Youth Services Assessor / Intensive Caseworker – Kempsey

About the role

This is a fixed-term opportunity working full time until June 2024 (may extend, dependent on funding). This role is based in Kempsey.

This role is responsible for the initial engagement and assessment of young people connecting with the Futures Planning and Support Pilot Program (FPS). This role will provide case-management support for young people assessed as requiting intensive case-management to meet with goals.

The FPS program is delivered in partnership with Burrun Dalai. This role is required to work closely with colleagues from Burrun Dalai and under the overall direction of the Burrun Dalai Program Manager. 

Key Responsibilities

• Engage with the young people in the Futures Planning and Support to establish a rapport and trust
• Undertake a detailed assessment of the young person’s strengths and needs.
• Provide links between the young person and appropriate services including health services and cultural supports, prior to and after leaving care, acting as the central point of contact for such services.
• For young people being case-managed, facilitate the implementation of the young person’s leaving care plan and PFS case-plan
• Assist the young person with developing strategies to manage a range of relationships, change and crisis
• Support the client to establish, navigate and use adult support networks
• Administer brokerage funding to support practical needs in line with FPS procedures.

What you need to succeed

• Relevant tertiary level qualifications including social sciences, welfare or other areas of study relevant to youth work sector

• Interpersonal skills appropriate for engaging with young people from traumatised backgrounds.
• Knowledge of multiple service systems (including OOHC and SHS), Housing products policy and procedure, and the support that young people leaving OOHC require to transition to independence.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive, honest and productive relationships with young people and families.
• Ability to provide effective assessment and referral for a variety of issues and facilitate young people’s access to services that will meet their needs.
• Demonstrated commitment to services driven by the needs of young people.
• Proven computer skills including word processing, accessing emails and internet and the willingness to be trained in a data collection system.
• Ability to contribute to program development and evaluation.
• Ability to work flexible hours.

Benefits & Culture

We work together to ensure that every employee can be the best they can be. We value you and will support you in your life and in your career by:

Offering ongoing training and mentoring so you can continue to improve and learn new skills

• Access to a range of employee benefits (U-Rewards program, flex time and additional week of annual leave over Christmas and up to 6 EAP sessions per annum)
• Ongoing professional and personal development opportunities across our varied service streams.
• A focus on employee well-being, with regular reflective and practice supervision opportunities.

Should you have any questions, please contact Soraya Kauhiva from Uniting’s Talent Acquisition Team on; [email protected], using the subject line: Youth Services Assessor / Intensive Caseworker – Kempsey enquiry via EthicalJobs,  for more information.

Employment with Uniting is subject to satisfactory background checks, which include National Police Checks, Working with Children Checks and Reference Checks.