Hope Street Youth and Family Services Limited ACN: 167 510 018

Position Description: Case Manager Saturdays Hope Street in Whittlesea

Hope Street In Whittlesea(Thomastown) Program

Case manager position description

Organisational information

Hope Street Youth and Family Services Limited (Hope Street) is a not for profit, youth and family focused community based organisation. Established in Brunswick since the early 1980’s, Hope Street is a multi-faceted agency which delivers a broad range of support services to young people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and the local community via its core programs:

  1. Hope Street In Whittlesea
  2. Hope Street In Melton
  3. Youth Residential
  4. Youth Support Services
  5. Youth Reconciliation

Key principles of service delivery to clients and the community include:

Empowerment

Respect

Fairness

Professionalism

Our Vision:

That society values and meets the needs and rights of young people.

Our Mission:

To seek, advocate and facilitate social change to meet the needs of young people and their children. To empower young people to overcome disadvantage and to achieve their hopes and future goals.

Our Philosophy:

Resolving homelessness is the responsibility of federal, state and local governments, the community, families and individuals. Hope Street believes that young people have the right to safe, secure, affordable housing and to be treated as equal citizens in our society. This means equal access to resources, decision making and life options.

Hope Street has a zero tolerance to all forms of violence, including child abuse, and is committed to creating safe communities which focus on the best interests of children and young people. The organisation promotes the safety and empowerment of all children and young people acknowledging both their individual diversity and cultural heritage.

Salary Details

Salary Package:Part-time (68.4 hours per fortnight): In addition, Salary Packaging is available up to $15,900.00 and Meal entertainment is also available.

Over Award Conditions:Provided in accordance with Hope Street Policy and Procedures.

Personal/Carers Leave additional 2 days per year (total of 12 days) during first year of service and an additional 4 days per year (total of 14 days) from second year of service and thereafter.

Employment: Permanent part time (Tuesday to Friday) 60.8 hours. Additionally 7.6 hours

per fortnight working alternate Saturdays through to 30 June 2018

Hours:68.4 hours per fortnight 9am – 5pm.

Additional and flexible hours as negotiated with Program Coordinator.

Classification:Crisis Accommodation Level 2, Pay Points 1 to 4 dependent on experience, of the Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Services Award 2010

Salary Sacrificing:Available in accordance with Australian Taxation Office legislation and regulations, and in accordance with the Hope Street Policy and Procedure.

Responsible to:Program Co-ordinator

Hope St in Whittlesea Program Information

The Hope Streetin Whittlesea program is a State Government initiative developed from the Youth Homelessness Action Plan Stage 2. This is a key government strategy for responding to youth homelessness utilising a housing and support model based on the Victorian Step Forward approach.

The program’s target group is young people with connections to the local government areas of Whittlesea who are either currently engaged or ready to engage in employment, education and training and the activities of the program. The program aims to proactively assist young people to develop their skills and abilities to live interdependently in their local community including enjoying meaningful and sustainable relationships. Young people may live in the units and participate in the program for up to two years prior to moving into interdependent living in their community. Up to 12 months outreach support is available after exiting the units.

Hope Street in Whittlesea program is located in Thomastown and comprises 5 single bedroom units for individual young people and 2 two bedroom units for young families including 4 family units in Preston. The program operates from a house on the same site which has been refurbished to provide office and workshop space.

With the leadership, support and direction of the Program Co-ordinator, the two case managers and residential support (sleepover/weekend) staff at each site are responsible for the delivery of services to young people and the community in accordance with the model.

The successful Case Manager will deliver services as a part of an integrated and intensive response to supporting young people to develop interdependent and sustainable living skills and life options in accordance with the program model. A core focus of the program is proactively working with young people to access and/or maintain employment, education and training opportunities and achieve meaningful citizen participation. Achieving this within local communities using a participatory approach is a core aspect of the model.

Roles and Responsibilities

Service Delivery

  • At all times, interact and support young people and their accompanying child/ren in accordance with the values, standards, philosophy and principles of the Hope Street Youth and Family Services
  • Provide client-centred support to young people accommodated in the units and assist with day to day living skills, connections with community, personal and social development, employment education and training
  • Uphold young people’s rights and responsibilities as developed by Hope Street including the delivery of the tenancy and support component of the program model
  • Provide intensive outreach support services to targeted young people in accordance with the Hope Street policies, procedures, practice principles, standards and Hope Street Melton model and guidelines – encompassing the Step Forward Model; i.e. in accordance with client centred assessment principles, support plan development etc.
  • Develop and maintain client focused case plans in consultation with young people/clients;
  • Maintain a case load of clients per the program requirements;
  • Deliver support services within a Case Management Framework in accordance with Hope Street policies, procedures and standards;
  • Conduct assessments of referrals in accordance with the Hope Street Whittlesea Program assessment procedures;
  • Assist young people to follow up actions per their case management plans established with their case manager including areas such as housing, income, education and training, health and wellbeing and general living skills and weekend recreational activities
  • Complete daily client file notes and store in accordance with policy and procedure
  • Maintain a harmonious, safe and secure environment at all times
  • Perform the duties of the day to day operation of the program in accordance with the policies, procedures and practice of the organisation including household tasks such as food orders/shopping, cleaning, cooking, tidying
  • Participate in client, staff and organisational meetings as required
  • Work constructively with young people from diverse backgrounds including young indigenous and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  • Provide living skills training to assist young people to become independent and self –motivated and particular focus on the development of skills in relation to tenancy issues, employment, education and training as well as personal and social development;
  • Advocate on behalf of clients;
  • Work constructively with young people from diverse backgrounds; including Young Indigenous and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds;
  • Conduct exit planning where appropriate within a Case Management Framework, ensuring linking young people to appropriate ongoing services as well as assessment for outreach support.

