Weave Justice project Creating Futures Part Time Caseworker. Position Description

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1 Weave Justice project Creating Futures Part Time Caseworker Position Description Position Title: Supervision: Responsible For: Location: Part Time Caseworker Program supervision provided by the Weave Creating Futures Team Leader. Clinical Supervision provided externally. Developing relevant networks and providing comprehensive, holistic, intensive client-centred casework support to give Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander offenders a genuine chance at creating a future that does not involve the criminal justice system. Provision of pre- and post release support and court support and advocacy for mainly Aboriginal offenders in the City of Sydney LGA. Your position is initially based at the Weave Head Office in Waterloo Oval but you will be required to work at other sites during the course of your employment. Employment Details and Remuneration (standard) Employer: Hours of Work: Status: Grade: Salary: Weave Youth & Community Services Inc. 28 hours per week worked over 4 days per week. Part time. All positions at Weave are dependant on continued funding. Social Community Home Care and Disability Services Award (SCHCADS) SACS Stream Level 4 Paypoint 1-4 depending on qualifications and experience. Hourly rate $33.87-$36.45 per hour depending on qualifications and experience Benefits: Hourly rate calculated based on 35 hour week and

2 generous salary packaging is available. Position Context Every week Weave is approached by Aboriginal young people who have just been released from prison. These young people are often still wearing their prison greens and come to us because they have had a connection to Weave in the past or a family member or friend has suggested they come to us seeking support. They usually have nowhere stable to live, no income, no identification papers, no idea about what they want to do or can do, and if they have spent a long time in jail they no longer know how the world operates. This program will provide court support and pre and post release support for Aboriginal young people and others. The Age group with be 18 to 30 year olds and we expect 80% of the target group with be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and 20% other cultural groups. The case for addressing the poor outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, when they are released from prison, has never been more pressing. As at 2016, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders represent 28% of the total full-time adult prisoner population in Australia. At the same time, they account for around 2% of the total Australian population aged 18 years and over. According to ABS date as at 30 July 2015, approximately three out of four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners (77% or 7,628 prisoners) had been imprisoned previously, compared to one in two non-indigenous prisoners (50% or 13,220 prisoners). Not only has the recidivism rate been increasing, but, the average daily number of prisoners in Australia between March 2014 and March 2016 has increased by 7% to approximately 38,000 with NSW having the largest prison population in Australia. Concurrently, NSW government funding has been cut for programs and resources that assist inmates when released from prison, such as those offered by the Community Restorative Centre. Instead funding has been diverted to supporting a policy of crime prevention centred on CCTV camera detection and other measures. The limited number of programs available to support people to adjust successfully into the community are mostly short term, ad hoc and not well integrated. Further contributing to negative outcomes are factors such as the high recidivism rate and the impact it is having on overcrowding at prisons in NSW, along with the high cost of incarceration for approximately 11,800 inmates as at March 2016, with a cost per day of $222 (or $81,030 per year) per inmate. Overcrowding is leading to an even more costly program of building new prisons to accommodate the high numbers of inmates. The result is poor outcomes for people after they are released from prison.

3 Weave Youth and Community Services Weave provides a range of services to socially and economically excluded young people, women and families who live in the City of Sydney Local Government Area as well as the Maroubra/La Perouse, Inner West and Woolloomooloo. Weave was established in The team at Weave are dedicated, experienced and are well recognised for their engaging work with young people, women and families, community development work and pioneering new therapeutic approaches. Please refer to our Vision, Mission, Values and Culture at the end of this document. For more information about Weave please visit our website: Key Duties As directed by the Creating Futures Team Leader, establish good networks and relationships with courts, legal services, corrective services. Probation and Parole, police etc in order to establish referral pathways. Provide individual casework and case management support to clients with complex trauma histories and complex needs, including support with mental health and AOD issues, legal issues, housing, family issues, relationships, domestic violence, justice, education, employment, culture etc. Provide court support and advocacy to endeavour to divert people from custody via Section 11, 12 or Section 9 bonds, suspended sentences etc. Pre-release exit planning with young people who are already in custody prior to release. Provide comprehensive, holistic post release support for people in the target group who are transitioning to community from custody. Focus on the basics what s changed in the world etc. Use of online centrelink registration, phones, ID, bus tickets, income, accommodation etc. Therapeutic/trauma informed case-management and counselling Intensive case management commences pre-release and continues post release. Client led case plan with achievable goals in relation to Housing, legal issues, health, mental health and wellbeing, education

