Therapeutic Youth Worker - Jo's

Jo’s is growing, and we are seeking an entire new team with multiple roles available! Jo’s is an innovative and unique residential service in South Australia - finalists in the 2021 Child Protection Awards!

About Us

Uniting Communities is a leading, inclusive not-for profit community services organisation working alongside more than 80,000 South Australians each year to reduce inequality, improve wellbeing, overcome disadvantage and support people to live the best lives they can. We value diversity and are committed to providing respectful, accessible services.

About the Role

Jo’s is an innovative and unique residential service in South Australia, providing a home for young people who are unable to live with their families due to child protection concerns. Jo’s are more than just an accommodation facility, but rather a truly loving environment for young people where staff nurture and support them to heal from their past trauma, and gain meaningful connection to community as they enter adulthood.

Jo’s understand that young people who are placed in care following child protection intervention, require comprehensive, holistic and interagency support due to the complex behaviours they are struggling to navigate. Jo’s understand the crucial need for staff to be supported to enable this high quality of care, and as such the Therapeutic Service Model governs targeted interventions that foster growth and change, with a high focus on authentic engagement and positive team relationships.

Jo’s also ensure that birth families, where appropriate, are included in care of young people. Birth families play a vital role in a young person’s life, and as such Jo’s support families with scaffolding to enable safe, healthy and meaningful relationships to form, following child protection intervention.

As a Therapeutic Youth Worker you will be working directly with young people. Typical tasks will include:

• Engaging with young people through an authentic and meaningful relationship, supporting them to develop and grow their identify.
• Assisting young people with all daily living activities and routines, including nutrition, health, hygiene, school, homework, extracurricular activities and social engagements.
• Supporting young people with crisis intervention, counselling and co-regulation during periods of complex behaviours.
• Role modelling with young people for healthy ways to engage with family, friends and the community.
• Management of household tasks.

The successful candidate will possess;

• Bachelor Degree or Certificate IV in social services (Social Work, Social Science or Youth Work etc)
• Availability to work a shift roster
• Experience working with young people with complex behaviours
• Experience dealing with conflict and crisis

Please note that a partially completed university degree is equivalent to the minimum qualification – please apply if you are currently studying at University. Kick start your career while you finish your degree!

About the Remuneration

The Salary will be dependent on experience and qualifications. We provide generous salary packaging benefits that enable you to increase and maximise your take home salary. In addition, other available benefits include; paid maternity leave, early intervention Physio Program, and discounted private health insurance. Check out our benefits at www.unitingcommunities.org

Your Application

Please attach a cover letter that tells us about you and your values, and a current resume including the names of 2 referees.

As an organisation, we are committed to protecting children, young people and vulnerable adults. All staff are required to work within our code of conduct and undergo relevant pre-employment checks.

Podcast: https://emergingminds.com.au/resources/podcast/therapeutic-residential-care-the-example-of-jos-place/