Detention youth workers

As a detention youth worker, you will ensure that young people in detention have a safe and secure living environment.

You will supervise and help with the delivery of activities that are sensitive to:

• gender
• cultural beliefs
• health needs.

Detention youth workers support young people in detention, who are separated from their family, friends and community.

You will ensure that young people are engaged in constructive activities including:

• cultural programs
• educational programs
• therapeutic programs
• vocational programs.

You will also help young people integrate back into the community.

Qualifications

You don’t need a qualification to start working as a detention youth worker, but a Certificate IV in Youth Justice or a Diploma of Youth Justice are highly desirable.

We will consider your skills, knowledge and experience, including:

• youth-related work experience
• experience working with people with a disability
• experience working with people from different ethnic backgrounds
• knowledge and understanding of the youth justice system.

Requirements

To become a detention youth worker you must:

• have a current apply first aid certificate (including the perform CPR component) or be enrolled to get one
• have a blue card to work with children or be eligible to get one
• be eligible to work in Australia.

We value detention youth workers with life experience, who can be positive role models for young people in detention. We consider everyone’s life experience and criminal history on a case-by-case basis.

Personal attributes

Detention youth workers are:

• patient and positive
• professional and courteous
• resourceful and resilient
• supportive and understanding
• good communicators
• respectful
• team players
• able to cope with a physically-challenging work environment
• responsible role models for young people.

Recruitment process

Vacancies are advertised on SmartJobs.

Our recruitment process for detention youth workers includes:

• written application including your resume
• applicant profiling
• assessment centre and interview
• employment screening
• medical+musculoskeletal+Fitness assessment
• reference checks
• Induction training.

Written application

Our ad on SmartJobs will give you documents to read including the role description. The role description will tell you what to include in your written application. You should read this carefully. Your application will help us decide how you meet the responsibilities of being a detention youth worker, and if you are the right person for the job.

Knowledge of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultures and experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities is highly regarded. Please ensure you research and learn about the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people’s customs, traditions, and protocols as you will be assessed on this.

Your application will also need to include your resume. It should tell us:

• personal details
• work history
• education and training
• names and contact details of 2 referees (it is desirable that at least 1 be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is recognised and accepted within the community or someone who can vouch for your cultural awareness). We are just after someone that can talk to your abilities and knowledge of working with Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people.

We will consider your written application, and contact you to discuss your application and the assessment process.

To apply for this job

Apply online through SmartJobs, hand delivered applications will not be accepted.

The detention youth workers role involves direct contact and interaction with young people accommodated in in a youth detention centre. We value detention youth workers with life experience who can be positive role models for young people in detention.

Knowledge of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultures and experience working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities is highly regarded. Please ensure you research and learn about the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people’s customs, traditions, and protocols as you will be assessed on this.

A member of the Recruitment Team will contact you regarding the next steps and what you will be required to undertake the assessment process.

Applicant profiling

Detention youth workers need to:

• be able to learn new information
• work well with others
• solve problems
• show good judgement.

We will get you to do ability and personality tests to tell us about your skills in these areas. The tests are run by SAFESELECT. You will not get feedback on your test results.

If your test results match the detention youth worker personality profile, we will contact you for an interview.

Assessment Centre and Interview

Successful shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend and Assessment Centre and Interview that will help us to find out more about how you would deal with the demands of being a detention youth worker. This may take up to 2-4 hours.

The ability to work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander young people is one of the essential criteria for suitability to work in this role. During the selection process there will be times that you will be required to demonstrate to the selection panel your knowledge and awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and protocols.

You will have to complete some paperwork before your interview. You will also have to show us your blue card or apply for one.

All applicants will be ranked on how well we think they are suited to the role.

Employment screening

We do criminal history checks on all applicants before we consider employing them.

Medical assessment

Detention youth workers need to be psychologically strong, physically fit and mentally alert. We require all applicants to have a medical assessment. This will check that you meet the health requirements of the job. We will tell you the provider who will assess you.

Your medical examination will take about an hour. You will be weighed, measured and given a general health check-up. You will also need to do some basic movements like squatting and balancing.

The doctor will match your results against the job’s requirements. This will include:

• heart health indicators
• body mass index (a body mass index of under 40 and a waist measurement of under 88cm for women and 100cm for men)
• medical conditions such as blood pressure, asthma, epilepsy and diabetes, and medication use
• vision (no colour blindness)
• hearing
• psychological health
• musculoskeletal health
• fitness level
• lifestyle factors.

Reference checks

We will contact your referees and ask them to confirm the information you have given us.

At least one of your referees must be an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person who is recognised and accepted within the community.  We are just after someone that can talk to your abilities and knowledge of working with Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people.

Some things we would ask of your referee would be how they would rate your cultural capability, and if they think you would be suitable to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people in detention.

As the referees are not required until point of interview this should allow you reasonable time to make these connections within your community.

Induction training

If you are successful and we offer you a job, you will start with paid induction training.

We will give you 5 weeks of induction training. This training is held Monday to Friday and includes:

• on-the-job training
• some shadow shifts (of 12 hours duration) which may occur on any day of the week
  • shadow shifts is where you work with another detention youth worker
• follow up training if you need it.

You need to go to all the training and pass written and practical tests.

You must meet all competencies and standards in the induction training, before you are confirmed in the role.

We will provide ongoing training and development opportunities. Detention Youth Workers are required to be able to call upon the knowledge and capabilities they gain through this induction program throughout their work.

Probation period

A minimum probation period of 6 months will apply for permanent detention youth worker positions.