Job Description

Position purpose

The Therapeutic Supported Independent Living (TSIL) Caseworker is responsible for providing high quality and effective case work services for young people in the TSIL program. The TSIL Caseworker will plan for and achieve permanency and identified case plan outcomes for children, young people, their families, authorised carers, prospective guardians and adoptive parents. This is achieved through an interactive and dynamic case management approach, with an emphasis on ongoing analysis, decision-making and record keeping, ensuring the child or young person’s needs are identified and being met.

The TSIL Caseworker works closely with Therapeutic Specialists, Coordinators, Youth Workers and other TSIL staff to provide high-quality therapeutic care and assist young people to heal from trauma and achieve their full potential.

The TSIL Caseworker is a member of the reports to the Senior ITC Coordinator.

Primary objectives

• Provide effective assessment, planning, implementation, monitoring and review of case plans to achieve permanency and identified outcomes for young people and their families;
• Work in collaboration with the TSIL Team to ensure service delivery is integrated, coordinated and tailored to meet an individual’s needs;
• Establish collaborative relationships with a wide range of specialist and mainstream services to improve outcomes for children, young people and their families; and
• Develop and maintain strong collaborative partnerships with Aboriginal and CALD agencies
• Promote the development of independent living skills for young people aged 16-20 years.

Key result areas and responsibilities

The TSIL Caseworker will:

• Manage a case load and maximise the opportunities for all children and young people to benefit from the therapeutic approach;
• Ensure that the emotional, social, behavioural, developmental and educational needs of children and young people are met through the development, implementation and review of individual therapeutic case plans;
• Ensure that children and young people’s wellbeing is actively safeguarded and that any concerns are reported immediately;
• Ensure all statutory child protection requirements are adhered to;
• Promote cultural safety for clients and staff;
• Promote democracy and support young people to engage in a participatory environment where they can have a say and influence the decision-making process;
• Ensure case work delivery is in accordance with the OCG NSW Child Safe Standards for Permanent Care, Intensive Therapeutic Care and Permanency Support Program Service Requirements, DCJ OOHC Case Management Policy and OOHC Case Management Guidelines;
• Ensure that case work practice is responsive to individual needs and reflects the organisation’s values, policies and practice frameworks;
• Ensure that young people remain connected to the significant people and places in their lives;
• Ensure that young people have access to information and experiences which assist them to develop a positive sense of identity and culture

Key selection criteria

The incumbent will have:

• A knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and values and an awareness of the current issues faced by Aboriginal children, young people and their families
• A relevant Bachelor’s degree The preferred minimum qualifications are Bachelor of Social Work, Social Welfare, Psychology, Nursing and Mental Health
• Demonstrated experience in casework practice preferably in Out-of-Home-Care;
• Demonstrated experience in working with young people with complex care needs;
• Understanding of Out-of-Home-Care policy, standards and quality frameworks;
• Demonstrated capacity to develop collaborative relationships across professional and organisational boundaries;
• Ability to plan, organise and prioritise work;
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills;
• Experience using Microsoft Office;
• Current First Aid Certificate

For more information please contact anita.woods@mackillop.org.au

MacKillop Family Services acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as Australia’s First Peoples and as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the land on which we live, work and play. We pay our deep respects to Elders past and present and acknowledge all Aboriginal children, young people, families and staff who are a part of MacKillop Family Services.

MacKillop celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person at MacKillop has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person’s ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.