Key Worker

About the Opportunity

MCM (Melbourne City Mission) is a leading community services organisation that innovatively works alongside thousands of Victorians and their communities to overcome barriers experienced through Homelessness, Early Years, Disability, Palliative care, Early Childhood Intervention Services and Education. 

Living Learning (LL) is Melbourne City Mission’s first outcomes funded program under a Social Impact Bond (SIB) structure. The Victorian Government’s Partnership Addressing Disadvantage (PAD) contract and the Implementation Agreement (IA) along with the associated operating manual outline the program and the funding model for Living Learning. Living Learning works with young people who are persistently not in employment education or training (NEET) and who have a mental health condition. Through the supports offered by Living Learning (mental health supports, Key Worker supports and specialist education supports) the aim of the program is to re-engage young people into HHA, to stabilise their mental health and work with them over three years to achieve various cost savings for government and education and health success for the young people.

The Key Worker position is required to actively engage with students, conduct needs and risk assessments and planning with the multidisciplinary team, and provide a case coodination service response. The role, as part of a multidisciplinary student support team, aims to keep Living Learning students engaged with their education at Hester Hornbrook. This includes providing referral support for students to deal with any barriers they are facing to engaging and achieving in their education and providing outreach support and transport to students when required.

About you

We are looking for someone who can:

• Work with the Living Learning team, Hester Hornbrook and service providers to provide effective strategies for young people who have complex needs.
• Provide high quality support to vulnerable young people in the Living Learning program.
• Work with young people within a multidisciplinary team to build the capacity of clients to improve their wellbeing and build self-resilience through linkages to education, training and employment.
• Maintain and develop effective partnerships with a wide breadth of services including specialist and mainstream services in youth, family, employment, training and disability.
• Provide in-home or community-based support to student to support their engagement and access to services – to reinforce changes made through work with other services.

Benefits of working with MCM include:

• Diverse and inclusive organisation
• Attractive Salary Packaging benefits
• Supportive learning and development environment
• Culture of continuous improvement

Essential:

• A qualification in Community, Social Work, Youth Work, Occupational Therapy, Psychology or a related tertiary qualification.
• Demonstrated experience working within a case management framework.
• Understanding of mobile and assertive outreach support and interventions.
• Understanding or experience working with young people at risk or experiencing homelessness and disengagement from education, including knowledge of trauma informed approaches.
• Strong ability to actively and assertively engage young people with complex needs.
• An understanding of the relevant service system with knowledge of patterns, trends and systemic issues, and principles in working with at risk young people.
• An understanding of the requirements for ensuring child safety.
• Excellent communication and problem-solving skills encompassing interpersonal, verbal and written, and negotiation skills.
• Provide First Aid certificate (formerly First Aid Level 2).
• Computer literacy, including proficiency in the Microsoft suite of programs

Screening Criteria:

• National Police check
• Working with Children check
• Valid Victorian Drivers license
• Right to Work in Australia

Applications for this role will close on 7th February 2024 and applications may close before the deadline, so please apply early.  Please include your current resume and cover letter.
Please review the position description to understand more about the role and responsibilities.  If you have any needs throughout the recruitment process that have not already been catered for, we encourage you to contact recruitment@mcm.org.au to let us know how we can better support you to apply.

About MCM

MCM is an inclusive and equal opportunity employer with a strong commitment to safety. MCM embraces differences because we know that diversity and inclusion help us to attract, recruit, engage and retain talented people. 
We are a leading not-for profit-for-purpose organisation that offer a broad range of services in Early Years, Disability, Homelessness, Palliative Care and Education.

Our commitment to Safety

MCM is committed to the safety of its clients and employees, taking a zero-tolerance approach to violence within the workplace and abuse, including child abuse and abuse of people with disability. All employees are required to comply with the Child Safe Standards.

Our commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Equity of Access

At MCM we embrace our differences because we know that diversity helps us to innovate and make the biggest impact possible. Our DEI Strategy supports and drives an inclusive workplace culture. We embrace the learning opportunities that come with authentic commitment to equity of access for all. We particularly encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates to apply.