About the role
 

As a Detention Youth Worker, you will be responsible for making sure young people are kept safe and well while they are in detention. You will be someone who:

• encourages young people to make good decisions by promoting and reinforcing positive behaviour to help them integrate back into the community.
• helps young people understand and follow the rules of the centre
• can deliver activities that are sensitive to gender, cultural beliefs, and health needs.
• a young person can go to if they need someone to talk to
• checks on young people regularly through the day and night and makes sure they are okay.
• engages young people in constructive activities.

As necessary, you will also be required to manage the challenging behaviours of some young people in detention and use physical restraint on young people for their own protection, and others. You will be trained in the approved use of force.

Key responsibilities

As a Detention Youth Worker, you will specifically:

• apply and maintain the safety and security of the youth detention centre through using departmental practices and procedures with young people in detention and visitors.
• ensure a safe and secure accommodation environment for young people in detention through contributing to their behaviour management (including the use of physical restraint as a last resort) and personal development.
• interact and communicate to provide efficient and effective services to young people in detention.
• make ethical decisions and communicate professionally with young people in detention, colleagues, and stakeholders.
• supervise and support young people’s participation in a range of services and programs.
• write and submit reports and records using the department’s IT system in an accurate and timely manner.
• meet the needs of young people in detention from diverse social and cultural backgrounds by applying knowledge of appropriate behaviours and the developmental needs of adolescents.
• communicate effectively and sensitively with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and understand the cultures and issues which impact upon them in today’s society.