Therapeutic Residential Care Workers

• South Eastern Region
• Multiple vacancies – including Casual, Part Time and Full Time 
• Friendly, supportive team environment

Join Victoria's largest independent child and family services organisation and become a vital part of a team that never gives up doing whatever it takes for kids. Since 1877, Berry Street has been committed to improving life opportunities for vulnerable children, young people and families. With over 1000 staff, Berry Street is a leader in providing high quality services right across Victoria.

Berry Street's Residential Programs provide accommodation, care and support to children and young people who cannot live with their families and who are referred through the child protection system. 

About the role:

• Residential Care staff work as part of a team to provide a high standard of physical and emotional care to young people living in the houses.
• The role requires you to interact positively with the young people, spending quality time with them in the home, cooking meals, undertaking household chores and participating in their daily activities as required.
• There are also considerable observational, administrative and compliance requirements, with staff responsible for completing reports, updating records and providing information to other professionals regarding the young people in our care.

We are looking for people who:

• Have genuine enjoyment in engaging with young people
• Are interested in making a contribution to the wellbeing and development of young people who may have significant behavioural difficulties
• Have flexibility in their approach to work and hours
• Enjoy a degree of responsibility and lots of variety in their job
• Are open minded and non-judgemental
• Have great communication skills, with the ability to engage well with young people and work well with other staff
• Have the ability to remain emotionally calm in a crisis
• Are computer literate
• Have the capacity to reflect on their practice
• Are professional in manner and presentation to deal with services supporting young people. 

We staff our houses on a 24 hour roster, 7 days a week and you would be required to work shifts that could fall within these hours.  Most shifts are 8 hours in length and day and afternoon shifts span the hours of 7am and 11pm.  All staff are expected to be able to work night shifts and sleep-over shifts

If you have a qualification in Residential Care (Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention), Youth Work, Community Services, and Alcohol & Other Drugs (or other relevant qualification) this role may be right for you.  However we also welcome applicants without qualifications as we soon be offering a Certificate IV in Residential Care (Certificate IV in Child, Youth and Family Intervention).  It will be a requirement that all staff without a relevant qualification undergo this training when it is available. Experience in working therapeutically with children and young people in a residential care setting would also be advantageous.

Benefits of working for Berry Street

We are committed to provide our staff with comprehensive training and professional development.

It is mandatory that you have a driver’s licence and full work rights to work in Australia.  People on holiday or short term visas need not apply.

Applicants will be required to undergo a psychometric assessment, a criminal records check and have an employment working with children check.  Berry Street conducts a thorough screening process to ensure we select the most suitable people to care for the children and young people.

Queries to Kellie Johnson, Senior Manager Residential Services on 9239 1400

Applications addressing the key selection criteria should be submitted by 11pm on Sunday, 29 July 2018