POSITION: REPORTS TO: LOCATED: Refuge Youth Worker Stopover Youth Refuge Senior Worker North Fitzroy DATE: June 2016 ORGANISATIONAL ENVIRONMENT Melbourne City Mission is a leader and innovator in the provision of services to the community. Established in 1854, Melbourne City Mission is a non-denominational organisation that provides assistance to thousands of Victorian people and communities experiencing disadvantage. As a service provider Melbourne City Mission s work is focussed on providing a hand up not a hand out, supporting people to take charge of their own lives and participate fully in community life. Melbourne City Mission s service profile includes: Children, Youth, Adult and Family; Disability; Employment, Education and Training; Homelessness; Justice; Aged Care; and Palliative Care. As a social change agent Melbourne City Mission advocates for social policy change and works across all sectors in seeking to achieve sustainable outcomes for communities experiencing disadvantage. JOB CONTEXT The appointee will be expected to commit to Melbourne City Mission s Mission, Vision and Values and align their work to the organisation s strategic objectives. The Homelessness portfolio forms part of the Homelessness and Justice Division. The Division works with four major conceptual domains for service delivery. They include: Early Intervention (Youth & Family) Integrated Responses (Frontyard Youth Service) Homelessness Services Justice Programs Stopover Youth Refuge Stopover Youth Refuge is a Melbourne City Mission supported crisis accommodation service for young people aged 16 to 24. Stopover works within a strength-based framework, and focuses on assisting young people to build of their existing skills and develop their own capabilities. Stopover is able to accommodate 9 young people within its 9 bedroom facility. Referrals will be accepted as per the Opening Doors Framework from all Access Points. Young people will be provided a range of supports predominately to seek out long term safe and stable 1
accommodation along with other support needs. Staff will work with young people to develop an action plan to ensure as many of their immediate needs are met. JOB PURPOSE WITH THE SERVICE USERS Provide structured support, assessment and referral to young people and their children within the program Provide information to young people to assist them to understand themselves, issues impacting on their homelessness, their rights and the services and supports available to assist them Provide assistance to access appropriate accommodation options particularly youth housing, family reconciliation, private rental and public housing Provide assistance to access appropriate specialist support services Develop independent living skills to maintain independent or family housing To respond to the crisis needs of young people as they arise To respond appropriately to young people presenting with difficult and challenging behaviours WITHIN THE SERVICE To attend regular team meetings, and supervision with the Team Leader Maintain accurate data, information, record keeping and filing systems. Maintain an environment that ensures the health and safety of all residents and staff. Participate in the development and implementation of appropriate protocols, systems and procedures to improve the effectiveness of referring young people to housing and specialist services. Contribute to ongoing and periodic reviews of the service. Undertake reasonable domestic tasks including cooking, cleaning and shopping as required. Other reasonable duties as requested IN THE COMMUNITY Liaise and work cooperatively with housing and other human service agencies within the region to provide homeless young people an appropriate support service. Provide offsite work with clients as required Represent Stopover at local youth forums as directed by the Team Leader 2
JOB OBJECTIVES Duties of this role may include but are not limited to the following: To provide structured support to young people who are accommodated at Stopover Refuge in accordance with DHHS and Melbourne City Mission guidelines. To provide support to residents to find appropriate accommodation and support services suitable to needs To maintain an environment that promotes the health and safety of all residents and staff. To fulfil the record keeping, data and other administrative functions of the service. To assist the general day to day running of the refuge. KEY RELATIONSHIPS Accountability Internal Relationships External Relationships The position is accountable to Team Leader Iramoo Youth refuge. Youth Refuge staff may have relationships with staff from a range of Melbourne City Mission program areas, dependant on the needs of the people they are supporting. Some examples may include: Staff from the other Youth Refuge programs Staff from the Homelessness & Justice Team Staff from Staff Learning and Development Staff from Human Resources Staff from Properties and Facilities As instructed by the Team Leader Youth Refuge staff will liaise and network with external service providers, organisations and stakeholders within the community, with the view to providing the most appropriate and effective services and supports to the people they support. KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Qualifications / Experience Essential: Tertiary qualifications in youth work, welfare studies or related fields and/or demonstrated experience in working with homeless young people A clear understanding of working within a case management framework including client assessment and intake processes Demonstrated knowledge and skills in working with young people, particularly in a residential environment Knowledge of local and regional human service networks and service providers 3
Demonstrated written and verbal skills Well-developed communication and negotiation skills Ability to work independently and as part of a team Computer proficiency, ability to navigate web based reporting tools Subject to a satisfactory Police Check Current Working with Children Check (Employment) MELBOURNE CITY MISSION CAPABILITIES In addition to the Key Selection Criteria, applicants should be able to demonstrate the following attributes: Quality, safety and risk management are paramount Play by the rules you make no compromises when it comes to quality, safety and risk management Clients are at the centre of everything you do You help clients reach their goals and get the best possible outcomes by working in partnership. You re always on the lookout for opportunities for improvement. You help make Melbourne City Mission a great place to work You build and maintain relationships with all your colleagues and clients. You re a team player, you actively participate in an encouraging and supportive work environment You achieve results You re focused on what you need to do and you deliver. You raise the bar You embrace a culture of learning, growth and development. Communication is key You re clear, know your audience and use a variety of methods to share information. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Classification: Hours: This position comes under the Melbourne City Mission Enterprise Agreement 2007-2010. The classification for this role is Social Worker Class 1, Year 7 152 hours on a 4 week rotating roster 4
Conditions: Tenure: Incorporating shift, weekend and sleepover work Ongoing, Full time Appointment to this position is subject to the satisfactory completion of a police check. 5