Youth Worker (School)

Job Description About the Role We are seeking a dedicated and empathetic Youth Worker to serve as a pivotal first point of contact for student management within a secondary school environment. Operating closely within the school’s restorative practice framework, you will focus on building high-trust relationships with students facing behavioural challenges. You will support the Student Management (SM) Committee by delivering immediate, constructive interventions, de-escalating tensions, and fostering a safe, positive school community. Key Responsibilities 1. Primary Response & Immediate Intervention • Act as the immediate first responder for behavioural incidents during curriculum hours. • Conduct objective, initial assessments of incidents through fact-finding. • Guide involved students through writing factual incident reports. • Implement immediate, safe de-escalation strategies when conflicts arise. • Collaborate closely with the SM Committee to determine appropriate, framework-aligned responses. 2. Restorative Practice & Mediation • Facilitate constructive restorative conversations and mediate conflicts post-incident. • Support students in understanding the profound impact of their actions on peers and the school community. • Guide students toward positive behavioral modifications and self-reflection. 3. Relationship Building & Proactive Outreach • Engage students proactively during targeted hours to build genuine rapport and trust. • Conduct strategic outreach to at-risk students (e.g., first/second-time vapers, students with multiple incident reports, or those exhibiting persistent disruptive behaviours). 4. Documentation & Compliance • Maintain meticulous, up-to-date records of all interventions, restorative processes, and interactions. • Ensure all casework documentation strictly complies with privacy, data protection, and confidentiality protocols. Scope & Limitations • Focus: This role provides practical guidance, behavioral mediation, and student support. It does not involve formal counseling or clinical psychotherapy. • Framework: All interventions align tightly with established school policies and support, rather than replace, formal disciplinary channels. Work Schedule & Work-Life Balance Enjoy a highly structured and predictable schedule tailored around the academic calendar: • Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays: 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Includes 1-hour lunch break) • Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (Includes 1-hour lunch break) • Fridays, HBL Days & Selected School Holiday Days: 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. • Rest Days: Strictly no service required on Saturdays, Sundays, and Gazetted Public Holidays. Job Requirements Qualifications & Experience • Minimum 2 years of direct experience in professional youth work or youth intervention settings. • Preferred Certifications: Diploma or Degree in Counselling, Educational Psychology, Social Work, or fields directly related to social-emotional learning. Equivalent recognized qualifications will be fully considered. • Proven prior experience managing secondary school students and handling classroom dynamics effectively. Skills & Competencies • Restorative Practices: Strong foundational understanding of or training in restorative justice/conversations is highly advantageous. • Interpersonal Skills: Exceptional communication abilities with a natural capability to build fast, genuine rapport with youths from highly diverse backgrounds. • Core Traits: High emotional intelligence, resilience, patience, and a deep interest in mentoring at-risk youths.