Senior Youth Worker (Internal Applicants Only)

• Permanent contract 
• Full-Time (76 hours per forthnight)
• Remuneration SCHCADS level 6 dependent on qualifications and experience + 11% Employer superannuation

About the position

The OOHC/KEYS program is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in partnership with Anglicare to provide a specialist Youth Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) service to young people involved in the child protection system and living in the KEYS residential therapeutic withdrawal units. The OOHC/KEYS worker will provide support and advice to staff in out of home care residential facilities through specialist secondary consultation to Child Protection case planning processes; AOD education; and appropriate AOD assessment, referral and linkages. Servicing the Southern Metropolitan Region, the OOHC/KEYS worker will be based in Dandenong and be a member of the multi-disciplinary YSAS Southern team. However, this role will spend the majority of time working within the KEYS units.

YSAS in conjunction with Anglicare will be delivering AOD Support Service for young people aged 12 – 17 years who experience complex emotional and behavioural difficulties and are currently in, or are likely to be placed in, residential care. The KEYS units are a transitional model, with placement duration ranging from 6 – 18 months. The services involved will taking a new approach to working with highly vulnerable young people, who will receive a range of support, treatment and other therapeutic interventions and be actively assisted and supported to transition into a form of home-based care, or move directly to independent living. There are two KEYS units, one in Dandenong and one in Noble Park. Each site will work with eight young people at any given time, The AOD Case manager will work in collaboration with multiple stakeholders and in the best interest of safety and care planning for the young people in the KEYS OOHC units. This role will work with young people in the units and also maintain support to young people who are in the transition phase (post KEYS placement).

Some of the Key selection criteria for this role includes:

1. Demonstrated ability and experience in working with disadvantaged and marginalized young people with complex problems/needs who are involved in the statutory child protection system.
2. Demonstrated ability to practice and educate others in a range of AOD interventions.
3. Previous experience in assessment, care planning and case management approaches.
4. Previous experience in demonstrating the principles of harm minimization and approaches to the treatment of AOD problems including relapse prevention.
5. Demonstrated knowledge of the legislative and operating environment of the Child Protection and Youth Justice systems.
6. Demonstrated experience and skills in developing and maintaining close working relationships with other individuals and services (including statutory bodies) involved with the target group.

For full details of the position, please view the POSITION DESCRIPTIONS below.

Please note:

1. Service delivery aspects of the role may be modified in order to comply with Victorian Government COVID-19 guidelines.
2. As part of our Employment screening process you will be required to undertake a National Criminal History check and have a current Working with Children Check.
3. You must have Australian work rights to apply for this position.

Further Enquiries

For a confidential discussion about the position, please contact Daniel Alcock on 0428422*** regarding the Senior Youth Worker role – Recruitment Ref. Number- 037_2024.

• YSAS is an equal opportunity employer and we welcome applications from all sectors of the community.
• YSAS has a zero tolerance for child abuse and is committed to the provision of a child-safe organisation.