Case Worker - Youth and Forensic Disability

DCC Industry Group; Ipswich City; Hybrid; AUD 57,000 - 81,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hourly SCHADS 3.1 rate starting at AUD

Sleepovers and rotating rosters

EAP services

Cultural Practice Advisors

Professional development

Job summary

DCC Industry Group is seeking a trauma-informed Case Worker for a single-tenancy residential setting in Greenbank, Qld. You will support an adolescent with forensic disability, focusing on safety, relationships and long-term wellbeing.

The role involves high responsibility, calm handling of escalation, and collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team to deliver meaningful engagement and education and health supports.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting young people with disability and complex behaviour.
• Experience in residential care or out-of-home care.
• Experience handling high-risk behaviours and escalation.
• Understanding trauma-informed practice and safety.

Responsibilities

• Provide direct day-to-day support to a young person with forensic disability in a residential setting.
• Build trust and emotional safety through consistent relationships.
• Implement behaviour support strategies and therapeutic care plans.
• Maintain routines, clear communication and reliable follow-through.
• Collaborate with health and education services and documentations.

Skills

Experience with disability

Residential care

Behaviour support

Trauma-informed

Teamwork

TCI training willing

Education

Certificate IV or higher in Youth Work or related

Job description

About the Role

DCC is seeking an experienced trauma-informed professional ideally with a background in youth and forensic disability support to work with an adolescent client in a single-tenancy residential setting transitioning to adulthood. The role, referred internally as Case Worker - Forensic Youth & Disability, is grounded in a trauma-informed, therapeutic approach that prioritises safety, strong relationships and long-term wellbeing.

The placement is based in a standalone property in Greenbank and operates with a 2:1 staffing ratio, sleepover support and contingency hours to support consistency, safety and staff wellbeing. You will work closely with a dedicated Program Manager and specialist care team, contributing directly to daily care, behaviour support and meaningful engagement with the young person.

This is a hands-on role suited to someone who is calm under pressure, confident supporting complex and high-risk behaviours, and understands that connection, consistency and predictability are central to creating safety and positive outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide direct, day-to-day support to a young person with forensic disability and complex psychosocial needs within a single-tenancy residential setting
• Build strong, respectful relationships that promote trust, emotional safety and engagement
• Implement behaviour support strategies and therapeutic care plans in line with trauma-informed practice
• Create consistency through predictable routines, clear communication and reliable follow-through
• Support engagement in meaningful recreational, community, family and cultural activities
• Support the young person to engage with education, health, community and cultural supports
• Respond confidently to periods of escalation using Team Teach and Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) approaches
• Participate in post-crisis debriefing, reflection and learning to support emotional regulation and staff wellbeing
• Work collaboratively with Child Safety, QLD Health, mental health services and allied health professionals
• Maintain accurate documentation, reporting and information sharing under the guidance of the Program Manager
• Maintain a safe, structured and respectful living environment

About the Young Person

The young person you will support is creative and active, with interests including animals, boxing, swimming, fishing, music, baking, arts and crafts, outdoor activities and spending time with family.

They thrive with workers who are calm, warm, honest and consistent. Predictable routines, clear communication, advance notice of changes and reliable follow-through help them feel safe and settled. Building a genuine relationship is important – shared activities, encouragement and taking the time to connect can make a significant difference.

Unexpected changes, unfamiliar staff and inconsistent routines can be challenging. During periods of escalation, the young person responds best to workers who remain regulated, provide appropriate time and space, and focus on connection and regulation before correction or problem-solving.

A comprehensive profile, including individual support strategies, preferences and therapeutic approaches, will be provided to successful applicants as part of their induction and training.

About You

The strongest fit for this role is someone who can combine experience supporting complex needs with warmth, patience and genuine relationship-building.

You are calm and non-reactive under pressure, communicate clearly and respectfully, and understand the importance of consistency when supporting a young person who may find unexpected change difficult. You can maintain appropriate boundaries without being overly clinical or authoritative and are comfortable giving a young person space when they need it.

Ideally, you will also enjoy getting involved. Whether that's swimming, fishing, boxing, baking, creative activities, music, animals or simply getting outdoors, you understand that everyday shared experiences can be an important part of building trust.

You will bring

• Demonstrated experience supporting young people or young adults with disability, ideally including forensic and/or psychosocial disability
• Experience in residential care, out-of-home care, disability or another high-intensity support environment
• Confidence supporting complex and high-risk behaviours, including aggression, anti-social behaviour and emotional dysregulation
• A calm, patient and consistent approach, particularly during periods of escalation
• Strong relationship-building skills and the ability to engage young people through their individual interests and strengths
• Clear, honest and respectful communication skills
• An understanding of trauma-informed practice and the importance of predictability, choice and emotional safety
• The ability to maintain safe and consistent boundaries while remaining warm and approachable
• Cultural awareness and the ability to build relationships respectfully with young people from diverse backgrounds
• Strong teamwork skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary care team
• Willingness to complete and apply Team Teach and TCI training

What's on Offer

• Generous hourly rates as per SCHADS 3.1 starting at $50/hour plus shift allowances
• Flexibility across a 24/7 rotating rosters including sleepovers and actives
• No use of personal vehicles whilst on shift
• Post-crisis debriefing and full access to EAP services
• Support from internal Cultural Practice Advisors to guide culturally appropriate practice
• Professional development and training delivered by suitably qualified industry professionals and trained therapists

Qualifications/Requirements

• Certificate IV or higher in Youth Work or Child, Youth and Family Intervention or similar
• Experience in supporting young people with disability and complex behaviour
• MAYBO training highly regarded
• Availability for a variety of shifts including days, weekends, sleepovers and actives
• Availability to attend a group and/or individual interview at our Ipswich office
• Current Blue Card and Yellow Card
• Satisfactory LCS Check
• Satisfactory National Police Check (DCC funded)
• Current Open or P2 Australian Licence
• Current First Aid and CPR, or willingness to obtain
• Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) is highly desirable but not essential
• Availability and willingness to attend 3 consecutive days of TCI training, for which your time will be compensated.

About DCC

At DCC Industry Group, we're committed to creating meaningful opportunities that empower individuals, strengthen families, and build thriving communities. As a proudly Indigenous-led organisation and NDIS-registered provider, we deliver person-centred services across Youth & Communities, Foster and Kinship Care, Workforce, Allied Health, and Disability Services.

Guided by our values of Respect, Justice, Equality, Humility and Courage, we work alongside individuals, families and communities to deliver culturally responsive, evidence-based support that creates lasting outcomes.

When you join DCC, you'll become part of a growing organisation where collaboration, innovation and genuine purpose come together to make a real difference in communities across Queensland.

Should you have further questions or require more information, please contact [e-mail]

We are proud to be an Indigenous-led organisation, and we value diversity and are committed to providing a safe, inclusive, and culturally respectful workplace for all. We have zero tolerance for discrimination and uphold the highest standards of child safeguarding in line with the Child Safe Organisations Act 2024 (Qld).

We welcome candidates from all cultural backgrounds, abilities, genders, and identities who share our commitment to child safety, cultural safety, and the wellbeing of children and young people.