The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position Title
Youth and Family Worker
Employee Name
Division/
Entity/Location
Melbourne Central Division
Organisational Unit/
Department
Date
Nov 2015
Crossroads Youth & Family Services - Reconnect
THE SALVATION ARMY INTERNATIONAL MISSION STATEMENT
The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is
motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human need in His name without discrimination.
AUSTRALIA SOUTHERN TERRITORY’S MISSION AND VALUES
Mission
Values
The mission of The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory
is:
The values of The Salvation Army Australia Southern Territory are:

Transforming lives: working for personal renewal through
Jesus Christ, that touches and integrates the whole person

Caring for people: engaging with others in need, without
discrimination

Making Disciples: patterning lives on Jesus

Reforming Society: acting on the structures of society to
restore justice
 Human dignity: respecting the sanctity of human life as being made in the image
of God. We affirm the worth and capacity of all people.
 Justice: acting with integrity and fairness, without discrimination, and being an
advocate for the disadvantaged; managing all resources responsibly as stewards.
We promote healthy and whole relationships, and good society.
 Hope: sharing the gospel of Jesus as a gracious invitation to wholeness. We
work for reconciliation, healing and transformation for all people and creation.
 Compassion: engaging with others in the Spirit of Jesus. We feel compelled to
stand with and do something about another’s suffering.
 Community: owning our common humanity as we engage with people, working
and journeying together, for mutual capacity building. We build community and
meet with God in our encounter with others.
All employees in non-ministry positions in The Salvation Army are expected to work in accordance with the Australia Southern Territory’s mission
and values and comply with Official Minutes, policies and procedures.
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Position reports to
Team leader Youth Support &
Development, Crossroads Youth and
Family Services
Reportable Positions
Position Purpose
The Reconnect program, as identified by the Department of Social Services (formerly Families, Housing,
Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA)) aims:
“To improve the level of engagement of homeless young people or those at risk of homelessness with family, work,
education, training and the community. This program aims to focus on the needs of young people to be safe,
positively connected to family and significant others, to be engaged in meaningful work, education and training and
to be included in the life of the community”.
This position works as part of a team providing early intervention and assertive outreach to young people (aged 12 –
18years) and their families in the Local Government areas of Moreland and Hume. Some after hours work would be
required.
Qualifications
A tertiary qualification in Social Work, Youth work or allied discipline and significant experience in family focussed
case management. A Working with Children Check, a current Victorian driver’s licence and the successful
completion of a Criminal Records check are all required for this role.
Award (if applicable)
Social, Community, Home Care &
Disability Services Industry Award
2010
Classification
Social & Community Services
Employee Level 5 Pay Point
determined on experience
Resource Management
Responsible management of welfare
brokerage dollars.
Total staff management (EFT)
N/A
Personal Competencies Required
N/A
Job Competencies Required

Strategic Focus – develops and implements planning with young
people and their families.

Demonstrated ability to engage young people and their families
and the ability to develop culturally sensitive plans. Knowledge of
and good working relationships with other service providers

Integrity, Openness and Honesty – ability to develop trust and
rapport with young people and their families.

Well developed oral and written communication and the ability to
prepare timely, well written and accurate reports and case files.
Representation of the program at both an agency and community
level.

Adaptability and Flexibility – ability to manage self to meet
expectations of all stakeholders.

Consultation & Collaboration – working with local communities and
identifying community resources to ensure the best outcomes for
young people and their families, negating potential barriers for
young people entering into further education, training or
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employment.

Energy and Enthusiasm – enjoys working with and displays a
commitment to working with adolescents and their families.

Initiative and Responsibility – able to initiate actions that achieve
good outcomes for young people and contributes to wider service
delivery planning.

Listening – respectfully listens to the views of others, understands
and responds appropriately.

Problem solving – utilises practice wisdom informed by action
research and reflective approaches in interventions..

Sensitivity – awareness and consideration of the different needs of
others, including young people, families, members of different
cultural groups and co-workers.

