Therapeutic Youth Worker

Pathfinders

Pathfinders’ Out of Home Care Program provides a safe and nurturing environment for young people and who are in need of alternative accommodation due to being unable to live with their parents or foster carers. We are currently looking for casual Therapeutic Youth Workers to assist in the Intensive Therapeutic care of these young people.

You will be required to work shift work including sleepovers and hours will be on an “as needed” basis. This role will be required to work within all Residential/SIL/STEP/ICM and IPA properties located within the Company.

The successful applicants will work with team members in developing and providing a safe, nurturing and home-like environment for Children and Young People in residence utilising the programs Circle of Courage and Sanctuary model philosophy.

Pathfinders residential program aims to provide a therapeutic home-like environment for residents with high and complex needs, build positive coping strategies and maintain and develop links between the residents and their birth families and community. The program aims to meet high standards for health, education, vocation and social competencies amongst all residents.

The OoHC foster care program attends to the needs of children aged 0-18 years of age. The basis of this program is assisting authorised foster carers to meet the needs of children young people in all areas of life.

The Pathfinders SIL program supports young people on the path to independent living. Support packages are developed by caseworkers to meet individual needs of clients so they can confidently navigate life after care.

Role of the Therapeutic Youth Worker

The role of the Therapeutic Youth Worker will be to deliver high quality therapeutic supports that holistically address the needs of children and young people. The Therapeutic Youth Worker will work closely with the Team Leader, Caseworker, Therapeutic Specialist and other therapeutic staff to provide therapeutic care in a home-like environment that supports young people to heal from trauma and live fulfilling lives.

The Therapeutic Youth Worker will require knowledge and understanding of the issues that affect Aboriginal communities, societies and cultures in NSW. Willing to advocate on behalf of Aboriginal young people and their families in providing cultural support and provide services to Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal children, young people and families. 

Therapeutic Youth Workers will consistently apply the ten essential elements to therapeutic care in all their daily tasks and interactions with children and young people in Pathfinders care.

The Therapeutic Youth Worker will also be required to build strong relationships with Aboriginal agencies to support and strengthen families and cultural connections.

Essential Criteria

• Relevant Diploma in Youth Work, Community Services or equivalent or willingness to obtain, staff with experience may be eligible to apply for RPL

• Ability to interact with and form healthy relationships with young people.

• Commitment to ethical work practices including maintaining professional boundaries.

• Knowledge and understanding of issues that affect Aboriginal communities, societies and cultures in NSW.

• Demonstrated ability to implement case plans, behaviour support plans and safety plans for young people with complex and challenging behaviours.

• Demonstrated ability to work therapeutically with young people with social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.

• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team.

• Be required to work within all Residential/SIL/STEP/ICM and IPA properties located within the Company.

• Demonstrated high level verbal and written skills, computer skills along with knowledge particularly of Microsoft Office 2010 (MS Word, MS Outlook, MS Internet Explorer etc).

• Demonstrable understanding of Confidentiality.

This position is identified as child related employment and Prohibited persons under the Child Protection Act 2012 are not eligible to apply. The successful applicant will be required to provide a current Working with Children Check Number and a National Criminal History Check.

Applicants are also required to:

• Follow a rotating roster.

• Be on call on a rotating roster as needed

• Adopt the Pathways program philosophy and engage in training when provided, including WHS.

• Provide First Aid Certificate or willingness to obtain.

• Provide a copy of unencumbered driver’s licence.

• Provide a current paid NSW Working with Children check number.

• Provide a current National Criminal History check.

Please download the job package to apply for this position.

Applicants who do not provide all the above will not be considered for an interview.
Applications should be lodged by email to hr@pathfinders.ngo and should be addressed to the Manager Corporate Services.

Pathfinders is committed to being a safe environment for children and young people and is a mandatory reporting Organisation. Pathfinders is a non-smoking workplace and is committed to the principles and practices of Equal Opportunity and Cultural Diversity

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People are strongly encouraged to apply.