• Shift Work/Variable
• SCHADS Award Grade 3 Level 1-4
• Various Fixed Term Casual and PT Arrangements
• Various Locations: Northern Rivers, and Mid North Coast NSW – currently recruiting for Northern Rivers location

ABOUT US

As a leading child welfare and care services provider in our communities, we work hard every day to provide a better future for the children and youth in our care. We are dedicated to our work because we believe that every child and family deserves the chance to live a full and functioning life.

We are looking for people with skills, experience and talent in therapeutic care work that align with our vision and values: 'Inspiring People to Thrive.' 

If you are looking to join a committed team making a powerful difference in the lives of children and young people, we would love to hear from you. We encourage and welcome applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Young people in our care

The young people in our care generally range from 10 to 17 years of age, initially, they may require one-to-one support due to their anti-social behaviours, trauma-related expressions, mental illness or conditions which may include, but are not limited to:

• Tourette’s Syndrome
• Autism
• Verbal aggression and high-level defiance
• Physical behaviour including hitting, spitting, kicking, aggression
• Destroying property and fire fascination
• Sexually acting out towards another children/adult
• Cruelty to animals
• Poor hygiene and self-harming
• Running away

Purpose of Position

Duties and standards in caring for the young person, our mental health worker daily duties involve:

• Work within a multi-disciplinary team of therapists, psychologists, special educators and social workers and family and significant others
• Work with individuals on the autism spectrum through individualised school, home and community-based programs
• Work with individuals with Tourette’s Syndrome
• Superior quality customer service approach to the delivery of specialist disability services
• Maintaining a high standard of cleanliness, tidiness and comfort in the home environment
• Observing safety standards and protocols for that home and young person
• Creating a nutritious meal routine
• Providing transportation
• Assisting with homework and engaging in suitable activities
• Working with the child to learn life skills in a planned supported way
• Monitor the child’s supply of clothing, footwear, school materials and other belongings
• Support the children and young people to maintain important links with their family of origin, friendship networks and the local community
• As part of the team, identify areas where the child’s needs could be better met
• Provide high-quality support, mentoring, care and assistance to service users in home/residential or recreational settings in accordance with CASPA programs
• Aiding families and carers to minimise harm and promote the wellbeing of children and young people in accordance with the Child and Young Person Care and Protection Act 1998
• Promote healing and recovery from trauma and prioritise connection and return to family where able and appropriate

Role requirements, skills and attributes

Essential requirements:

• Tertiary qualification in Mental Health, Youth Work, Disability, Community Services or similar
• A minimum six months experience working with challenging behaviours, such as verbal and physical aggression, preferably in a residential setting
• Ability to do shift work and in-home sleepovers as required
• Ability to accommodate roster changes and meeting the needs of the young people in care and the organisation in relation to picking ups shifts at short notice.
• Ability to participate in team meetings, clinical meetings, training and supervision as required
• All staff must be committed to completing nationally accredited Certificate at Diploma level in in Mental Health/Community Services training or similar Essential skills and attributes:
• Ability to work autonomously in an isolated environment, supported by established procedures and with reference to organisational standards and policies
• Ability to build strong working relationships with key stakeholders internally and externally
• An understanding of the intensive nature of working with young people and the possible impacts on the employee’s other family and personal responsibilities
• Able to provide computer literacy and the ability to complete reports and other business processes via various systems (training provided)
• Sound written and verbal communication skills including negotiation and networking, and ability to draft shift reports
• Sound organisational and time management skills

Current NSW Working with Children’s Check and Current First Aid, Criminal History Check and a current driver’s licence, are requirements for all care worker related roles with CASPA.

Benefits

• CASPA actively supports staff to have a healthy work life balance
• Our Mental Health Care Workers are paid competitively at SCHADS Level 3
• Free gym membership to support your wellbeing as well as a fully established team of therapists and clinicians for your personal wellbeing support
• Access to internal and external training opportunities and workplace mentoring including you own team clinical supervision sessions every month
• Great professional development opportunities for those who want career progression
• An Employee Assistance Program, a free and confidential counselling service
• As a not-for-profit organisation, our employees are able to take advantage of salary packaging to receive up to $15,900 of their salary tax-free, as well as additional meal and entertainment benefits