Social Worker - CI

About the Role

The Social Worker/Case Worker, Community Interventions works directly with young people who are at risk or who have had contact with the youth justice system, including those transitioning from out-of-home care. The role is grounded in the belief that every young person — regardless of what they have experienced —holds the capacity for growth, connection, and change.

Working within a trauma-informed and relational practice framework, the Social Worker/ Case Worker provides consistent, purposeful support to young people and their families. This involves understanding behaviour in the context of lived experience, building trusting relationships over time, and coordinating a network of care that helps young people find footing in community life.

The role sits within the Community Interventions division and operates across outreach, assessment, case management, and community partnership functions. The worker is supported through regular clinical supervision, team-based learning, and a culture that values reflective practice.

Key Responsibilities

1. Outreach and Referral Development

•       Initiate and develop outreach plans to raise awareness of the division's programmes and services within the community.

•       Build meaningful relationships with community partners, referral agencies, and key stakeholders to develop and sustain referral pathways.

•       Design and facilitate engagement sessions and outreach materials to connect with young people and families who may benefit from the division's support.

•       Ensure outreach efforts remain aligned with divisional goals and are responsive to the needs of the communities served.

2. Referral Management

•       Respond promptly to incoming referrals, engaging referral sources to clarify information and explain available services.

•       Coordinate intake meetings and conduct initial assessments, approaching first contact with warmth and care to build trust with young people and families.

•       Complete all required documentation during the intake process with accuracy and attention to the young person's experience and context.

•       Support the Programme-in-Charge in determining suitability for enrolment; where referrals are not a fit, provide timely and appropriate redirection to relevant services.

3. Case Assessment and Conceptualisation

•       Conduct thorough, strengths-based assessments that draw on information from the young person, their family, and key stakeholders —recognising that behaviour is always understood within the context of relationships and life experience.

•       Develop and document case management plans that are guided by the programme's practice framework and clearly identify intervention goals and outcomes.

•       Use relevant assessment tools (e.g. YLS, mental health screening instruments) in a considered and purposeful way.

•       Engage in regular case discussions with supervisors to reflect on and refine case conceptualisation and planning.

4. Case Intervention

•       Build consistent, trusting relationships with young people through regular engagement, recognising that the relationship itself is often a primary vehicle for change.

•       Identify and respond to the risks, protective factors, and socio-emotional needs of each young person, including those arising from out-of-home care experiences or prior trauma.

•       Actively involve families and caregivers in the intervention process, approaching family engagement as a partnership rather than accompliance requirement.

•       Collaborate with schools, government agencies, and social service organisations to build a coordinated network of support around the young person and their family.

•       Connect young people with pro-social interests, peer networks, and community resources that support their identity, growth, and sense of belonging.

•       Review and evaluate intervention plans on an ongoing basis, incorporating reflective practice and adjusting approaches in response to the young person's progress and changing needs.

5. Case Documentation

•       Maintain timely and accurate session records, case notes, and case management plans in accordance with organisational standards.

•       Prepare clear internal case review documentation for monthly reviews, ensuring records are accessible for supervisors and covering colleagues.

•       Ensure all case files are well-organised, clearly labelled, and managed in line with relevant standard operating procedures.

6. Research, Evaluation, and Service Improvement

•       Stay current with research, policy developments, and emerging practice frameworks relevant to youth work and community intervention.

•       Contribute to data collection, programme evaluation, and research projects as required.

•       Identify gaps in service provision and raise recommendations to improve the quality and responsiveness of the division's programmes.

7.Professional Development and Team Learning

•       Prepare for and actively participate in monthly Internal Case Reviews, presenting case updates and seeking support where needed.

•       Engage in Case Conceptualisation meetings to deepen understanding and refine case planning in collaboration with colleagues.

•       Attend regular clinical supervision — monthly or fortnightly — to reflect on practice, strengthen relational skills, and maintain professional wellbeing.

•       Proactively seek supervisor guidance when cases present complexity or when additional support would strengthen outcomes for young people.

•       Participate in professional development initiatives such as Practice Circles and relevant training opportunities.

•       Contribute to the learning environment of the team by supporting interns, students on placement, and junior workers.

8. Crisis Response

•       Recognise and respond appropriately to crisis situations in accordance with organisational protocols.

•       Hold complexity and urgency with a regulated, grounded presence —approaching crisis as an opportunity to deepen trust and demonstrate consistent care.

•       Ensure timely and clear communication with the respective programme heads and Lead Social Worker during and after crisis situations.

9. Ad-hoc Responsibilities

•       Undertake any other duties as assigned by the respective programme heads, Lead Social Worker or Director, Services and Programmes.

Qualifications

•       Degree in Social Work or equivalent qualification.

•       Registration or eligibility for registration with the relevant professional body (e.g. SASW or equivalent).

Experience

•       Minimum 2 years of experience in the social service sector, ideally in a youth, family, or community-based setting.

•       Experience working with young people who have had contact with the youth justice system or who are transitioning from out-of-home care is an advantage.

•       Familiarity with social work interventions, social policies, and community resources (e.g. MSF, MOE, and related agencies).

Knowledge, Skills, and Attributes

•       A genuine passion for working with young people, including those who present with complexity, risk, or histories of adversity.

•       An understanding of trauma-informed and relational practice — and a commitment to embodying these values in day-to-day work.

•       Strong relational skills, with the ability to build trust with young people, families, and colleagues across diverse backgrounds.

•       Capacity to hold uncertainty and complexity without defaulting to purely procedural responses.

•       A reflective practitioner who is open to feedback, supervision, and continued growth.

•       Good written communication skills, with the ability to produce clear, purposeful case documentation and reports.

Our Practice Environment

Trybe's Community Interventions division is committed to practice that is trauma-informed, relational, and restorative. We work with young people who have often experienced disrupted relationships, out-of-home care, and significant adversity — and we believe that meaningful change is possible through consistent, caring, and well-supported relationships.

In our practice, this means:

•       Approaching every young person with curiosity, warmth, and respect for their inherent worth and potential.

•       Understanding behaviour as communication — and responding with care rather than judgment.

•       Engaging families and communities as partners in the rehabilitation and reintegration journey.

•       Creating conditions where young people feel safe, seen, and supported to grow.

We also recognise that working alongside young people who carry experiences of trauma requires care for our workforce too. Staff are supported through regular clinical supervision, team-based reflection, and a professional culture that values honesty, learning, and connection.

Reporting To: Respective Programme Heads /Director, Services and Programmes

Works Closely With: Senior Social Worker, fellow Social Workers, Community Partners, Government Agencies (e.g. MSF, MOE)