CORE Community Services Ltd. is a not for profit organisation serving South West Sydney for over 40 years. We provide a wide range of services, activities and programs across 5 Services – Children's Services, Youth Services, Multicultural Communities, Aged and Disability Care (ADC) and Community Engagement.. Our mission is to provide tailored diverse client centric services and opportunities that support and empower vulnerable communities to thrive, resulting in the best outcomes for all individuals.

We’re looking for passionate, experienced, organised, resilient and personable applicants; with excellent engagement/rapport building skills, a great sense of humour and the ability to show empathy and respect for the young people we work with. Join CORE Community Services in this exciting, diverse, and rewarding role!

Youth Homelessness is often hidden, with young people couch surfing between extended family and friends due to relationship breakdown in the family home, overcrowding, domestic and family violence, neglect, unsupported mental health, financial issues, teen pregnancies, young people identifying as LGBTIQA+, cultural or religious differences, AOD use, leaving OOHC and Juvenile Justice. Our young people are deserving of a safe, supported and encouraging environment to develop independence and manage their first tenancy. Join us in supporting young people through this meaningful and fulfilling role.

The Intensive Support Program is a Specialist Homelessness Service (SHS) that assists young people and young families aged 16-25 who are homeless or at risk of homelessness by accessing transitional accommodation for up to 18 months through our partnership with Hume Community Housing. We support young people and young families to live independently, gain and maintain a tenancy and assist young people through intensive case management to pursue progress in areas such as education, training and employment; financial management, living skills, parenting education, cognitive functioning/disability, health/mental health and wellbeing; providing brokerage, AOD support, advocacy and accessing other community and specialised support services.
The Intensive Support Program aims to assist young people to improve their quality of life, safety and wellbeing; and to achieve access to stable, longer term housing options at the conclusion of their time in the program, by equipping young people with the skills, experience and knowledge to gain entry to the private rental market, attain financial independence and the ability to maintain their accommodation. The Intensive Support Program additionally offers the Rent Choice Youth Program; a 3 year case managed, private rental subsidy program.
Young people will be provided with strengths based, flexible, trauma informed and client centred case management while practically supported to build their capacity and self-determination. Case Workers utilise and connect young people to various internal, community and specialist support services to develop greater independence, self-efficacy and long term housing outcomes.
Case Workers practically organize tenancy establishment and take pride in setting up a young person’s new home. The team work alongside young people and young families by collaboratively creating case plans, pursue individual goals, complete regular home visits to support their tenancy journey, assisting clients with advocacy in appointments with external services in addition to regular catch ups in person, over the phone and at our various sites.
The position will be required to operate collaboratively as part of a team and also independently. Case workers are required to complete case notes, case plans, case plan reviews, support letters, applications, referrals and are regularly a part of case conferencing and case coordination.
At ISP, Case Workers are passionate, proactive and purposeful, focus on restoring a sense a of dignity and through wrap around supports, provide young people with not just a home, but the support to keep it!

Responsibilities Include:

• Work within a strengths based, client-centred and trauma-informed framework that is culturally appropriate.
• Undertake and meet all case management responsibilities in relation to young people including reviews, reporting and administration functions.
• Maintain regular, effective and meaningful contact with young people.
• Support young people to build their capacity and skills to live independently.
• Record and assess referrals (including self-referrals) received from various organisations and connect with appropriate services in line with the ‘No Wrong Door’ approach.
• Create, conduct and participate in a range of educational workshops, programs and leisure activities with clients.
• Act as an advocate for young people ensuring that their needs are accurately understood and met and that young people are involved in any decision-making processes which affect their lives.
• Provide direct financial assistance via brokerage to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness within a case management plan, ensuring it is delivered in line with funding agreements and program guidelines.
• Develop and maintain positive and effective professional working relationships with key partners, internal and external stakeholders, other SHS programs, local community services, ‘first to know’ services and mainstream services who are key to providing support to young people.
• Maintain privacy and confidentiality of information pertaining to residents and staff.
• Ensure the accurate recording of all statutory and program related information requirements for client records and case planning, including CIMs reporting, case note sharing, records management, statistical and other data collection.
• Be involved in action which positively influences the policies and social factors that affect at risk young people.
  

APPLICANTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO APPLY BY:

• Providing your resume and
• Write an application letter outlining your ability to meet the above key accountabilities and criteria. This should then complement the resume that is submitted with your application.

Selection Criteria

• Tertiary qualifications or higher in Social Work, Social Science, Community Welfare or community sector or equivalent and 2 years’ minimum experience.
• Demonstrated extensive experience working with vulnerable young people and young families aged 16-25 with complex needs from a variety of backgrounds and understanding of the issues they face; with the ability to be adaptable, empathetic, solution focused, non-judgemental and advocate for social justice outcomes.
• Experience in all aspects of case management, case plans and evaluations with a clear understanding of strengths based, client centred and trauma informed practice.
• Highly skilled in communication, mediation and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to respond and act calmly and assist distressed young people sensitively, confidently and with dignity and respect.
• Demonstrated competence in networking, community liaison and community capacity building; working with a range of appropriate professionals in youth related services.
• Demonstrated understanding of child protection issues with capacity to identify levels of risk requiring statutory child protection intervention.
• High level of written and computer literacy, demonstrated knowledge of and experience using data collection systems, tools and data evaluation processes, including the ability to complete comprehensive reports.
• Capacity to work with minimal supervision with a high ability to meet deadlines, manage competing priorities and tasks.
• Demonstrated ability to work within professional boundaries, integrity and ethical standards.
• Must be able to be On-Call (after business hours) for a 7 day period, quarterly, on a rotating roster.
• Possess a valid NSW Working with Children Check and Australian Federal Police Check.
• Possess a current NSW driver licence.