Outreach Support Worker

Family and Disability Services; Toowoomba Regional; On-site; AUD 53,000 - 76,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work arrangements

NFP Salary Packaging

12 weeks paid parental leave

Diversity and inclusive leave

Career development opportunities

Employee discounts

Job summary

UnitingCare Queensland’s FaDS team is seeking an Outreach Support Worker in Toowoomba to provide trauma-informed, relationship-based support to children and young people up to 18 years with complex needs. The role focuses on stabilising placements, building skills and connecting families with community supports.

You will work within the CARE model, collaborating with carers, agencies and government services, maintaining records, and pursuing ongoing professional development.

Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Child, Youth & Family Intervention or related field.
• Experience incorporating CARE principles in practice.
• Willing to undergo a Working with Children Check (Blue Card).
• Strong understanding of the child protection system, with exposure to residential or out-of-home care.
• Completed the Hope and Healing Framework Foundations Training or willing to undertake it.
• Strong therapeutic background with trauma-informed practice.
• Current Working with Children Check (Blue Card).
• Current Queensland Driver Licence.
• Current First Aid & CPR Certificate.

Responsibilities

• Conduct initial needs assessments to identify strengths and develop goals addressing placement stability.
• Undertake case planning and coordinate supports to meet case goals for children, young people and carers.
• Work with individual children to develop daily-life skills and problem-solving abilities.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with service providers and community agencies to support client outcomes.
• Maintain accurate quality records in line with reporting requirements.
• Maintain professional skills through training, supervision and reflective practice.

Skills

CARE principles

Trauma-informed practice

Blue Card

Driver Licence

First Aid & CPR

Education

Certificate IV in Child, Youth & Family Intervention or related field

Job description

Outreach Support Worker | Assertive Outreach Support | Toowoomba Employment Term: Permanent Part-Time Opportunity (32 hours per week) Location: Toowoomba Remuneration: $46.70 per hour + Super + Not for Profit Salary Packaging (Save tax and increase your take home pay)

Applications Close: Applications will be reviewed as they are received and, therefore, may result in the role closing early if the right applicant is found.

Make a meaningful difference with UnitingCare Queensland. At UnitingCare we are leaders in crisis response, the protection of vulnerable people and children, financial resilience and family wellbeing. Our FaDS (Family and Disability Services) team work passionately across Queensland to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. As an Outreach Support Worker, you’ll be encouraged to grow, develop and feel empowered to make the everyday easier for the people we care so passionately about. Let’s make a meaningful difference, together!

Your part in our UnitingCare team

The Assertive Outreach Support program forms part of the Out of Home Care team. The program provides support to children and young people up to 18 years of age with moderate to extreme needs, helping them build positive relationships, develop everyday skills and improve their wellbeing. You’ll provide support by encouraging them to:

• Feel a strong sense of identity and belonging through development of social and interpersonal skills
• Build positive and trusting connections with family, friends and community through relationship-based experiences and consistent and caring responses
• Have access to opportunities for learning and development to meet their individual needs.
• Create healthy lifestyle choices and access to additional external support services for physical, mental and emotional support and promote positive life outcomes.

Working within the CARE model, you’ll provide trauma-informed, nurturing support that promotes safety and stability to children and young people under statutory orders including family-based and non-approved placements, as well as those who are transient or facing homelessness.

In this role, you’ll:

• Conduct initial needs assessments to identify strengths and develop goals to address concerns impacting on placement stability for the child or young person and the carer household.
• Undertake case planning and manage the supports identified to meet the case goals identified for the children, young people and carer household.
• Work with individual children and young people to assist them to develop skills to cope with the challenges of daily life and to improve their problem solving skills and overall wellbeing.
• Develop and maintain positive relationships with other service providers, government departments and community agencies to facilitate client outcomes and positively represent the service and organisation.
• Contribute to and maintain accurate quality record keeping in accordance with reporting requirements, utilising UnitingCare record keeping systems.
• Maintain and enhance professional skills through research, training, supervision, professional development processes, team work and reflective practice.

What makes a difference for us?