Community Capacity Building

  • Collaborate, support and participate in key capacity building activities per the Hope Street Melton and Whittlesea Program Model;
  • Maintain knowledge and understanding of current issues, gaps in service provision, initiatives, and government policy;
  • Promote the services of Hope Street within the community as well as provide education regarding the needs of disenfranchised young people;
  • Remain informed of changes within the Homelessness Service System, sector and client groups as well as government funding and/or standards/policies;
  • Lobby to maintain and improve services by promoting and advocating in relation to youth homelessness issues relevant to the needs of the Melton area with Local, State and Federal groups and agencies as well as with Government departments as necessary;
  • Develop effective working relationships with diverse community agencies and services – within and outside the Homelessness Service System;
  • Develop joint projects, participate in secondary consultation and develop client-driven activities;
  • Report and submission writing as required.

Organisational Requirements:

  • The Program is delivered in accordance to the values, standards, policies, procedures and practices of Hope Street.
  • Participate in professional development and training.
  • Receive and contribute to regular formal supervision sessions with the Program Co-ordinator.
  • Contribute to the ongoing review and development of Hope Street Policy and Procedures Manual.
  • Contribute to the ongoing strengthening of collaborative, productive and harmonious team relations.
  • Contribute to the maintenance of a safe work and living environment per industry standards and Hope Street frameworks and policies and procedures.
  • Other duties as negotiated from time to time with the Program Co-Ordinator and/or Operations Manager.

Administration:

  • Maintain statistical records and undertake data entry into the SHIP client management system.
  • Administrative duties to ensure smooth-running of the program including, but not limited to, petty cash, timesheets, maintenance requests, etc. in accordance with the HSYFS Policy and Procedures.

Other:

  • Other duties as negotiated from time to time with the Program Co-Ordinator and/or Operations Manager

Key Selection Criteria:

Each selection criteria is to be addressed separately.

  1. Demonstrated extensive understanding of the issues involved in delivering programs and services to young people with complex needs;
  2. Demonstrated skills and experience in the provision of support and service delivery to young people who sometimes have challenging support needs;
  3. Demonstrated capability to address the causes of youth homelessness including risk factors, support needs and protective issues;
  4. Demonstrated expertise in case management in a youth work setting;
  5. Demonstrated experience in working with young people in Transitional Housing or other housing/accommodation settings is an advantage;
  6. Knowledge and demonstrated ability to apply community development principlesin forging relationshipswith a diverse range of agencies, government departments and community groups;
  7. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including negotiation, problem solving, decision making and advocacy – including broader service and system advocacy;
  8. Must have a commitment to a team approach to working;
  9. Recognised Social Work Degree or a similar welfare, youth work or behavioural related degree which includes at least one unit in case management and case work practice
  10. Competency in using Windows software applications and capacity to maintain appropriate records and files.

Hope Street encourages applications from suitably qualified people from a diverse range of racial, social, cultural, gender and disability backgrounds that reflect our community.

All applicants must address each key selection criteria separately and provide the names and contact numbers of three recent professional referees.

Other Relevant Information:

  • The appointment is subject to a satisfactory police record check prior to commencement;
  • Applicants are required to hold a current Victorian Drivers Licence;
  • Hope Street Youth and Family Services is a smoke free environment;
  • Website:

Compulsory Documentation:

  • Hope Street Youth and Family Services Policy and Procedures Manual
  • Hope Street Youth and Family Services Strategic Plan 2013 – 2016
  • Social, Community, Home Care and Disability Support Services Award 2010
  • One DHS Standards
  • Office of Housing and Department of Health and Human Services Funding and Program Guidelines

Applications close:19th of June 2017 at 09am

Applications addressed to:Jeremie Mbog Nyetam

Position Enquiries:Jeremie Mbog Nyetam

Coordinator Hope Street in Melton and Whittlesea Programs

0423 590 374

Reviewed by: CEO Approved by: CEO / Date Approved: 20.09.2016 / Date to be reviewed: 06.2017 / Page 1/ 5
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