Youth Engagement Lead Full Time

BYA is hiring and opportunities like this don’t come around often!

BYA is a local accredited not-for-profit specialising in youth mental health. We are on the lookout for our next superstar Youth Engagement Lead. This is a vital role in the organisation with a primary focus on engaging with young people, age 12 to 25, to develop and deliver projects, programs and events as well as guide BYA’s strategic priorities. This is full-time position covered by the SCHADS award. Please see attached job description for full details. All applications are to be emailed to BYA’s CEO, Tara Eastep at tara@blackwoodyouthaction.com.au. The closing date for applications is Friday 21st of November. Please note BYA will begin reviewing applications and conducting interviews before the closing date.

Job Description

Reporting to: CEO
Direct Reports: No direct reports, provision of functional support to Project Officers and Youth Workers (dotted line reporting)

Location: Primarily Bridgetown and Manjimup with occasional travel to Boyup Brook as reasonably required.

Position Purpose:
The Youth Engagement Lead (YEL) will work under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer to build relationships in the community and with youth to raise awareness about BYA youth programs and mental health. The YEL will actively work to increase participation of youth in BYA services by engaging with the community and youth to co-design, implement, manage, and evaluate BYA youth mental health promotion and prevention programs. The YEL will work closely with the Case Management Lead to assess gaps in services and develop programs that comply with BYA frameworks/models, regulatory and accreditation standards.

Organisation Overview:
Blackwood Youth Action (BYA) was established in 2013 by a committed group of community members concerned about the wellbeing of young people in the Blackwood region, in particular youth who are marginalised and at-risk. The community group formed Blackwood Youth Action and was incorporated in 2015. Considerable consultation was undertaken with key stakeholders – young people aged 12 to 25, service providers within the health, education and community services sectors and the wider community to identify gaps and develop a range of initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of youth in the region.

Our Values
At Blackwood Youth Action, we pride ourselves on five core values, these include:

·         Compassion

·         Connection

·         Empowerment

·         Equity and Inclusion

·         Responsiveness

Key Duties & Accountabilities

As a Youth Engagement Lead your duties and responsibilities will include but are not limited to:

Leadership:

·         Support the CEO in management of youth workers and program officers by participating in 1:1 meetings with staff and reporting on project deliverables and outcomes.

·         Assist with the process of recruitment, selection of new staff as necessary including participating in the on-boarding process of new case management staff

·         Provide ongoing oversight of case management documentation to ensure compliance with organisational, legislative and accreditation standards

·         Assist in development of policy, procedures, standardised work instructions and processes to foster a culture of innovative thinking and continuous improvement

·         Ensure BYA Model of Service Delivery is consistently delivered across sights as well as provide insights for continuous improvement of the Model of Service Delivery

·         Role model and maintain an organisational culture that attracts, recognises and retains high calibre staff

Program Management

·         Coordinate the co-design, implementation, management and evaluation of youth prevention and education programs to maximise youth engagement at BYA

·         Facilitate and coordinate a BYA Youth Action Group, including recruitment, management and retention of members

·         Provide ongoing oversight of BYA programs to ensure compliance with organisational, legislative, accreditation standards and funding requirements

·         Maintain strict confidentiality and always uphold privacy standards

Community Engagement

·         Engage with stakeholders identifying opportunities for partnerships that promote cultural change around youth mental health stigma/discrimination and increase social inclusion for youth within the community

·         Engage with local schools and community services, fostering positive relationships to establish a referral basis as well as referral pathways for an integrated care approach

·         Engagement with other service providers or organisations supporting or offering culturally diverse services in the community

Documentation and Reporting

·         Collate qualitative/quantitative data for reporting outcomes to funders and to drive data-based decision making and assessment of BYA programs

·         Complete funding reports and acquittals for BYA programs

Collaboration and Organisational Culture:

·         Work with the Case Management Lead to ensure BYA’s Model of Care is consistently delivered across sights, safely and with high-quality, providing insights for evidence-based improvements

·         Collaborate with the broader BYA team, working in a spirit of cooperation, respect and mutual support

·         Facilitate connection and collaboration between youth, BYA staff and volunteers

·         Actively participate in managing and resolving health and safety issues and promoting a safe place of work

·         Operate according to BYA’s policies, procedures and standardised work instructions

·         Uphold the BYA Code of Conduct

Essential Qualifications, Licenses & Clearances:  

·         Qualification in youth work, community services, health promotion, mental health or related field

·         Police Clearance

·         Working with Children Card

·         Driver’s License

·         Mental Health First Aid

Experience:

·         Emerging skills in leading and developing innovative, evidence-based youth prevention and promotion programs

·         Knowledge and experience with implementing key evidence-based models of care

·         Highly developed verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills, and sound judgement and critical decision-making skills

·         Experience with completion of funding reports and grant acquittals

·         Demonstrated ability to develop, influence and maintain effective relationships with consumers, staff and stakeholders

·         Experience working in funded non-government organisations in the mental health sector (desirable)

·         Experience with application of quality and risk management principles (desirable)

·         Knowledge and proficiency with Zanda, formally Power Diary (desirable)

Skills:

·         Strong commitment to BYA’s values and mission.

·         Knowledge and understanding of issues and impacts affecting young people in rural and remote settings

·         Emerging leadership skills

·         Strong commitment to innovation and continuous improvement

·         Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively within a small team as well as work autonomously

·         Demonstrated analytical conceptual and problem-solving skills

·         Highly developed organisational skills