Position Description: Family Peer Youth Support Coordinator Page 2
YOUTH ADVOCACY CENTRE INC
FAMILY PEER SUPPORT COORDINATOR (FPSC)
INFORMATION FOR APPLICANTS
Thank you for your interest in the advertised position.
For your application to be considered it is essential that you address each selection criteria contained in the attached position description in no more than three A4 pages and no smaller than 10 point font.
You should also provide:
· a brief summary of your work experience, including where you have worked and dates, positions held during your period of employment and major duties performed (Resumé/CV)
· the names of at least two referees who can provide an objective assessment of your work performance.
Your application should be lodged no later than 5pm Friday, 14 August 2015.
Applications should be marked ‘For the attention of the Director’ and may be:
· handed in at, or mailed to, 196 Newmarket Road, Wilston, Q 4051
· faxed to 3356 3002
· sent by email to
POSITION DESCRIPTION - FAMILY PEER SUPPORT COORDINATOR (FPSC)
The position is funded through a grant from the Ian Potter Foundation until June 2016.
Overview
The Family Peer Support Coordinator (FPSC) is a new position which will be part of the Youth Advocacy Centre’s (YAC’s) Family Support Program and will work to the direction of the Family Support Advocate (FSA). The FSA reports to the Director and is accountable, through the Director, to YAC’s Management Committee.
The Family Support Program works within a multidisciplinary casework team which also includes two solicitors, a youth support advocate and youth support worker. It also works alongside and with YAC’s Youth Bail Accommodation Support Service (YBASS) where appropriate.
Staff work within the philosophy of YAC, which adopts an holistic approach, recognising that legal problems generally exist in conjunction with a range of other social and personal issues. It further recognises that, to be better able to prevent a young person’s ongoing conflict with systems such as youth justice and education, issues outside of those systems may need to be addressed.
Young people and their families are referred to the Family Support Program through YAC’s own casework staff, other non-government agencies in the youth and community legal sector, government agencies including youth justice caseworkers and guidance officers at schools. Young people and families can also self-refer.
The FSA has networks across the family, youth and non-government sectors and makes referral to other agencies and professionals as is appropriate in relation to the needs and wishes of young people and their families.
Duties and Responsibilities of the FPSC position
The FSA aims to assist YAC clients who are in conflict with their family, or there is significant family dysfunction, and some form of family work intervention is required, particularly where young people are involved with the youth justice system or are at risk of involvement in the youth justice system and/or are homeless or at risk of homelessness. A young person or their family can seek assistance without the young person having to be involved in the system at that time. The aim is to prevent family breakdown and maintain appropriate family support for the young person as a means of strengthening a protective factor to mitigate the risk of involvement with formal systems and processes. In working with the family, the FSA still maintains a young person-centric approach while seeking to address areas of conflict or dysfunction.
As well as one-on-one support for young people and their parent(s) or carers, the FSA runs a parenting program (ParenTEEN) – for groups of parents, a series of 8 sessions usually attended by about 8 parents. Parenting of young people with Aspergers, on the autism spectrum disorder continuum, ADHD or similar is a particular focus because of the challenges that present for young people and their parents in terms of behaviours. The FSA can also run topic specific one off workshops where a need is identified.
The role of the FPSC is to support this program; assist with the development of ParenTEAM, for parents who want to continue to meet and support each other individually and systemically; and identify individual peer mentors. The PSC will:
· assist the FSA to manage, promote and run the ParenTEEN program
· promote parents and carers who have completed the ParenTEEN program to bond and support each other through either:
o establishment of ParenTEAM groups for ongoing group support
o establishing individual ‘buddy support system’ and recruiting peer support volunteers for this
· promote and support the FSA in providing appropriate training opportunities for the support volunteers.
· support the ParenTEAM support group.
· closely monitor and collect data/ feedback for evidence of outcomes of the buddy support and ParenTEAM initiatives for future funding
· liaise and inform the FSA on progress and development.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Mandatory
· A qualification in family work, social work, or the social or behavioural sciences, or similar from a recognised institution
· Blue Card holder or ability to obtain a Blue Card on application
Essential
1. Demonstrated high level of interpersonal skills and the ability to work and communicate effectively with young people and their families
2. Proven good understanding of:
a. child/youth development
b. parenting and parent peer support
c. family resilience and relationships
d. person centred and strength based approach within a non-judgemental framework
e. professional boundaries
3. Proven ability to relate to/empathise with parents seeking peer support due to parenting young people with high complex needs/substance use within the framework of the child being the central focus
4. Highly developed understanding of advocacy and social justice issues, particularly as they relate to young people
5. Demonstrated ability to work well as a member of a multidisciplinary team and an understanding of the importance of teamwork in a small non-government organisation
6. Well developed self-management skills with a proven ability to work under pressure
7. Demonstrated computer literacy skills
8. Clean driver’s licence
Desirable
An understanding of the youth justice system and the reasons young people may come into contact with, and become entrenched in, the system.
(Version July 2015)