Youth Development Worker

WHAT YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR

Youth Development Worker

Lifewise is an innovative organisation working together with marginalised people to create better services and solutions to enable their full participation and ability to thrive. The Youth Development Worker position is an integral part of our Youth Housing Service working directly with rangatahi who are either homeless, or at risk of homelessness. Working across our service, you provide support to rangatahi within the Lifewise Youth Housing Service. The role is community based and focuses on supporting the needs of vulnerable and at risk young people towards independent living.

The Youth Housing Service provides accommodation and support for rangatahi aged 16 – 24 years at a time (and sometimes their partners and/or children). This service works with young people to assist them in developing the skills needed to live independently. You will use your expertise in Youth Development to provide flexible, youth focused, ‘wrap around’ support designed to build life skills through tailored one to one support plans.

The Youth Development Worker provides strengths based support services and activities by working collaboratively with young people identifying their needs and finding practical solutions that will assist them towards independent living and resettlement to longer term accommodation or back to family/whanau and community.

THREE TRUST VALUES

Compassion Arohanui

Courage Maia

Respect Whakaute

Integrity Ngakau Pono

WHO YOU REPORT TO

• You report to the Youth Housing Team Leader

WHO REPORTS TO ME

• N/A

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

Internal

• Youth Housing Service team

External

• Government Agencies


• Other Service Providers


• External agencies as appropriate

KEY WORKING RELATIONSHIPS

• As stated in The Three Trust Policy on Delegated Authorities

WHAT YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR

• Developing positive and effective working relationships with the programme participants


• Providing support and guidance to the programme participants


• Actively promote and facilitate a sense of community


• Planning and running community activities for programme participants as required


• Develop and maintain relationships with other stakeholder organisations to benefit programme participants


• Update and maintain up-to-date and accurate programme participants notes, goals, risk plans, personal information, and documents on Recordbase


• Support the programme participants to develop the life skills needed to manage their tenancy, engage in employment or education, budgeting and self-care tools

Note: The above performance standards are provided as a guide only. Performance measures will be discussed between the team member and manager as part of the performance planning and review process.

WHAT SKILLS & EXPERIENCE YOU NEED

• Strong cultural awareness and experience working in Maori and Pacific communities


• Experience working in the community sector, preferably supporting high needs individuals


• Experience working with young people and understanding of youth development


• Able to connect across networks, (knowledge of the Central and South Auckland Community and/or West Auckland Communities is desirable)


• Strong communication and interpersonal skills


• Experience in working with young people who present challenging behaviours and complex


• A qualification in Youth Development or Social Work, Social Services or Community Development is desirable, however any relevant experience will be taken into consideration


• Hold a current full New Zealand driver's license