4 and training, relationships and family, alcohol and other drug issues, grief and loss, processing trauma, cultural connection and healing. Connection to culture, family and community through involvement in existing programs or those created for the young people in the program. Facilitated access to the holistic suite of Weave programs and services including mental health and AOD support employment hub, creative arts programs and opportunities to give back via our leadership and advocacy programs and community development programs and events. Collaborating and working closely with other services housing, social security, police, health, mental health, employment services, drug and alcohol rehabilitation services, recreational and sporting clubs. Provide Court support and diversionary program support Provide support with training and employment pathways by connecting young people to existing support Supported referral to other services Develop close working relationship with NSW Department Corrective Services Use Derek Weave s data collection system to record and manage client data and case plans. Ensure all disputes with both staff and service users are resolved according to the Weave complaints and grievance procedure. Fully participate as a member of the Weave team. Promote the service and its programs to the local and wider community. Participate in probationary review meetings and Annual Performance Review with your team leader and Management. You may be required to perform other duties as directed from time to time to suit organisational requirements and which are broadly consistent with your role.

5 General Accountabilities and duties of all Weave Staff Attend regular clinical supervision Participate in regular Weave staff meetings, leadership team meetings, training, team building, and planning days and report back to staff on your team. Perform all duties in accordance with the Weave code of conduct and Weave policies and procedures. A commitment to EEO policy and OH&S safety standards, ethical practice principles and a commitment to the principles of cultural diversity. Take responsibility to ensure that the Weave Centre is a warm, inviting and hospitable environment for everyone to be in. Treat people like you would if they came to your home. Notice when things are untidy and make an effort to clean up as needed. Make sure all visitors to the centre are welcomed and looked after including offering cups of tea, coffee, water etc. and that they get the assistance they came for or at least information and referral even if we cannot assist directly. Hospitality is a shared responsibility of the whole Centre team and is included in the job descriptions of all staff. It is important to take care to listen very carefully to what people are asking for and not make assumptions about their needs, it is equally important to welcome all people to the centre, even those that clearly don t fit in our target group. If someone has made an appointment to see a particular worker you need to make sure that you accompany the person to the worker and ensure they are connected. If the worker is not in the office, call them on their mobile to organize something for the client. Whilst it is understood that each worker has specific duties, there is a natural overlap of roles. Expectations of workers roles can change according to the needs of the community and available resources. Essential Criteria SELECTION CRITERIA Qualifications in social work, community work, welfare, community management or other relevant discipline. Excellent skills in managing complex community dynamics Complex casework and case management experience. Experience in youth work

6 Understanding of issues affecting Aboriginal communities, families, young people and children. A commitment to EEO policy OH&S safety standards, ethical practice principles and a commitment to the principles of cultural diversity. Current NSW Working With Children Check clearance Able to work in a flexible and adaptable manner under stress. Common sense and an excellent sense of humour. NSW Class C drivers licence Willingness to use own vehicle for work purposes from time to time. Desirable Criteria Understanding of the criminal justice system and the Trauma informed care Suitably qualified and experienced male applicants preferred Aboriginality How to Apply **Applications including a current Resume and a document specifically responding to and outlining how you meet each of the Selection Criteria (List of criteria included in the Job Description Document), should be ed to Patricia Vasquez at patricia@weave.org.au Phone Melissa Merritt on if you want further information. or Job Description available on website: Closing Date for applications is midnight on Sunday May 7th 2017.

7 Weave Youth and Community Services Vision, Mission, Culture and Values What we see for the future: Our Vision A strong, connected community that values its members with opportunities and justice for all. What we are here to do: Our Mission Statement We empower people to change their lives How we describe ourselves: Our Culture We value and respect the traditional owners of the land and acknowledge their struggle. Our work is underpinned by social justice principles. We are holistic in our approach We value genuine, authentic, transparent, client-centred work practices We work with passion, energy, creativity and commitment We highly value and appreciate collaboration and partnerships with team members and other services Our work is informed by an understanding of the politics of power We understand complex social issues and we work in creative and flexible ways to address them We know that practical and timely intervention can have important longterm meaningful value We embrace diversity What is true and important to us: Our Values Integrity We work ethically at all times and are transparent in our practice Respect We value and respect our service users, community members, partners and co-workers and treat people as individuals. Good practice Our work is informed by relevant and current practice models and we review and evaluate constantly. Optimism and a sense of humour Fairness and Justice We challenge injustice at every level and work with others towards a more just society Sustainability Sustainable practice underpins our work on an individual, community and global level