Position Description Position : Youth Support Officer Position Number : 1459 Classification : Band 5 Directorate Department Approved By : Planning & Development : Community Planning : Kate McCaughey, Manager Community Planning Date Approved : Signature : Name of Incumbent : Signature : Date Signed :
Table of Contents PART A: POSITION DESCRIPTION... 3 Position Objective... 4 Key Responsibilities & Duties... 4 Organisational Relationships... 5 Accountability and Extent of Authority... 5 Judgement and Decision Making... 5 Specialist Knowledge and Skills... 5 Management Skills... Error! Bookmark not defined. Interpersonal Skills... 6 Qualifications and Experience... 7 PART B: KEY SELECTION CRITERIA... 7 PART C: EXPECTED BEHAVIOURS... 1 Moonee Valley City Council Values... Error! Bookmark not defined. PART D: APPLICATION PROCESS... Error! Bookmark not defined. Applications... Error! Bookmark not defined.
CONTEXT The Youth Development Team The Youth Development team is one of four teams within Moonee Valley City Council s Community Planning department whose service mission is outlined below. The four teams delivering this mission include: Youth Development including programs, case management, counselling for young people aged 12 25 years. Social Planning and Wellbeing including social policy and programs, municipal public health and wellbeing planning, Reconciliation, community safety, community grants and funding and gender equity. Community Development including community programs at Flemington Community and Bowes Ave Centres; volunteer planning and coordination; and intercultural development. Research and Facilities Planning including coordination of strategic social research as well as a whole-of-council approach to facility planning in alignment with Council s services, programs and projects.
PART A: POSITION DESCRIPTION Position Objective To provide case work support and youth mental health and wellbeing initiatives for young people aged 12-25 years who live, work, study, or recreate in Moonee Valley. Key Responsibilities & Duties Provide youth centred and therapeutic case work including intake, outreach and group work approaches with young people within a family, community development and social justice context. Support creative opportunities that enhance the empowerment of young people in decision making processes and advocate on their behalf where appropriate. Contribute to reflective professional practice development, including training, peer and clinical supervision and participation in professional networks. Contribute to and adopt policy, practice models and clinical governance frameworks for the delivery of the Counselling and Case Management Service and youth mental health and wellbeing initiatives. Support the Youth Development team in the implementation of the Thriving Minds (Youth/Teen Mental Health First Aid) program. (subject to operational needs) Maintain accurate and timely recording of case notes and referral processes, in line with clinical governance principles and policies. Contribute to projects that build community capacity and create opportunities to implement sustainable health and wellbeing placed based services. Develop and maintain stakeholder relationships across Council, the community and key service providers in the provision of wellbeing programs and referral pathways for young people. Collaborate to design and deliver communication initiatives to increase awareness of referral pathways, the Counselling and Case Management service and the wider Youth Development team. Other Duties Responsibilities and duties included in this position description are subject to the multiskilling provisions of the Moonee Valley City Council current Enterprise Agreement and/or any supplementary agreements and where applicable the appropriate award.
Organisational Relationships Reports to: Management Supervises: Internal Contacts: Directorate External Contacts: Team Leader Youth Counselling and Case Casual Youth Workers, Volunteers, Students Planning and Development All Other Council Departments Young People, Schools, Youth Service Providers, Community Groups, Contractors, Sporting Clubs, Victoria Police, Other Local Governments, State and Federal Governments, Program Sponsors Accountability and Extent of Authority Assessing and implementing appropriate and assertive case work, intake, outreach and group work, with guidance from Team Leader Youth Counselling and Case Management. Ability to plan, implement and evaluate youth mental health and wellbeing initiatives. Ability to identify and assess risk and make recommendations or refer to management and statutory agencies, where appropriate. Representing Council as required in public forums, local committees, Council committees or industry groups. Ensuring individual support related expenses are in line with approved resource allocation. Maintaining best practice case notes in accordance with relevant legislation including; the Privacy Information Act, Health Records Act, Children Youth and Family Act and the policies and procedures of Council and the Youth Counselling and Case Management team. Contribute to the development of operational policies and procedures to ensure compliance with Occupational Health and Safety regulations at all times. Regular availability after hours to meet the needs of young people accessing the service. Manage a full case load based on service expectations regarding number and case intensity. Judgement and Decision Making Ability to make independent judgements and decisions regarding relationship building and the implementation of services in accordance with the approved work plan. Ability to assess and implement risk assessment plans within case work practice. Ability to work independently and make decisions relating to day-to-day tasks, based on experience and within well-defined procedures and guidelines.