Teamwork and cooperation – works effectively with individuals of
diverse style, ability and motivation and accepts a high degree of
accountability to co-workers, service users and management.
Key Result Areas
Service Delivery
Key Activities

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Offer appropriate outreach support to young people
and their families within a case management
framework.
Develop individual case plans, case notes and exit
plans.
Establish regular meeting times with young people
and/or their families depending on individual
circumstances and level of intervention.
Support young people and their families to access
relevant support services.
Develop independent living skills, access to
community resources, referral to specialist services
and advocacy.
Explore and develop pathways to a range of
education, vocation, training and recreational
programs.
Maintain good working knowledge of accommodation
and support options for homeless young people.
Manage brokerage funding to assist in meeting young
people and their families needs when no other options
are available.
Standard Measures

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Consistent and active caseload of up to eight young
people and /or their families.
Evidence of flexible service provision aimed at meeting
the young people and their families where they are
most comfortable.
Evidence of work guided by Good Practice Principles
of the National Reconnect Program.
Case files established within 48 hours of referral with a
written case plan developed within five days of first
interview with young person and /or their family.
Case plans are reviewed on a monthly basis with
young people and /or their families.
Access strategies clearly articulated in case plans.
Evidence of flexible service provision aimed at meeting
with schools and training organisations to facilitate
positive planning with and for young people and their
families.
Case plans reflect consideration of appropriate referral
to income support, health, education / training,
vocational, recreational and accommodation programs.
Efficiently and accurately recorded use of financial
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Key Result Areas
Key Activities
Standard Measures
resources.
Community &Program
Development

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General
Administration and
Management
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Establish effective working relationships and protocols
with key agencies within the Cities of Moreland and
Hume including school and education facilities.
Actively participate in community networks and
forums.
Identify and explore opportunities to enhance the
coordination of service delivery and respond to local
needs.
Ensure compliance with service agreement targets.
Provide Crossroads and the funding body with
relevant information about future program model and
effectiveness.
Actively participate in action research processes.
Actively participate in the research and evaluation of
the program.

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Attend staff, organisational and other meetings as
required.
Liaise effectively with other staff across The Salvation
Army networks and other relevant organisations and
services.
Understand the range and scope of other Salvation
Army programs.
Participate in regular supervision with line manager.
Maintain consistent and effective operational
administrative and organisational procedures.
Participate in regular team meetings, supervision and
agreed training opportunities.
Maintain data collection both within the Reconnect

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Strategies clearly articulated in annual work plan.
Community networks and forums attended recorded as
part of staff meetings and annual work plan.
Opportunities discussed at team meetings and
strategy plans developed to pursue these.
Service agreement targets achieved.
Program model and effectiveness discussed at annual
planning day.
Mechanisms put in place to plan, collate data and
reflect on practices.
Annual evaluation report comprehensively completed
on time.
Action research cycles documented and reported in
Annual report.
Maintain own professional knowledge and skills.
Attendance at meetings recorded.
Feedback provided to line manager in relation to
issues arising from meetings attended.
Recording of issues discussed and actions maintained
from three weekly supervision meetings with line
manager.
Administrative and operational procedures in place in
line with Crossroads policies and procedures.
Recording systems in place in accordance with
Crossroads procedural policies, privacy principles and
funding body data requirements.
Relevant data collection maintained according to
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Key Result Areas

Key Activities
database and the Crossroads systems.
Contribute
to
the
preparation
documentation and reports.
Employee’s Signature:
of
service

Standard Measures
Crossroads policies, research and funding body
requirements.
Preparation of reports in accordance with funding and
Crossroads timelines.
Date:
Print Name:
Manager’s Signature:
Date:
Print Name:
When applying for this position, please respond to the following:
SELECTION CRITERIA:
1. Relevant Tertiary qualification.
2. Demonstrated experience in working with disadvantaged young people and their families.
3. Demonstrated experience of providing effective case management services to young people and their families.
4. Demonstrated experience of working in early intervention with young people, their families and school and other agency
networks
5. Knowledge of the current issues faced by young people in relation to education, training or employment.
6. Demonstrated capacity to develop effective links with the local communities and community networks.
7. Knowledge of education programs and services and employment opportunities in service areas.
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