The Organisation:

Youth Off The Streets is a not-for-profit youth organisation that provides safety, support and opportunities for young people to build a positive future. We offer crisis accommodation and housing services, alternative high school education, alcohol and other drugs counselling, youth justice support, life skills and employment programs, cultural support and community engagement, among other services. We focus on early interventions that empower young people and strengthen communities.

At Youth Off The Streets, diversity, equity and inclusion are part of our DNA. Together, we continue to build an inclusive culture that encourages, supports, and celebrates the diverse voices of our people. It fuels our innovation and connects us closer to our customers and the communities we serve.

Youth Off the Streets require all staff, contractors and visitors to our sites to be up to date vaccinated, is an EEO Employer and a Child Safe Organisation

Job Description

Working alongside the DFV Prevention/Youth Support Lead the Youth Support Worker will deliver The Power Within Program supporting students and education staff. The Power Within Program is an intensive program which aims to:

• Prevent Domestic & Family Violence (DFV) as part of a co-ordinated agenda for violence prevention.
• Provide early intervention for young people at risk of using abuse connected to domestic and family violence
• Provide preventative education to identified vulnerable groups. The program teaches young people, with limited exposure to healthy family and intimate relationships, how to identify and stop the cycle of Domestic Family Violence (DFV) whilst building their resilience (their “power within”).

What we are looking for:

YOTS is looking for a Youth Support Worker starting immediately. The position currently is a max term contract to 31 December 2023.

About us:

• Our schools aim to offer young people who have become disengaged from education an opportunity to achieve either the Record of School Achievement, Higher School Certificate or the skills they require to go on to further vocational education, apprenticeships and/or employment.
• A majority of our success is based on the provision of individual learning adjustments within and outside of the classroom.

Responsibilities of the position include:

• Deliver Power Within program in schools
• Be available to advice best practice around DFV and other related issues to all staff in education
• Determine appropriate referrals for individual students who have experienced DFV
• One on one conversations around placing external/internal services around affected student dealing with DFV
• Liaise with Managers, staff and wellbeing team around DFV and how to support student whilst at school
• Work with high crisis DFV situations with students and staff
• Collate and respond to any coping plans completed, support staff after completion
• Monitor coping plans that have been completed in your schools
• To respond to all referrals provided by line manager contacting the clients/or referring agencies
• To document and inform the line managers/DFV Lead of any serious incidents involving students.
• Complete MRG or DCJ reports when required
• Liaise with external DFV services in your school areas
• Maintain up to date information on DFV
• Collaborate with all the wellbeing team in your allocated schools, students experiencing current or historical DFV
• Maintain up to date case notes and collecting and recording statistical data
• Identification and assessment of DFV, child safety, threat of harm to self or others, and other risk factors.

The essential criteria for this role include, but are not limited to:

• Minimum qualification Diploma in Community Services
• At least 5 years’ experience in working with DFV with youth and families
• Demonstrate ability to understand needs of youth who are experiencing DFV
• Demonstrate experience in risk assessment and implementation of safety strategies
• Demonstrate experience of diverse backgrounds eg: First Nation and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• Experience undertaking community engagement activities and networking
• Theoretical knowledge for working with people using abuse, survivors or surviving DFV
• Understanding of the DFV protection Act, other relevant legislation, and confidentiality requirements
• Excellent communication skills both written or verbal
• Excellent time management
• Competent in computer use, Microsoft Office, email, web-based programs and the ability to learn new programs and applications DFV

What we can offer you:

• The opportunity to work for an iconic NFP
• Emphasis on career development
• Work within a likeminded, collegiate and passionate team
• Job satisfaction through supporting and providing opportunities for young people to build a positive future
• Access for you and your family to our EAP program
• Rewards programs
• Salary packaging

We look forward to receiving your cover letter and resume if the above is within your skillset and desires.