About the Opportunity

This is a 12-month (minimum) 5 days/ week position based in North Parramatta with regular travel across the region

We are currently seeking a highly experienced and dedicated Youth Development Coach to join our “Extended Care Pilot Program” in our Sydney team based in Oatlands/ Nth Parramatta.

This is a dual role where you will be predominantly responsible for working with young people from 15 – 21 years who are in Uniting’s Permanency Support Program (PSP) to facilitate a seamless transition from care to independent living.

This role will also provide a culturally appropriate, responsive, flexible, client focused, intensive, trauma informed case work service for eligible Aboriginal young people who have left out of home care aged 18 - 25.

This coaching role is part of a dynamic team across NSW, implementing a new program and a new way of working with young people. An Advantaged Thinking approach will support the development of young people’s self-determination and will enable a transition to independence that promotes the individual dreams and aspirations of young people enrolled in the program.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a critical relationship and point of contact before, during and after the young person’s transition from care
• Provide tailored and structured coaching and learning experiences for young people using the Advantaged Thinking approach
• Facilitate access to education and employment opportunities
• Directly provide and facilitate access to independent living skills learning opportunities
• Provide support to actively build family and community connections and to build cultural connections where appropriate
• Contribute to the development of the young person’s leaving care plan in collaboration with the PSP case worker
• Facilitate the implementation of the young person’s leaving care plan post 18 years
• Assist the young person with developing strategies to manage a range of relationships, change and crisis
• Support the young person to establish, navigate and use support networks and the mainstream service system for identified needs
• Actively participate in the implementation and evaluation of a new program

What you need to succeed

• Relevant tertiary level qualifications including social sciences, welfare or other areas of study relevant to youth work sector
• Minimum of 5 years’ experience working with youth using a strengths-based approach.
• Knowledge of the issues and barriers that impact young people leaving care and the multiple service systems they navigate
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain positive, honest and productive relationships with young people, carers, PSP Case Workers and the team
• Demonstrated dedication to meet young people needs and commitment to work with them in collaboration, driven by their goals and aspirations for their future
• Excellent communication skills including advocacy, diplomacy and tact, mediation, conflict resolution, and written skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, willingness to be trained in a data collection system
• Ability to prioritise tasks, manage time and administration responsibilities effectively and work independent
• Must hold a C Class drivers licence and have a willingness to work flexible hours and ability to travel interstate for team meeting or training

Should you have any questions, please contact Alex Sullivan from Uniting’s Talent Acquisition Team on; 
0466 801 937 / asullivan@uniting.org  for more information.

Employment with Uniting is subject to satisfactory background checks, which include National Police Checks, Working with Children Checks and Reference Checks.

At Uniting we believe vaccination to be the best way to keep our employees and clients safe from COVID-19.  We require all employees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. 

Closing date: 11:55pm, Monday 30th May