POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE DIVISION DEPARTMENT REPORTS TO REMUNERATION RANGE Learning Support and Development Worker Youth Transitions Youth Transitions Navigator Team Leader, Anglicare (day to day), and Education Development Specialist, Youth Transitions $63,448.84 - $69,420.52 per annum plus superannuation and salary packaging SUMMARY The Navigator program in the Western region is a partnership between the Brotherhood of St Laurence and Anglicare. There are four staffing positions in the Navigator Program: the Team Leader, the Case Manager Family, the Case Manager Youth, and the Learning Support Worker. This Position Description describes the conditions and expectations for the Learning Support Worker position employed by the Brotherhood of St Laurence. ORGANISATIONAL PURPOSE Brotherhood of St Laurence Established during the Great Depression, the Brotherhood of St Laurence was the vision and creation of Fr Gerard Tucker, a man who combined his Christian faith with a fierce determination to end social injustice. The Brotherhood has developed into an independent organisation with strong Anglican and community links. Today, we continue to fight for an Australia free of poverty. At the Brotherhood of St Laurence, we are defined by the people that make up our organisation. With 600 employees and 900 volunteers across more than 50 sites, together we strive to help people experiencing disadvantage through research and policy and services and advocacy. As well as providing services and programs for families and elderly on low incomes, refugees, young people and the unemployed, we research the causes and effects of poverty and advocate national and local policy solutions for people who are disadvantaged. The Brotherhood is currently focusing its work on strategies to alleviate and prevent poverty for those people most at risk at the four transition stages considered critical to their future wellbeing: the early years, the years from school to work, periods in and out of work and retirement and ageing. Our Strategic Plan for 2015 2020 identifies five organisational objectives: to demonstrate how to reduce disadvantage and increase social, civic and economic participation through quality, evidence-based policy, programs and practice to undertake quality research, gather knowledge and evaluate evidence to inform and support our work Approved: August 2017, Principal Advisor, Youth Transitions Page 1 of 6
to work collaboratively and in partnership with others to influence policy and practice. to strengthen our organisational capability to support innovation and respond flexibly to changed circumstances to collaborate with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and ensure the Brotherhood supports their rights and aspirations. Each of these priorities is underpinned by well structured, researched and documented body of knowledge to support all elements of work within the Brotherhood. Anglicare 1.1 Anglicare Victoria Anglicare Victoria is the third largest statutory residential care provider in Victoria. In the 2014/15 financial year, Anglicare Victoria had maintained 20 youth residential care homes and had assisted 156 kids in care to connect to school. Four of Anglicare Victoria s Youth residential units are Therapeutic Residential Care (TRC) units in the North, South and East Divisions. As such, Anglicare Victoria is well versed in the complex support needs of young people in the Out of Home Care system, with a thorough understanding of the impact of abuse, neglect and trauma and the therapeutic response to that impact. Anglicare Victoria is the largest foster care and family services provider in Victoria, operating in every division. In the 2014/15 financial year: Anglicare Victoria placed 2,091 children into foster care or kinship care Anglicare Victoria had a total of 619 carers who volunteered 1,534,504 hours of their time in caring for children and young people Anglicare Victoria supported 80 Young People who were leaving care Anglicare Victoria also plays a significant role in facilitating faster care, kinship placements as well as Adoption and Permanent Care placements. Anglicare Victoria is the only OOHC provider with the scale and infrastructure to integrate OOHC with family services across Metropolitan Melbourne and rural Victoria. Anglicare Victoria also has the suite of services and partnerships required to manage clients with the most complex of support needs. In addition, Anglicare Victoria is the lead agency of four Child & Family Services Alliances in Victoria and is a member of numerous other Child & Family Services alliances making it a leader in Victoria s Family Services. In both its Out of Home Care and Family Services, Anglicare Victoria maintains close collaboration and connection with DHHS Child protection in all districts and regions across Victoria. 1.2 Anglicare Victoria s Services in the West Anglicare Victoria provides a wide range of services in the West, particularly covering the areas of Wyndham, Hobsons Bay, Maribyrnong, Moonee Valley, Melbourne, Brimbank, Melton. Anglicare Victoria s services in these areas include: Adolescent Case Management (ACMS) for Young People on Child Protection orders Adoption & Permanent Care Alcohol or Other Drug Services (including case management, nonresidential rehabilitation programs, Youth AoD outreach programs) Breaking the Barriers Adolescent Leaving Care program Breaking the Cycle groups for parents with Young people who have portrayed violent behaviours Choices Young Parenting Support program Financial Counselling Page 2 of 6
Forensic Counselling GARAGE Youth Drop In Program Home Based Care Integrated Family Service Kinship Care Reconnect program (including a youth and family counsellor) TEACHaR for Young People in Out of Home Care Western Melbourne Child FIRST (Anglicare Victoria is the Lead Agency of the Western Melbourne Child & Family Services Alliance) Youth & Family Reunification program. DIVISION & DEPARTMENT PURPOSE Funded by the Department of Education, Anglicare Victoria (AV) and the Brotherhood of St Laurence will deliver an aspirational, multi-disciplinary pilot Navigator program in Western Melbourne to assist disengaged learners to re-connect back into education and learning. AV and the Brotherhood s Navigator will deliver innovative, research-informed program to assist disengaged learners in the Western Melbourne area. The partnership will: Utilise assertive outreach to re-engage students to mainstream schools or (if necessary) alternative educational pathways utilising comfortable settings (home, café, etc.) Support long-term re-engagement by addressing barriers to learning and participation. Re-engagement plans include goal setting, personal growth, actions and supports Coordinate multidisciplinary services to address psychosocial/systemic disengagement factors. E.g. school support services, SFYS, LLENs, AOD, KESOs, mental health, Child Protection, family violence and housing Post-enrolment monitoring will be provided to stem cyclic school breakdown that predicts unemployment and poor life outcomes. POSITION PURPOSE The Learning Support and Development Worker will provide the participants in the Navigator program with the learning support required to facilitate their re-entry into mainstream education and/or training. The work will involve working with young people, their families and their school to provide the support needed for the young person to engage in or remain engaged in school. This role also provides educational expertise to the Navigator team. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES 1. Teamwork and Accountability work collaboratively within teams to achieve common goals demonstrate a commitment to the Brotherhood s quality framework and culture by participating in and promoting quality actions through continual improvement activities in collaboration with the manager, set goals and objectives to ensure outcomes are met model the Brotherhood values and adhere to the Code of Ethical Behaviour in everyday work practices Page 3 of 6
maintain a safe work environment and ensure steps are taken to prevent unsafe work practices in accordance with Brotherhood policies and procedures. Operate in accordance with the organisations standards, philosophies, procedures and policies Contribute to good team communication and client outcomes by working professionally and co-operatively with all organisational staff Perform your duties with integrity and impartiality towards your fellow staff, clients and other professionals 2. Service delivery and development Provide case management services and referral for young people and their families and/or carers Conduct an initial assessment of the young person s learning requirements and collate all relevant learning assessments from the young person s previous school Develop an Individual Education Support plan with the young person, the school/training institute and family/significant adult aimed at assisting the young learner back into mainstream education Monitor and support the Education Support Plan, keeping accurate records of activities, services delivered, proposed education, training and employment outcomes and support Liaise and maintain relationships with key educational organisations, such as the regional education office, the Lookout program, schools and TAFE Institutes to facilitate the young person s re-entry into mainstream education Liaise with schools and the regional education office to access educational specialist support resources that assist the young person s re-entry into mainstream education Provide advice, support and specific intervention to families or care givers who provide direct day to day care of young learners on managing challenging and difficult behaviour Ensure the young person s learning requirements are understood across a range of stakeholders and facilitate access to service options both within the organisation and the wider education, health, welfare, vocational training and, housing and other sectors Work with schools to identify young people at risk of disengagement and identify and implement strategies to assist young people to continue their education Provide educational guidance and pathway advice to learners, ensuring that learners can access mainstream educational opportunities Provide technical advice and support on educational strategies and initiatives where processes are not clearly defined Provide and explain assessment related information to learners including the requirements, conditions and dates of assessment Provide specialist education recommendations to inform the development of the service model. Contribute to strengthening the schools capacity to retain students at risk of leaving early. Page 4 of 6
Maintain an appropriate caseload as determined by the team leader. 3. Program Administration Ensure accurate, timely and effective communication processes within the team, within the agency and with external parties Implement data collection systems to meet statutory and organisational requirements and use data to guide decision-making and evaluate outcomes Maintain accurate records of activities and contacts, both on the electronic and manual file systems. Participate in the development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the program Work as part of a team and participate in team meetings, joint work opportunities and case evaluation activities Present on program design and implementation at forums as required. 4. Multi-Skilling The incumbent may be directed to carry out such duties as are within the level of the position and scope of the incumbent s competence and training as directed by the manager. ORGANISATIONAL RELATIONSHIPS Internal Stakeholders External Stakeholders Anglicare Navigator staff Brotherhood Youth Transitions team Local networks External organisations Education and training providers and institutions and employers Government Departments Young people and families KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Educational qualifications and/or experience in the secondary education sector Demonstrated capability to work effectively with students who have disengaged or are at risk of disengaging from formal education and/or who have significant behavioral and/or learning issues Demonstrated skills, knowledge and understanding of working with vulnerable children, adolescents and their families. Demonstrated skills to liaise with schools and co-ordinate appropriate specialist educational support resources to assist the young person s re-entry into mainstream education. Ability to work independently and effectively within a team to achieve outcomes. Understanding of and empathy with the values and ideals of the Brotherhood Administration and computer skills file keeping, data entry, MS Word and Internet/email Current Victorian Drivers Licence Page 5 of 6
MANDATORY EMPLOYMENT CRITERIA Proof of eligibility to work in Australia is required A satisfactory Police Check is required. The Brotherhood will facilitate this process A Working with Children Check is required for this position. The Brotherhood will facilitate this process ACKNOWLEDGEMENT I, Insert Name, have read and accept the Position Description as stated above. I acknowledge the description of the position is an outline and guide to the duties of the professional activities needed to undertake the position successfully. I understand that a review of the position description may occur and it may be amended from time to time as organisational needs change. Changes to the position description will be consistent with the purpose for which the position was established. Manager Signature Date Employee Signature Date Page 6 of 6