OPEN DOORS YOUTH SERVICE INC.
Alcohol and Other Drug Youth Worker
POSITION DESCRIPTION
HoursPerm Full Time hours 30 hours per week
Term of serviceThe AOD Clinical role is Perm Part Time.The program is contingent on reoccurring Grant funding reviewed on a recurrent basis with 12-month funding agreements beginning October2018 over a five-year period. Should funding be discontinued employees of the service will be advised with as much notice as possible. Open Doors Youth Service currently has funding until 2018
AwardSACS AWARD4.5-5.1 plus super (negotiable depending upon skills, qualifications and experience)
ClassificationStarting pay point will be negotiated based on prior, relevant, applicable and demonstrated experience. A post-graduate degree or extensive experience required in the AOD sector in a clinical setting.
Salary PackagingAs per employment agreement
AccountabilityResponsibility and accountability is to the GeneralManger who will undertake yearly performance appraisals. All members of the team are accountable to the Open Doors Youth Service Board.
Purpose of the Position
- To work within the Mission, Vision, Values, Policies and Procedures of the organisation as a member of a collaborative team.
- To deliver culturally appropriate alcohol and other drug (AOD) services to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) young people aged 12 to 24 who are experiencing substance use dependence or experiencing concerns related to their AOD use.
Key responsibilities for this position include:
•Manage a caseload of young people and provide outreach and in-reach specialist AOD assessment and evidence-based psychosocial treatment to individuals and their familiesto minimise harm associated with AOD use.
•A developed understanding of the needs of LGBT youth and the community.
•Advanced cultural awareness of the needs of young people who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or South Sea Islander.
Assessments and interventions including:
•A focus on engagement. This includes using a culturally appropriate and non-judgemental approach.
•The ability to conduct a comprehensive AOD assessment,including a comprehensive risk assessment.
•An understanding of risk and protective factors to ensure effective prevention and early intervention of any potential risks or harms.
•The provision of AOD harm reduction advice, psychoeducation, safety planning and information about support services.
•A commitment to providing family responsive practice for young people and their significant others.
•Developing collaborative treatment plans with young people based upon their treatment goals to bepresented at team case reviews.
•Provision ofdevelopmental and culturally appropriate individual and group based evidence-informed AOD interventions.
•A commitment to enhancing young people’s participation and connection to culture and the LGBT community.
Professional liaison, consultation and networking:
- Co-ordinating with external and internal programs to provide seamless transitions between service types and a consistent approach to supporting the achievement of clients’ goals.
- Developing and maintaining collaborative and productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
- Work with the team to develop and maintain the service’s referral manuals including a comprehensive directory of LGBT friendly services and workers.
- Provide consultation for other services working with LGBT young people who are engaging in AOD use with a focus on supporting young people who identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
- Network and liaise with other community and government organisations to promote the service and raise awareness of LGBT young people’s issues.
- Participate in relevant networks and interagency meetings.
- Participate in projects, reference groups and coordinating committees where appropriate.
Supervision and professional development
- Actively participate in ongoing professional development, individual and group supervision and relevant training as required.
- Support the student placement program and provide supervision to students as required.
Administration
- Maintaining up-to-date progress notes, case files and data entry in a confidential and professional manner.
- Contribute to the achievement of continuous quality improvement.
- Adhering to and keeping informed of relevant legislative compliance requirements, and reporting any perceived breaches, risks, hazards, incidents where relevant.
- Undertaking other administrative duties as directed by the General Manager.
General
- To participate in staff meetings.
- To participate in the development of organisational policy, planning and reviews.
- To contribute to the data collection, service documentation, evaluation and reporting requirements of relevant programs.
- To attend and participate in relevant conferences and training events.
- To provide monthly written reports to the General Manager
- To undertake other duties as required in negotiation with the General Manager.
Selection Criteria
SC1.Demonstrated experience in providing alcohol and other drug interventionsto a diverse range of young people and their families.
SC2.Demonstrated experience in providing specialist cultural support to young peoplewho identify as LGBT and who also identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or South Sea Islander.
SC3.Demonstrated ability to develop, implement, and review group work programs with a diverse range of young people and their families.
SC4.Knowledge of community development and demonstrated ability to network and work collaboratively with key stakeholders including government bodies, community services, families and other relevant community members.
SC5.Willingness to reflect on work and contribute to the development of a new and dynamic service.
SC6.Demonstrated ability to work within a collaborative team.
SC7.Open Current driver’s licence, Current first aid certificate including resuscitation. You will be required to present this at an interview.
About Open Doors Youth Service Inc.
Open Doors Youth Service supports young people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender or who are exploring or questioning their sexuality and/or gender identity aged under 24 and their families within Queensland, with a primary focus on South-East Queensland.
Mission: Open Doors Youth Service is Queensland's leading youth homeless and support service enriching the lives of young people with diverse genders, sexualities, bodies and relationships.
Vision:Our Vision is that all young people of diverse genders, bodies, sexualities and relationships will be connected to culturally appropriate and developmentally appropriate services
VALUES:
Participation:We believe all people have a voice. The right to connection to community and to be treated fairly. All people have the right to be provided opportunists and encouragement to actively collaborate and participate in life.
Respect: We believe all people are to be provided a safe and supportive environment free from discrimination, a place where people can be themselves.
Identity:We believe genders, bodies and sexuality are diverse. You have the right to explore and express yourself in a non-judgemental, safe environment; a place where "You can be you
Diversity:We value and celebrate diversity and equality, empowering young people to be the best version of themselves
Empowerment:We are empowered to educate our community and the society we exist in, by setting an example, by being community leaders, and by sharing our knowledge and experience.
Services delivered by Open Doors Youth Service include:
- Drop-In– A space for LGBT young people 12 to 18 which provides a soft entry point for LGBT young people to engage with Open Doors and our support services, a safe space to connect with other LGBT young people where they can have a sense of belonging, gain access to information, resources and support.
- Jellybeans – A social support group for transgender young people aged under 24 that allows transgender young people to connect with other transgender young people where they can have a sense of belonging and engage with Open Doors and our support services, gain access to information, resources and support.
- Young and Proud – A social support group for LGBT young people aged 18 to 24 that allows young people to socialise in a drug and alcohol free safe space, connect with the larger LGBT community and information and support about health and wellbeing topics.
- Online support – The Open Doors website has a extensive range of information, resources and links for LGBT young people, their families and service providers. Email support is available for LGBT young people 12 to 18 who are unable to physically access our services, and Open Doors social networking pages are maintained to allow LGBT young people to connect with each other, our support and with the larger communities.
- Art therapy: Working with young people to facilitate conversations in order to support the psychosocial welling being of LGBTIQ young people.
- Training and Community Development - Open Doors also works with service providers and communities in the South East Queensland area to raise awareness and understanding of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender young people’s issues, needs and experiences through the delivery of training, resources, information and support.