Youth Worker

Location: Geelong

Job type: Full time / From 28/01/2025

Organisation: Schools (Government)

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Education and Training

Reference: 1432020

**Selection Criteria**:
**SC1 **Demonstrated high level of skills and knowledge - qualifications, experience with young people, knowledge of current issues facing young people, knowledge of outside support agencies.

**SC2 **Demonstrated capacity to successfully develop and manage relationships with students, families and external organisations.

**SC3 **Demonstrate ability to maintain regular contact with young people, demonstrated ability to maintain own work to achieve outcomes and goals, demonstrated ability to achieve individual and team goals.

**SC4 **A demonstrated capacity to effectively implement and manage intervention strategies that address advanced and complex cases including critical incidents and those involving cross-profession or agency collaboration.

**SC5 **Demonstrated understanding of the common approaches, policies, programs and research relating to student wellbeing

**SC6 **Demonstrated high level interpersonal and communication skills. Demonstrated experience in establishing and maintaining collaborative relationships with students, parents, colleagues and the broader school community to support student learning, agency, wellbeing and engagement

**Role**:
Attendance during school vacation periods is not required.

Lara Secondary Collegeis seeking a qualified, experienced Youth Worker to join our Reengagement Program. The position requires the provision of a range of services appropriate to the needs of young people. The successful applicant will work with and support young people both individually and in groups, by developing and facilitating programmes that address social, behavioural, welfare, developmental and protection needs for our students. The position is an ongoing full-time position.

Range 3 is distinguished by the introduction of management responsibility and accountability for the delivery of professional support services. The role will usually impact beyond the work area or professional field. It seeks to gain cooperation of other staff members or members of the school community to achieve specific objectives, such as in school administration, operations or educational programs.

Direction on targets and goals is provided but the position will have some degree of latitude in determining how they are achieved. This latitude will generally be limited by standard procedures and school policy. Deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

The provision of business management responsibilities becomes a feature at range 3. Management of staff to achieve the expected outcomes is a key responsibility. Staff management issues will be resolved with mínimal reference to senior management, although guidance will be required in more complex cases. Senior management will be provided with timely reports and advice, although this will generally be confined to matters relating to the immediate work area, service provision or educational program and is unlikely to impact substantially on whole of school operations.

This is the minimum range for positions that carry a mandatory qualification requirement of not less than four years. Professional student support positions become a feature at range 3 (e.g. therapists, psychologists) where standard professional services are delivered. Professional support and guidance will be close at hand and deviation from standard procedures and school policy will require guidance and direction from senior management.

An education support class position supports the educational services being provided to students, but must not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic) or its successor. Supervision of students cannot be required except where it is an integral part of the employee¿s position or involves supervision of students individually or in small groups, in controlled circumstances, where the responsibility for students remains clearly with a teacher.

**Responsibilities**:

- Facilitation and development of small group work with students
- Provide counselling for students dealing with emotional, social and behavioural issues/concerns.
- Work with other Department areas (including Secondary School Nurses, Mental Health Practitioner, SSS) and external service providers where necessary to provide intervention and /or support to students and families
- Provide immediate support during crises
- Collaborate with other school staff in creating Individual Education Plans, attendance at Student Support Group meeting and other meetings at the school as required
- Collaborate with teachers and other staff to ensure students¿ academic and social-emotional needs are met in the classroom
- Triage and counsel students and complete risk assessments,