About the Role

Family and Youth Support Practitioner

Hours: 38 hours per week. Occasional flexible hours or additional hours may be required to suit program objectives as approved by management.

Reports to: Chair of the MYSS Committee

Location: ACT for Kids Office, 1 / 121 Boundary Road, Mackay QLD 4740

Award: Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Industry Award - Social and Community Services – Level 5.1-5.3

Remuneration: As per SACS award Level 5.1 to 5.3, depending on skills and duration of employment with MYSS.

You will be employed under the SACS award commencing level 5.1. You will be eligible for annual incremental progression based on increased skills and satisfactory performance.

Probation: A 13 week probation period will apply to newly appointed permanent employees, as per Fair Work National Employment Standards.

Support: employment with Mackay Youth Support Service complies with Qld work health and safety requirements, equal employment opportunity, anti-discrimination laws and sexual harassment laws.

About Mackay Youth Support Services

Mackay Youth Support Services (MYSS) has a long history of providing services to young people and their families in the Mackay region with the organisation being recognised as an Incorporated Association in 1997.

The organisation began as a result of a need to implement community support services into secondary schools in the Mackay region.

Currently, MYSS delivers counselling, mediation and support services and Parenting Program (Who's in Charge?) to young people and their families through the U-nite Program, which is funded by the Qld Government Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services and Child Safety.

About the U-Nite Program

The U-Nite Program provides a comprehensive service to support young people and their families. This is a unique service and compliments, supports and enhances the work already done by the organisation in supporting young people within the school system.

The program works with families who require support in living skills, advocacy, capacity building, communication, parenting skills and mediation to sustain and improve relationships within the family.

Purpose of the Role

The intention of the Family Support Service role is to:

· Provide an avenue for young persons and their primary caregivers to explore and resolve differences, improve communication and develop strategies that will improve the family relationships

· Minimise youth homelessness

· Reconnect families where a young person has left the home environment due to family conflict

· Provide resources and specialist advice to community agencies that support young people.

· Provide Parenting Skills Groups (Who’s in Charge?’) each term.

· Provide support to the primary care-givers of Young Persons aged 10 to 18 years to improve family relationships.

Key Skills for the Role

The following skills are integral to the U-Nite – Youth and Family Support Coordinator’s role:

· Demonstrated skills in interpersonal communication, particularly the ability to implement, within a case management framework, a range of support and facilitative practices to meet the needs of young people, their families and community.

· Demonstrated ability to implement effective and culturally sensitive practice strategies as they pertain to the Indigenous and Australian South Sea Islander communities.

· A sound knowledge, or ability to quickly acquire knowledge, of education and training structures, processes and policies in Queensland.

· An ability to identify key stakeholders and work collaboratively with them.

· Administrative skills, including computer skills, data collection, analysis and report writing.

Key Responsibilities for the Role

The U-Nite – Youth and Family Support Coordinator will be responsible for:

1. Providing quality case management to young people between the ages of 10 and 18 and their primary care givers, through family support.

2. Promoting the service by:

· Linking with other support agencies (government and non-government), building referral networks and establishing collaborative partnerships.

· Developing and implementing strategies to provide information and support to clients

· Applying a range of strategies to build awareness of the service among young people and their parents / carers.

3. Maintaining the program’s reputation and relationships by upholding protocols for working with schools and other youth and family organisations.

4. Working effectively as part of a team with external stakeholders, particularly School Guidance Officers across the district.

5. Using effective and sensitive communication in a range of settings, with an awareness of the cultural and environmental diversity of clients.

6. Supporting and participating in youth/family alliance networks.

7. Collecting data, maintaining records and completing all reporting requirements (written and verbal) in alignment with MYSS committee and funding body expectations.

8. Attending meetings as required by the organisation and the funding body.

Mandatory Requirements

· Tertiary qualifications in Social Work or the Behavioural Sciences (or equivalent) OR extensive experience working with youth at risk and their families.

· A current unencumbered Queensland Drivers Licence is essential

· Access to a vehicle will be required to adequately perform the role

· All applicants are required to disclose information regarding criminal convictions for certain offences and appointment to this role is dependent on successful application for a Working with Children (Blue Card), Australian Police check and other clearances at the discretion of the Management committee.

· Preparedness to engage in regular professional supervision is required.

Benefits

· Up to $15,900 of salary each year can be packaged under tax free sacrificing arrangements after a successful probationary period.

· Professional development opportunities will be offered during the course of employment at no cost to the employee. Such training will be offered to gain new skills, or enhance current skills and qualifications to advance within the organisation.

· Complete office facilities are provided and include PC, Broadband internet and reception facilities.