.
Develop case plan in collaboration with young person and residential worker if relevant.
Conduct ongoing and regular assessment of the young people’s needs
Initiate relevant referrals to services to meet the needs of the young person.
Support and assist residents/young people to appropriate educational or training pathways.
Support and assist residents /young people in developing their independent living skills.
Support and assist residents/ young people into a supported and stable exit pathway.
Maintain the strictest confidence of information pertaining to refuge residents and staff.
Assist refuge residents in gaining the skills they need to move towards independent living.
Develop and support each resident, an individual case plan that best meets their needs in order to support them in their transition to independent living.
Monitor and support their progress in relation to their individual case plan.
Maintain up to date information and resource library for use by residents, staff and other young people covering issues such as;
Health.
The Law.
Drugs and Alcohol.
Housing.
Rights and Responsibilities.
Harm Minimisation

Act as an advocate for the young people ensuring that their needs are accurately understood and met and that the young people are involved in any decision-making processes which affect their lives.
Refer young people to outside agencies and where appropriate, to assist them in meeting their individual needs, as identified in their case plan.
Arrange and participate in a range of leisure activities with residents
Provide continued casework services to those clients that have exited from the Refuge as required and directed.
Provide support, information, and referral services (with specific focus on education and training) to young homeless people and to those young people that are at risk of homelessness.
Provide direct financial assistance via brokerage to young people whom are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Identify client needs and corresponding service opportunities and documentation.
Ensure the accurate recording of all statutory and Up-front information requirements for client records and case planning, including updating PNYX, CIMs reporting, case note sharing, records management, statistical and other data collection.
Establish partnerships in service delivery amongst agencies in the area including specific mainstream services (i.e. health, Centrelink, education, family support, youth services, etc.), "First to know" agencies (i.e. the police, schools, hospitals/key health services, govt department offices) and specific agencies who are key to the issue of youth homelessness in this area (i.e. Juvenile Justice, OOHC service, Aboriginal and CALD support agencies)
Work with other agencies that work with young people in the area to ensure appropriate services are provided in a coordinated way.
Promote the service to the community and educate the community about at risk young people.
Be involved in action which positively influences the policies and social factors that affect at risk young People.
Establish and maintain re