Youth Services Coordinator & Youth Services Worker
Job No:
18616
Location:
Carlton North, Melbourne
About the Organisation
Drummond Street Services (DSS) is a non-governmental, non-denominational agency that provides family services, relationship counselling and group work to people from diverse backgrounds. The organisation also offers an education and training service providing a range of professionals with training on all aspects of relationship work.
The centre has 125 years in the development of innovative services that strengthen family relationships and provide a safe space for individuals, couples and families to explore and work on issues which impact on the quality of their relationships. These include:
- Parenting programs and community education to promoting healthy strong families;
- Prevention programs throughout the family life cycle to increase families strength;
- Early intervention programs at key family transitions where families are particularly vulnerable, such as birth of a child and relationship difficulties;
- Tertiary programs to intervene in areas which impact on family relationships such as separation and divorce, family violence, mental illness, drug and alcohol abuse; and
- Maintenance programs which assist families which have negotiated difficulties such as separation and are re-partnering.
About the Programs
DSS’s the drum - Youth Service provides assessment, information and referral, case-management, support, counselling, community education seminars and groups, and project activities (recreation, arts etc) for young people either at risk or presenting with a range of health and wellbeing issues.
The complexity of this work requires a range of positive youth development and health promotion approaches and especially the capacity to effectively assess the broad/holistic needs of young people. Referral to programs and services both internal and external to DSS is also frequently required in order to meet the range of clients' needs.
- the drum: New Youth Services Program - All DSS programs and service are underpinned by a “whole of family approach” and span prevention, early intervention treatment and recovery interventions. Thus the new Youth Services area will also operate within the context of the broadest definition of ‘family’, in that it will attempt to include and strengthen family relationships in the work with young people and provide parenting education and family support services which will improve outcomes for adolescents and the key people in their lives.
- the drum: African Families Services - This successful program is now based with the youth services in Carlton and staff will work across both sites as needed. A range of programs to support African Families are offered, including the services of an African Family Support Worker specialising in family case work, dispute resolution between parents and young people and whole of family interventions to improve the lives of young people.
About the Opportunities
Due to continued growth, two fantastic full time opportunities exist within Drummond Street Services' the drum Programs, based in Carlton North - one for a Youth Services Coordinator, and the other for a Youth Services Worker.
In both these roles, the successful candidates will facilitate programs and projects designed to encourage marginalised youth to positively connect with their peers, their family and the wider community.
Specifically, the Youth Services Coordinator will provide both coordination and operational leadership of the services of both the Youth Services and African Family Programs. Initially this will involve building up the Youth Services, and will progress into the development of community development projects, tender development and submission writing.
The responsibilities of this pivotal role will include:
- Providing strong leadership to staff and facilitating the involvement of clients and community members in service planning and delivery;
- Contributing to Operational Planning with Senior Management group;
- Coordinating the calendar of activities, ensuring they are delivered across both sites;
- Ensuring staff participate in the Performance Development Process including supervision and regular peformance feedback; and
- Overseeing a range of funding sources for services including ensuring the achievement of performance targets and reporting.
The Coordinator will need to hold tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Youth Work or similar, and will have experience in program management.
Reporting to the Youth Services Coordinator, the Youth Services Worker role offers a more hands-on opportunity to work with clients. Your responsibilities will include:
- Sensitively conducting comprehensive screening and assessment for young people accessing DSS programs and services, ensuring a whole-of-family approach;
- Providing information, resources and referral to a full range of services (both internal and external) available to support young people and their families;
- Providing activities and group work for young people experiencing issues including mental health, alcohol and other drug use, family violence, housing or financial issues; and
- Contributing to evaulation activities, including conducting surveys with clients prior to commencement, and following interventions, to assess effectiveness of services and programs.
It is expected that the successful applicant will hold qualifications in Youth Work and/or extensive experience in a similar role.
Both of these roles offer the satisfaction of directly contributing to improving the quality of life for marginalised young people in the Carlton area, through individualised, case-by-case means.
Drummond Street Services is looking for empathetic individuals with demonstrated knowledge of the issues impacting on young people and their families, including adolescent development, unemployment, early school leaving, mental health issues, substance abuse, gambling and abuse. You will have experience in case management working with young people who have one or more significant disadvantages impacting on their lives (poverty, family and community violence), and will have a solid understanding of youth and family relationship issues and the family cycle.
Additionally, you will need experience in working with refugee and humanitarian entrants, and in culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
The successful applicants will demonstrate excellent communication skills with people from a range of backgrounds, as well as a collaborative approach to problem solving and team work. You will have a background in program development and evaluation, experience in group facilitation with young people and importantly, a genuine interest and commitment to work with African young people.
All applicants require their own car and current driver's licence. You will need to have the flexibility to work some evenings (12pm - 7pm), and some weekend work. You will enjoy the flexibility of a TOIL scheme to acknowledge these out-of-hours shifts, and you can negotiate days/hours to work to suit your commitments.
The roles are based in Carlton, close to the shops, restaurants, public transport and parking in Lygon St. You will be joining a supportive and welcoming team of passionate professionals, dedicated to combatting discrimination and marginalisation.
DSS is committed to ongoing professional development of staff. You will enjoy monthly workshops, access to conferences (intra- and inter-state), and support to study while you work if desired.
There is also the chance to make your mark on these diverse programs by incorporating your sporting or recreational interests in the role - for example, staff who enjoy cooking, music and rock climbing have recently had the chance to bring these skills to various programs.
Drummond Street Services will offer the successful applicants an attractive remuneration package, negotiable based on the role and your experience. Additionally, you will receive salary packaging opportunities up to $16,050 to significantly increase your take-home pay!
Join an organisation that is making a difference within the lives of young people in inner-city Melbourne - Apply Now!