Team Leader, Youth Housing
Position Description
The Youth Housing Service provides accommodation and support for rangatahi aged 16 24 years (and sometimes their partners and / or children).
This service works with young people to assist them in their recovery and healing journey, and supports them to develop the skills needed to live inter-dependently.
You will use your expertise in youth development and community leadership to help develop our youth housing service providing leadership and clinical oversight, with a focus on supporting our youth development workers in working with young people who have been made vulnerable and at-risk due to their experiences of homelessness.
The role works closely with the Youth Housing Service Leader, in providing oversight of case management and co-ordination of referrals and project support in relation to managing operations at our youth housing sites.
WHO YOU REPORT TO
You will be employed by Lifewise and report to the Service Leader, Youth Housing
WHO YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR
Youth Development Workers
WHAT YOU’RE RESPONSIBLE FOR
As a senior member of the youth housing team you will provide leadership and guidance in relation to case reviews and interventions requiring stakeholder involvement supporting teams with safety planning and critical support.
You will support the youth housing team by :
Providing youth development workers with case reviews and coordinating input of external agencies
Support youth development workers at the intake stage of the referral pathway across the service
Co-creating strengths based and mana enhancing recovery plans that are grounded in the mana taiohi and youth development principles through relationships, connection, engagement and participation
Provide advocacy and case coordination as required
Broker referrals into our service and to other organizations or services as required
Support connection with whānau and cultural needs as required
Lead, contribute and co-ordinate community development initiatives with participants and the wider team
Build and maintain relationships with the community and key stakeholders
Maintain relevant, timely and accurate documentation at all times
Managing and overseeing the risks associated with allocated sites, Youth Development Workers and rangatahi; and ensuring that incidents are managed as per our youth service policy and processes alongside the Service Manager
Oversee the general day-to-day running of allocated sites with the support of the Service Manager
You will support the Youth Development Workers by :
building on their existing skills base by promoting appropriate models of case management and case coordination
Developing, formalizing and reviewing systems in conjunction with the Youth Housing Service Leader
Leading review processes following serious incidents or conducting urgent support reviews following enhanced vulnerability due to adverse life events
Working with the Service Leader and Youth Development Worker’s to manage and coordinate referrals coming in across the service through support with gathering of information, setting up professional consults, and triaging rangatahi as they enter our service
Model best practice by sharing your knowledge and experience with the Youth Housing Team members to build the collective expertise of the team and to contribute to the overall development of the service alongside the Service Leader
Facilitating regular 1 : 1 meetings with the youth development workers in your team that promotes a collaborative working relationship with an opportunity for coaching, professional development and general oversight of where the team and service is at
Create and monitor tailored professional development coaching plans to ensure the continued growth and professional development of Youth Development Workers
Ensure that practice and performances challenges are identified and dealt with in an appropriate manner with staff action plans put in place to remedy any challenges and ensure appropriate support is provided to relevant staff members
WHAT SKILLS & EXPERIENCE YOU NEED
Relevant qualifications or experience in one of more of the following fields : youth and community work, residential work, social work, youth justice, child & family services, psychology, mental health, alcohol and other drugs, formal / informal education, counselling, social sciences, as well as a minimum of 5 years’ experience working in the field
Experience with leading teams and having oversight of practice areas related to vulnerable client groups (youth, children & families, homelessness, health, substance use and / or trauma)
Willingness and commitment to upholding the values of Te Tiriti alongside a commitment to supporting the Youth Housing Service and Youth Development Worker’s to grow in their bi-cultural journey.
Positivity, flexibility, confidence and compassion with a non-judgmental attitude
Resilience, with the ability to work in an environment of chaos or unpredictability
Demonstrate the ability to maintain professional integrity and self-care
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, written and computer literacy)
Proven ability to influence multi-disciplinary teams at a practice level when working with key stakeholders
Knowledge or understanding of motivational interviewing, harm reduction and a trauma informed approach
Ability to hold complex and conflicting demands and to be able to sit with both
Advanced computer literacy, including skill in the use of computers and related software applications
Ability to be innovative and effectively assess and adapt in service delivery to meet the diverse needs of rangatahi experiencing homelessness.