Social Worker

About the business

Arethusa College is an independent, co-educational school catering for students requiring an alternative to mainstream schooling. We are accredited as a Special Assistance School with campuses located across South-East Queensland.

We believe in Doing School Differently, providing an alternate approach to education, and serving students who have been let down by an education system that was not able to flex and adapt to meet their unique needs and circumstances. 

At Arethusa College we Believe, Expect and Celebrateas we see our students move towards achieving their full potential. We Believe in our students; we don't define them by their past experience but rather their future potential and possibilities. We Expect great things of our students; as a result we raise the bar, we invest and journey with them and we Celebrate our students; because they are absolutely worthy of being celebrated, as they step out of their comfort zones and towards the goals they set for themselves.  

The Role

The Social Worker role is a unique opportunity to work within a Special Assistance School where wellbeing and individualised learning are priorities for students who have previously disengaged from mainstream education. This exciting role provides specialist assessment, support, and interventions that promote student, and family wholeness. This position is based at our Ipswich Campus.

The Social Worker works in a complex, challenging and changing school environment, where multiple demands must be kept in balance. The Social Worker reports directly to the Campus Principal. Each campus works within the Arethusa 'framework' with regards to areas such as strategic direction, policy and curriculum, while still valuing the uniqueness of each campus within its distinct community.

The role requires working closely with the campus team to ensure the best outcomes for all students. The Social Worker will need good interpersonal skills, be able to build trust within the school and broader community as well as maintain high levels of confidentiality. 

The Social Worker is a school-based position that will report to the Principal for operational and administrative matters, and a Senior Social Worker on all professional practice and clinical matters. 

Vision and Values

The Social Worker plays an integral role in building community support around students and their families based in a shared understanding of the vision and values of the College.

The College is committed to creating a community where:

• We believe in our students (everyday), until they can believe in themselves and then believe in others.
• We expect of our students and we raise the bar, until they can expect of themselves and step towards the exciting possibilities that surround them.
• We celebrate our students as they grow, until they can celebrate their lives and their journey and then be a part of celebrating those around them.
• There is unconditional positive regard expressed for all members of the College community such that students, staff, families and carers are treated with respect and fairness.
• The opportunity for lifelong learning is valued as key for building positive futures.
• Students are developed intellectually, socially, emotionally, physically and spiritually in ways that allow them to become active and contributing members of their communities.

Personal qualities, social and interpersonal skills

The role of Social Worker requires a skill set that includes emotional intelligence, empathy, resilience and a commitment to personal wellbeing. 

The Social Worker is required to be:

• Organised, well prepared and forward thinking
• Highly adaptable and willing to be solution focused in approaches to problem-solving
• Able to deal with conflict in proactive and supportive ways
• An effective communicator, able to listen to the needs of others, and seek out a clear plan forward
• Effective at negotiating solutions which achieve the set objectives, while best supporting the needs of all members of the team and students
• Able to adapt communication effectively with a wide range of people (staff, students, external stakeholders, other agencies)
• Able to think clearly and quickly when problem-solving, being both analytical and creative in offering solutions
• An advocate for the needs of students, families and staff, ensuring that the best possible outcomes are sought for all members of the College community
• A team player who can bring together collaborative campus-based teams
• Able to earn the trust of staff, peers and students through honesty, open communication, fairness, predictability and the ability to admit mistakes and take responsibility for them
• Demonstrates high level of knowledge and clinical skills obtained through relevant tertiary and postgraduate education.
• Demonstrate commitment to ongoing professional development relevant to the key responsibilities of the role as approved by the Principal.
• Ensure that the College initiatives and values are integrated into practice and policies.
• Applies evidence that support continuous improvement of service delivery

Areas of Responsibility

The Social Worker is required to:

• Supervise the collection of accurate data, notes and communication relating to students, parents/caregivers.
• Lead, with the Principal, the wellbeing team on campus, triaging referral forms and maintaining an in depth awareness of all young people in the cohort
• Provide wellbeing support to parents/caregivers and students by strengthening health-sustaining factors and providing support for people to enjoy a long-lasting feeling of happiness.
• Facilitate intensive support for students with specific social, emotional and educational needs through school-based interventions and external community connections/referrals, and support students to empower themselves and be self-responsible persons who take responsibility for their role in society.
• Provide appropriate advice to teachers regarding the impact that a student's situation may have upon their learning and suggest strategies to promote the student's wellbeing and prevent disengagement, particularly primary prevention and early intervention
• Develop, maintain and apply College policies related to student care and wellbeing.
• Liaise with parents/caregivers in relation to students' behaviour resulting in internal suspensions, external suspensions, enrolment reviews, and withdrawn/unsuccessful enrolments.
• Contribute clinical advice to members of staff and external professionals to ensure best practice outcomes for individual students, families and cohorts.
• Facilitate restorative justice processes as required.
• Network with professionals in education and social work to ensure quality of service and to promote the College.
• Report any cases of risk and/or harm, or suspicion of risk and/or harm to Principal and act accordingly
• Implement, monitor and evaluate risk management strategies to ensure child safety in school environments.
• Diligently fulfil the requirements of the College's Child Protection policy and practices.
• Maintain professional standards and Code of Ethics as set out by the Australian Association of Social Workers including participating in CPD training.
• Undertake regular Supervision

Qualification

• Graduate or Post-Graduate qualification in social work.
• Members of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)

Applicants will hold a current Working with Children (Blue Card).

Include a copy of a current paid Blue Card, cover letter as well as a detailed resume with your application.