Youth Worker – residential youth justice program

Taldumande Youth Services is a lead charity committed to supporting vulnerable and at-risk children, young people, and their families from all across Sydney. We offer a range of highly successful homelessness, family, and youth justice diversionary programs.

Our youth justice diversionary programs provide 28-day crisis accommodation to children and young people aged 12 – 17 referred through our partnership with Youth

Justice. These children and young people would otherwise be inappropriately incarcerated due to their homelessness.

The aim of our residential justice programs is to work towards securing ongoing safe accommodation for the child or young person, which may mean restoring the child or young person to family or carer when safe to do so, referrals to other accommodation services, or at times the child or young person may remain within Taldumande's longer-term youth accommodation programs. Alongside accommodation, we provide a range of services to the child or young person such as intensive case management and holistic interventions, support to parents/carers (when appropriate), legal advocacy, referrals and transport to drug and alcohol supports, mental health and vocational services, support with re-engagement to education, outdoor recreation and other experiential learning activities, all with the aim of reducing offending behaviors.

We are seeking enthusiastic Youth Workers interested in working in residential care and casework support. Those candidates possessing the minimum Cert IV qualifications in Youth Work or related areas but have limited prior experience, are welcome to apply and will be carefully considered.

What you'll do:

• Develop relationships, engage, and work effectively with children and young people with complex needs and offending behaviours.

• Assist the Coordinator with the day-to-day management of the Parramatta region residential youth justice refuge.

• Facilitate group and individual recreation activities for the children and young people placed within our two residential youth justice refuges.

• Support recreational programs for school holiday periods and weekends.

• Work collaboratively with Youth Justice staff such as Bail Accommodation and Support Service (BASS) Coordinators, Youth Justice Caseworkers, Youth Officers and Psychologists, along with a range of government and non-government stakeholders.

• Work as part of a multi-disciplined stakeholder team that aims to reduce children and young people re-offending, enhance their functioning, support preservation with family, and reintegrate into the community.

• Work to influence change in the overrepresentation of Aboriginal young people in the justice system.

• Ensure the appropriate addressing of cultural issues in the case plan for children and young people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

• Use cultural knowledge to help inform and shape service delivery.

• Support and ensure a therapeutic environment where our children and young people feel they have a safe space to live – many of our young clients have not had this vital need met prior to placement.

• Support and teach critical living skills, e.g. cleaning, cooking, grocery shopping, hygiene, and budgeting.

• Work collaboratively with your team members and supervisor to provide the best possible support for clients who have experienced complex trauma and exhibit pain-based behaviours.

• To provide primary care and support, assist in programming to promote the growth and development of children and young people, and provide casework support and role modelling for the children and young people.

• Maximize opportunities for self-determination, open communication, and honest feedback

Essential Requirements:

• Minimum Cert IV qualifications in Youth Work or related areas.

• Ability to work unsupervised as well as within a team environment.

• Flexibility to work varying hours, including sleepover and weekend shifts, and day and evening support shifts.

• Sound verbal and written communication skills.

• Demonstrated experience in conflict resolution.

• Current driver's licence.

• Working with Children Check (to be provided prior to appointment).

• Police Clearance Check (to be provided prior to appointment).

• First Aid Certificate.

• Willingness to attend compulsory training.

• In return, we offer opportunities for training & development, a free Employee Assistance Program, and a supportive & friendly team environment.

Desirables:

• Previous experience working in youth residential and/or outreach services.

• Experience working in youth programs aimed at reducing recidivism.

• Experience with Brief Solution Focused Therapy/strengths-based approaches.

Benefits:

• Training, development, and succession planning opportunities

• Salary packaging benefits – increase your take-home pay and benefits through salary packaging, a meals and entertainment card, and a discount program. (Refer to to find out more about how this benefit works)

• 1 on 1 regular supervision and support with the Coordinator – Residential Youth Justice Programs

For more information about Taldumande, please visit our website: Taldumande Youth Services is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes applications from people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.

Taldumande Youth Services is a non-smoking workplace.