• Full Time
• Preferable start date 4th October 2022
• Contract until 30th June 2025
• Business hours with some afternoon/evening work required
• Based in Gateshead

Who we are

Samaritans is a not-for-profit organisation who for over 30 years has been offering support to those in need. The Samaritans values of Compassion, Integrity, Justice act as our tagline and describe the principles behind the work we do and the way we do it.

The Role

The Samaritans Tailored Youth and Family Services team provide a range of early intervention, targeted and specialist support to children, young people and their families in the Lake Macquarie & Newcastle local government areas. It is a multidisciplinary team, providing a range of activities within the home, centre-based, in schools and the local community. The aim of the service is to meet the needs of families who may be experiencing tough times such as domestic and family violence, emerging mental health concerns, drug and alcohol needs, social and economic disadvantage, attachment and relational difficulties between parents /carers and their children with a focus to increase the immediate and longer term wellbeing and safety of children and young people.

The Youth and Family Practitioner will maintain an individual case load of children, young people and families and provide counselling, case work and facilitate groups. The underlying principles of attachment, trauma informed practice, motivational interviewing, narrative therapy, strengths perspective and social learning theory, underpin the framework of practice for the service.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

• A bachelor or graduate degree in Social Work or Psychology
• A desire and commitment to work in a strength based way with children, young people and their families.
• Experience (this may be emerging) providing energetic, creative and flexible therapeutic group work with children/young people and knowledge of group dynamics.
• Completed studies and have knowledge of individual counselling models including CBT, Narrative Therapy and Play Based therapy.
• Demonstrated ability to work cooperatively with local community organisations on behalf of clients and the service.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of child protection issues and an awareness of the types of disadvantages faced by children/young people and families.
• Understanding of principles of behaviour management, resilience and conflict resolution.
• Willingness to engage parents and family members in vulnerable circumstances.
• Experience in facilitating or assisting in facilitating parenting programs.

MOST importantly:

• You connect with our mission; you believe in our vision and we share the same values. You know that you can make a difference and that working with our amazing team will change your life and the lives of the people that we support.

Our teams are the heart of what we do here at Samaritans. As a part of the Samaritans team, you will have access to the following benefits

• Parental Leave (14 weeks + Super Contributions) 
• Access to Fitness Passport gym membership
• Attractive Salary Packaging Options
• Career and development opportunities
• Payroll giving programs
• The opportunity to work within an innovative, collaborative team environment;
• Progressive organisation with a focus on advocacy and social justice.

Samaritans promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children and young people.

All employees are required to complete pre-employment medical, NDIS Worker Screening Check, have a current Working With Children Check, COVID digital certificate including booster First Aid Certificate, and hold a valid NSW Driver’s Licence.

You must have the right to live and work in Australia.