Banksia Gardens Community Services provides support to children, young people, adults and families through a range of place-based programs. We are a vibrant community service organisation located in Broadmeadows that have been in operation since 1979. Our vision is transformed lives, strengthened communities and reduced disadvantage.

Job description

We are seeking a Senior Key Worker in our Intensive Case Management team, working alongside clients from both our Targeted Care Packages program and our youth crime prevention program, the Broadmeadows Community Youth Justice Alliance (BCYJA). Targeted Care Packages are funded through DFFH to deliver individualised intensive support to children and young people who have a child protection order in place. BCYJA provides support to justice involved young people aged 10-24 in Broadmeadows and surrounding suburbs, providing an avenue for young people to receive holistic support services from the community.

Banksia Senior Key Workers provide intensive case management for children at risk of entering residential care, or at risk of entering the youth justice system. Operating with a concentrated case load, the Intensive Case Management team is dually funded by DFFH and the Department of Justice to conduct contracted case management using a place-based approach for our community of Hume.

Banksia Key Workers are encouraged to work creatively with a commitment to radical inclusion to progress positive outcomes for young people. Responsibilities include (but are not limited to), creating and maintaining case plans, working with cultural sensitivity, managing TCP packages (inclusive of all DFFH mandated reporting/funding requirements), coordinating care teams and services. Banksia Key Workers are confident working alongside children with adverse childhood experience who are vulnerable and can engage in high risk behaviours. They are also able to support families with complex needs and have the flexibility to work across TCP and BYCJA with varying levels of intensity.

Responsibilities include:

• Establishing positive relationships with allocated clients (primarily children and young people) in order to provide them with case management support in line with child protection contracts and program expectations.
• Support clients to build social, familial and professional connections, link them to services and identify and pursue goals.
• Work in a strengths-based and collaborative way to create case plans and review these regularly.
• Lead quality care team meetings with DFFH, schools and other stakeholders as required.
• Advocate for the needs of young people to ensure they are treated fairly and equitably and can access the services they need.
• Document the work with clients according to guidelines and comply with support work procedures.
• Establishing and maintaining partnerships with relevant stakeholders to increase access to services and equitable treatment by government and other agencies.

Ideal candidate for the Key Worker Role:

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Youth Work, Community Development or related field
• Key workers will have a minimum of 12 months experience in child, youth and family work
• Working with Children Check (WWCC)
• Current National Police Check
• Access to a reliable vehicle and a current driver's license
• Experience and skills working with children and young people from diverse cultural and religious backgrounds
• Experience providing individual support using a trauma informed and strengths-based approach
• Experience facilitating groups of young people
• Proven ability to engage and build positive relationships with children and young people, particularly those at risk of disengaging
• General understanding of the Youth Justice and Child Protection Systems in Victoria and the factors that contribute to youth involvement with the criminal justice system and contact with Child Protection

For more information, please contact the Manager Community Development and Youth on 0410 212 672 or email [email protected] using the subject line: Senior Key Worker enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.

We aim to have a workforce that reflects the diversity of our community. Our organisation is proud to serve the City of Hume, one of the most culturally diverse places in the whole of Australia. BGCS actively promotes respect and radical inclusion, embracing individual values, abilities, beliefs, efforts, ideas, languages, cultures, and religious identities.

We acknowledge that some people in our community often face systemic barriers to participation, including racism. BGCS is committed to dismantling these barriers and fostering a space where everyone feels safe, heard, and included: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, LGBTQIA+, migrants and refugees, people who have experienced extreme hardship and those who have had contact with the justice system.

BGCS is a child-safe organisation and is committed to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We work towards ending harm towards and elevating the voice of children and young people. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a National Police Record Check and Working with Children Check prior to commencement of employment.