• Have a minimum of a Certificate IV in Child, Youth & Family Intervention or in Human Services, Community Services, Youth Services or related field
• Experience incorporating the six CARE Principals when supporting Children and Young People, or reflection on how you would incorporate these into your practice
• Must also be willing to undergo a personal history check under the provision of the Child Protection Act 1999 in relation to Licensing of Care Services (LCS2 screening check)
• Strong understanding of the child protection system and more specifically previous exposure to a residential or out of home care environment
• Completed the Hope and Healing Framework Foundations Training or be willing to undertake this
• Strong therapeutic background with a well-developed understanding of C.A.R.E principles and/or a trauma informed framework of practice
• Current Working with Children Check (Blue Card)
• Current Queensland Driver Licence
• Current First Aid & CPR Certificate

What makes a difference for you?

• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
• NFP Salary Packaging: Save tax and increase your take home pay by salary packaging your everyday living expenses and bills (up to $15,900) and meal entertainment (up to $2,650) per annum. To learn more about this benefit watch the video via the following link: Salary Packaging Explained
• A recognition and rewards platform, providing employee discounts at hundreds of retailers, including everyday expenses, holidays, health insurance, annual awards celebration, wellbeing and employee assistance programs
• 12 weeks paid parental leave and 2 weeks paid partner leave, available after 6 months service, in addition to the government scheme
• Diversity and inclusive leave, offering paid gender affirmation leave and cultural leave options (paid and unpaid) for those who may celebrate Lunar New Year, Diwali, Ramadan, NAIDOC weeks and other significant cultural events
• Career development opportunities to challenge yourself, grow and make a meaningful difference
• A positive and inclusive team based on respect, shared standards, strong values and a commitment to serving others

UnitingCare is the second-largest Queensland employer, we’re a proud not-for-profit with more than 16,500 staff and 9,000 volunteers across our brands of BlueCare, Lifeline, ARRCS, The Wesley Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital, and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital, and have been leading by example for more than 100 years.

Child safe, Child friendly UnitingCare is committed to being a Child Safe, Child Friendly organisation and will: provide welcoming, safe and nurturing services for children implement measures to prevent child abuse and neglect within our services appropriately and immediately address child abuse and neglect if it does occur abide by the Child Safe Standards and adhere to the Reportable Conduct Scheme

Diversity & Inclusion Our approach is simple - everybody is welcome here. At UnitingCare, diversity is at the core of our who we are, our mission and our values. We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all employees no matter their sex, race, culture, sexual orientation, disability or gender identity. Demonstrating our commitment to reconciliation and building long-term employment opportunities for First Nations peoples, UnitingCare strongly encourages Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants for this position.

Safe workplace We work hard to make our services welcoming and safe for every person. We are united in keeping children, young people and the elderly safe from harm, within our services, workplaces and the communities we support. We are committed to speaking up loudly for their safety. Commitment to Safeguarding We are committed in creating services and workplaces that are welcoming and safe for every person. We work together to protect children, young people, adults and the elderly from harm within our services and the communities we support. We speak up for their safety to ensure their voices are heard. Our recruitment and workplace practices reflect our dedication in preventing abuse, harm and exploitation across UnitingCare. UnitingCare is the second-largest Queensland employer, with more than 16,500 staff and 9,000 volunteers across our brands of UnitingCare, BlueCare, Lifeline, ARRCS, The Wesley Hospital, Buderim Private Hospital, St Stephen’s Hospital, and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital.

When you join the UnitingCare family, you are part of something bigger. We are a proud not-for-profit with a compassionate and inclusive team who are committed to the work we do. People who want to make the world a little better through small moments that leave big impacts. For more than 100 years we’ve been inspired by our mission to improve the health and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities. www.unitingcareqld.com.au We’re on a mission to make a meaningful difference every day, working with thousands of Australians to ensure they live life in all its fullness. We want people who are great as individuals, and even better in a team. People who stand up for what is right. Who are open to new ideas. Who champion innovation. Who lead through learning, and lead by example. So, if you’re looking for an opportunity to make a meaningful difference, to grow, thrive and to be rewarded, it’s time you joined our UnitingCare familiy.