Ability to solve problems using own initiative, creativity and originality in applying work practices to new situations. Ability to work within a team and independently to assess young people and respond to their needs appropriately. Ability to plan and organise work load to achieve objectives within set timeframes, priorities and available resource allocation. Specialist Knowledge and Skills Assertive case work, outreach and group work interventions. Comprehensive understanding of adolescent development, group work, youth participation and community development. Comprehensive understanding of mental health and wellbeing issues impacting young people. Development, implementation and evaluation of youth mental health and wellbeing initiatives. Participate in youth sector practice and development, including building relationships with internal and external stakeholders and representing Council at relevant networks. Implementation of youth mental health and wellbeing initiative within a school context. Case record management and analysis. Effective use of Microsoft Office and the ability to utilise corporate software packages for record keeping and customer service. Understand broader Council strategies to contribute to the development of Youth Development planning, policies and programs. Knowledge and understanding of relevant governing legislation of privacy, health records, family services and youth services. Maintain accurate and timely recording of case notes and referral processes. Ability to deliver case work and group programs within youth development, other Council facilities and externally. Maintain and develop stakeholder relationships to strengthen community satisfaction of the Youth Development team. Interpersonal Skills Ability to empathise, build rapport and empower young people in a family, community development and social justice context. Ability to build relationships and network with internal and external stakeholders. Ability to identify and initiate new opportunities and be innovative in developing new concepts to improve services. Ability to negotiate, influence and gain co-operation from internal and external stakeholders including young people to achieve positive outcomes.
Effective written, oral communication, analytical and conceptual skills and negotiation skills. Ability to support the Counselling and Case Management team (and other teams in the Youth Development team when required) in the delivery of projects, programs and services. Ability to prepare and deliver relevant reports. High level of self-motivation with the ability to work autonomously and effectively within a team environment. Qualifications and Experience Degree qualifications in Youth Work, Social Work or Psychology and demonstrated experience working with young people in a family, community development and social justice context. Demonstrated experience using diverse and assertive case work, outreach and group work approaches with young people. Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive safety and wellbeing assessments and make sound judgements in relation to policies and processes. Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of adolescent development, group work, youth participation and community development principles. Youth and/or Teen Mental Health First Aid facilitator training (desirable) A current Australian Drivers Licence, with access to a private vehicle (recommended to be comprehensively insured) for work use when fleet cars aren t available. A current Working with Children Check.
PART B: KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Degree qualifications in Youth Work, Social Work or Psychology and demonstrated experience working with young people in a family, community development and social justice context. Demonstrated comprehensive understanding of adolescent development, group work, youth participation and community development. Demonstrated experience using diverse and creative individual case work and outreach approaches with young people. Demonstrated ability to conduct comprehensive safety and wellbeing assessments and make sound judgements in relation to policies and processes. Demonstrated experience working with young people in therapeutic group settings. Demonstrated experience in the development, implementation and evaluation of youth mental health and wellbeing initiatives within a community development framework. Demonstrated experience developing and maintaining stakeholder relationships to strengthen referral pathways for young people. Highly developed interpersonal and written communication skills for diverse audiences, including accurate case note recording. Regular availability after hours to meet the needs of young people accessing the service. A current Australian Drivers Licence, with access to a private vehicle (recommended to be comprehensively insured) for work use when fleet cars aren t available.