Residential Support Worker - Gateway House
Job No:
UNS396
Location:
Toowoomba
Residential Support Worker - Gateway House
Casual
Overview
United Synergies is a not-for-profit organisation that started in 1989 to help address youth homelessness in Noosa. Since then, the organisation and grown and evolved, and now provides health and social services to over 6,000 young people and their families annually, to assist them in achieving their full potential.
Our programs and services are available to people on the Sunshine Coast, Darling Downs, Moreton Bay and Wide Bay regions, as well as other communities around Australia. These services have the prime objective of delivering the organisations mission to, support young people in their time of need to live a healthy and meaningful life.
The services United Synergies provides traverse across four core focus areas:
Child Safety: Through the provision of licenced care services, United Synergies support young people and families who have been affected by a range of unique challenges that have the potential to impact on the safety of children and young people. Through the delivery of child safety services United Synergies supports; children who cannot remain living safely with their parents and vulnerable families to help them to maintain the family unit.
Homelessness: Providing crisis and temporary supported accommodation through dedicated staff working with young people whose living conditions make it intolerable to remain at home and young families who can’t afford secure and appropriate housing.
Mental Health: As the lead agency United Synergies provides five headspace centres across Southern Queensland that focus on early intervention for young people through a range of services.
Suicide Prevention: United Synergies delivers StandBy Support After Suicide services across Australia to people bereaved by suicide. This StandBy service is Australia’s leading provider of support after suicide, developing community support networks, and providing face-to-face and telephone support to individuals, families, workplaces, groups and the wider community.
You'll find out more about United Synergies at: www.unitedsynergies.com.au
The Position
The Residential Support Worker will work under the general direction of the Manager using established procedures and will be responsible for the supervision of homeless youth receiving assistance/support at Gateway House.
The Residential Support Worker will follow individual case plan procedures and assist with implementing activities designed to develop skills for independent living.
For more information about this role download the job description.
Responsibilities
Resident contact
- Receive/process referrals regarding young people in need of Crisis/Short Term Accommodation.
- Build relationships with residents on a basis of trust and without being judgemental.
- Support the development and implementation of resident case plans and activities in co-operation with other permanent Staff.
- Perform appropriate supervision of residents during rostered hours with particular attention to the hygiene, health, safety, education and general well-being of residents.
- Assist residents in becoming independent through recognising their own capabilities and encouraging a positive/confident approach.
Gateway House duties
- Conduct duties in accordance with Gateway House guidelines.
- Ensure that incoming worker is briefed of day or night activities through the logs.
- Assist and provide support to volunteer workers if necessary.
- Supervise and assist in the preparation of appropriate meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Liaise with other services as appropriate.
Administrative Duties
- Keep adequate records and statistics of case plan implementation via the Day Log, resident files and other data collection forms.
- Implement administrative procedures as per the Gateway House Policy Guidelines document and Gateway House Procedures Manual
- Ensure that residents are aware of all rules and penalties and enforce these when necessary and in consultation with other workers as appropriate.
Selection Criteria
- Knowledge and understanding of the principles of client centred case management and demonstrated ability in applying such principles
- Knowledge of issues facing young people who are homeless and/or facing severe barriers to achieving stability and security in their personal lives
- Sound understanding of child protection systems, mandatory reporting requirements and available supports and interventions
- Skill in developing rapport and communicating with young people, families, volunteers, students, relief staff, staff, management and colleagues from community agencies, including people from diverse cultural backgrounds, government and non-government organisations
- Ability to articulately negotiate and advocate on the client's behalf
- Ability to respond appropriately and in a timely manner to crisis situations
- Demonstrated ability to work as part of a professional team
- Well-developed verbal and written communication skills
- Ability to operate Windows applications at an Intermediate level, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel; or the ability to rapidly acquire these skills within one month of commencement.
How to Apply
Before you apply for this position, please read the position description carefully to assess your eligibility and suitability for the position. You will be required to answer a few questions that relate to the selection criteria. You will also be asked to attach your current resume which should include two recent employment related referees. Please note that you cannot submit your application without attaching your resume.
Please note before continuing: It is advisable that you prepare your responses in a separate word or text document, saving your work as you go and that you then copy and paste this prepared information in the form before completing the application process. Please keep your responses to a maximum 300 words for each question.
CLOSING DATE: Friday 27 March 2020
CLOSING TIME: 3.00pm