Foyer Plus Case Worker (Ladder Hoddle Street) Foyer Plus Team Leader

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1 POSITION: REPORTS TO: LOCATED: Foyer Plus Case Worker (Ladder Hoddle Street) Foyer Plus Team Leader Collingwood DATE: October 2014 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 Melbourne City Mission has been a leader in the delivery of Foyer like models since We currently manage several models of Foyer Plus across metropolitan Melbourne. The Precinct model located in North Fitzroy The High Density model - Lion Garden located in CBD Melbourne and Ladder Hoddle Street located in Collingwood Neighbourhood model dispersed transitional properties located in the Inner South Melbourne City Mission s Step Ahead program was the first foyer model response to young people, of its kind, in Victoria and originally began as a pilot under the name of the Youth Transitions Model (YTM). In 2007 the program received recurrent funding from the Department of Human Services and was renamed the Step Ahead program. Ladder Hoddle Street is funded through a partnership between the AFL Players Association and the AFL Foundation, DHS Housing and Community Division, Melbourne City Mission and Yarra Community Housing. Foyer Plus provides integrated support programs for homeless or at risk of homelessness young people aged years (inclusive) in Melbourne. The support program has a significant emphasis on creating direct links with employment, education and training providers. It will also provide intensive supports, group work, individual case management services and the opportunity of the development of independent living skills and community connections with a view to supporting young people through a transition from dependence to independence. 1

2 Participants are housed in fully furnished, self-contained units through all of the models - High Density, Precinct and Neighbourhood. Length of stay is dependent on which model you are involved in, receiving ongoing intensive motivational casework is standard across Melbourne City Mission Foyer Plus. The Precinct and Ladder Hoddle Street accommodation is for up to two years, while Lion Garden and the dispersed properties are for up to three years. All of Melbourne City Mission s Foyer Plus programs concentrate on the prevention of homelessness by developing the education / employment component of the model to provide further support and programs to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. JOB PURPOSE To assist young people years (inclusive) who are experiencing homelessness, or are at risk of homelessness, to develop positive pathways towards independence with a particular focus on employment, education and training outcomes. JOB OBJECTIVES Duties of this role may include but are not limited to the following: Liaise and work co-operatively with other programs, community agencies, employment, education and training services; Advocate for clients to community agencies, employment, education and training services, real estate agencies, court, etc; Liaise with local area service networks and statewide youth specific programs for the provision of housing and resources; Develop and maintain networks with key local services particularly Northwest region homelessness agencies and specialist support services for young people; Identify and promote initiatives and programs, which might support service users by liaison and networking with other relevant services; Represent Melbourne City Mission Foyer Plus programs (Ladder Hoddle Street and Step Ahead) at networks and forums as directed by the Team Leader; Assess the suitability of referred clients to the Foyer Plus programs and make appropriate recommendations to the Team Leader; Provide high quality case management services to young people; Develop and maintain a constructive and supportive relationship with young people that addresses individual needs; Develop and maintain a goal plan in conjunction with the young people, which addresses employment, education and training options, personal and specific individual needs; Encourage young people to engage with local community services and resources by providing specialist referral (e.g. Centrelink, health, legal); Provide young people with resource information; Participate in the development, coordination and implementation of living skills programs and other group workshops with young people; Convene and attend house meetings to ensure development of workable relationships between young people and the development of living skills; 2

3 Attend and participate in regular team meetings; Participate in regular formal supervision to identify practice issues, training and personal development options; Participate and contribute in performance reviews and periodic reviews of the service as directed; To maintain an environment that promotes the health and safety of all residents and staff; To actively participate in WH&S meetings and contribute to the overall well being of the workplace; Work within a team environment and participate in team meetings both with Foyer Plus (Ladder Hoddle Street and Step Ahead) and co-located services; To ensure awareness of and adhere to the policies and procedures within Melbourne City Mission; Maintain accurate data, information, record keeping and filing system requirements of Foyer Plus; Maintain client files and professional accounts of client details and information; Participate in the development and implementation of appropriate protocols, systems and procedures to improve the effectiveness of referring young people to internal and external specialist services; Develop ongoing relationships with a variety of services, organisation and systems to ensure positive outcomes for all young people; Provide regular reports to Team Leader in relation to trends and issues that may be affecting young people; To provide a monthly report to the Team Leader including current case loads, current issues and outcomes. KEY RELATIONSHIPS Relationships Internal Services at Melbourne City Mission including Foyer Plus (Ladder Hoddle Street and Step Ahead), co-located services and other external community service organisations. KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Qualifications / Experience Essential: Tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Youth Work, Welfare studies or related fields and demonstrated experience in working with young people who are vulnerable Demonstrated experience, knowledge and skills relating to current issues, trends and programs relating to homelessness, employment, education and training High level of demonstrated experience working within a case management framework Strong organisational and time management skills with the ability to prioritise tasks Knowledge of local and regional networks and service providers Excellent written and verbal communication skills Ability to work independently as well as within a team 3

4 High level of initiative and motivation Demonstrated interpersonal skills and experience in conflict resolution and mediation Administration and computer proficiency Must possess a current Working with Children s Check (or willing to obtain prior to commencement) MELBOURNE CITY MISSION CAPABILITIES In addition to the Key Selection Criteria, applicants should be able to demonstrate the following attributes: COMMUNICATES EFFECTIVELY CONNECTS WITH OTHERS FOCUSSES ON CLIENTS PARTICIPATES AS A TEAM MEMBER ACTS AS AN AMBASSADOR FOR MELBOURNE CITY MISSION KNOWS THE FIELD DEVELOPS SELF THINKS OUTSIDE THE SQUARE Clearly conveys information and ideas through a variety of media to individuals and groups includes written, verbal and presentation skills. Creates partnerships that embrace mutuality and equality between partners, ranging from networking through to collaborating: Works in collaborative partnership with clients; communicates and focuses on the needs of the clients whilst trying to achieve the best possible outcome. Contributes to the goals of the team; participates in all aspects of the team s work; balances the team requirements and individual needs; works with others cooperatively to achieve common goals. Represents Melbourne City Mission in a professional manner that builds a positive impression of Melbourne City Mission and strengthens reputation and image of the not for profit sector. Possesses up-to-date knowledge; is regarded as an expert in their area of focus; uses quantitative and qualitative data and evidence based to draw conclusions; presents technical information in easily understood terms. Learns from experience; actively pursues learning and skill development; seeks feedback and welcomes unsolicited feedback; modifies behavior in light of feedback; takes the time to reflect on own behavior and performance; learns and applies new and complex information. Thinks with originality; shows imagination and has the ability to invent new approaches. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Classification: Hours: This position comes under the Melbourne City Mission Enterprise Agreement The classification for this role is Social Worker Class 1 year 7 Full time (76 hours per fortnight). This role requires participation in some after hours work under flexi working arrangements. 4

5 Tenure: Conditions: Ongoing Must have a current Victorian Driver s License Must possess a current Working with Children s Check Subject to a satisfactory Police Check 5