Youth and Family Practitioner

Samaritans; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 79,000 - 92,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary packaging options

Discounted private health insurance

Paid parental leave

Career development opportunities

Fitness Passport access

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

The Youth and Family Practitioner is based in Islington with outreach across the Newcastle area. This permanent part-time role (45 hours per fortnight) sits within Samaritans and involves providing holistic, strengths-based support to young people and families.

Practices are trauma-informed and culturally safe, focusing on safeguarding, early intervention and collaboration with schools and community services to strengthen family relationships and youth wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Experience with holistic assessments and developing/interventions for children, young people and families.
• Experience providing counselling, casework and group work in various settings.
• Facilitation of therapeutic, psychosocial, youth development or parenting groups.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, mandatory reporting and professional boundaries.

Responsibilities

• Maintain an individual caseload of children, young people and families.
• Provide holistic assessment, counselling, casework and group programs.
• Coordinate referrals and service navigation with schools and community services.
• Advocate and support youth participation and collaboration with partners.

Skills

Experience with youth

Family systems

Trauma-informed approach

Communication skills

Advocacy

Education

Degree in Social Work / Psychology / Counselling

Job description

Youth and Family Practitioner - Tailored Youth and Family Services

Permanent Part Time x 45hours per Fortnight - Outreach - Islington base.

SCHADS Award Level 5 up to pay point 5 - $55.85 per hour

Purpose:

We're seeking an experienced Mental Health Professional to join our organisation in the role of Youth & Family Practitioner to provide holistic, strengths‑based, person‑centred support to young people and their families. The service supports families experiencing challenging circumstances, including domestic and family violence, emerging mental health concerns, alcohol and other drug needs, social and economic disadvantage, and attachment or relational difficulties between parents or carers and their children. The service aims to improve the immediate and longer‑term safety and wellbeing of children and young people, strengthen family relationships and parenting capacity, increase protective factors, and support young people to remain connected to their family, education, culture and community.

The Youth and Family Practitioner maintains an individual caseload of children,
young people and families and provides holistic assessment, counselling,
casework, therapeutic and skills‑based interventions, group programs, advocacy,
referrals and service coordination. The role works collaboratively with families,
schools, community organisations and specialist services and promotes
meaningful participation by young people and their families. Practice is
underpinned by attachment and trauma‑informed approaches, motivational
interviewing, narrative therapy, strengths‑based practice and social learning
theory.

• This will be done through a combination of:
• Individual support
• Family support
• Case work and coordination
• Therapeutic and skills‑based interventions
• Group programs
• Community engagement and youth participation activities
• Advocacy, referral and systems navigation
• Collaboration with community, government and specialist services

QUALIFICATIONS/ESSENTIAL:

• Extensive demonstrated experience working with young people and families.
• Strong understanding of youth issues, family systems and early intervention.
• A current Working with Children check (with clearance to work with children)
• National Police Check (the Diocese will consider the relevance of any reported outcomes)
• Current First Aid and CPR Certificate

QUALIFICATIONS/DESIRABLE:

• Degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counselling, Social Science, Youth Work or related discipline (or equivalent experience).

EXPERIENCE/ESSENTIAL:

• Experience conducting holistic assessments and developing, implementing and reviewing goals and intervention plans with children, young people and families.
• Experience providing counselling, casework and therapeutic or skills‑based interventions in individual, family or small‑group settings.
• Experience facilitating or assisting with therapeutic, psychosocial, youth development or parenting groups.
• Sound understanding of child and adolescent development, family systems, trauma, behaviour support, resilience and early intervention.
• Demonstrated working knowledge of safeguarding, child protection, risk assessment, mandatory reporting and professional boundaries.
• Ability to engage children, young people, parents and carers in a respectful, culturally safe, strengths‑based and person‑centred manner.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships with schools, community organisations, government agencies and specialist services.
• Strong written and verbal communication, interpersonal, consultation, advocacy and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to maintain accurate, objective and timely case notes, participant data and other service records.
• Ability to manage an individual caseload and competing priorities while working effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Why Work for us?

• Newcastle Anglican places people at the centre of our work. As a part of a faith‑based organisation, you have access to the following great benefits:
• Up to 40% discount on school enrolment fees at any of our Newcastle Anglican schools
• Salary packaging options (up to $611/fortnight)
• Discounted private health insurance through Medibank
• Career and development opportunities – we want you to flourish!
• Access to over 300+ gyms with the Fitness Passport Program
• Free access to our corporate Employee Assistance Program
• Paid parental leave (after 12 months of service)

Who we are?

Formerly known as the Anglican Diocese of Newcastle, Newcastle Anglican is a faith‑based organisation serving the people of the Hunter and the Central Coast.

We offer a leading Christian presence to our community through our parishes, four schools, Anglican Care and Samaritans.

Our vision is for people to flourish because of what we do, inspired by the way of Jesus.

We provide a culturally safe environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and welcome all applications.

For more information visit www.newcastleanglican.org.au or email the talent team [e-mail]

You must have the right to live and work in Australia.

Samaritans promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all children and young people.

#SAMS