Foster Carers (Intensive Therapeutic, Long Term & Respite)
Job No:
16372
Location:
Adelaide Metro & Adelaide Hills, SA
About the Organisation
Life Without Barriers (LWB) is a not-for-profit organisation working to support children and young people in crisis. The organisation is a leading provider of care in Australia and New Zealand and is renowned for its flexibility, innovation and strong community focus.
Since inception in 1995, LWB has expanded into every Australian State and Territory and is now expanding into New Zealand. We provide service across three program areas: Out of Home Care, Disability and Mental Health. LWB has experienced rapid growth and a dramatic increase in demand for services.
Foster carers are an integral part of the network and support that LWB offers to clients and children in need.
WINNER: 2007 Australian Business Awards - Innovation
WINNER: 2007 and 2008 MAP Marketing - Fastest Growing Business
Why do Young People and Children enter Foster Care?
Foster Care and Respite Care involves the placement of children who come into care for various reasons, with families or individuals outside of their own homes. The goal of foster care is to provide for the physical, emotional and social needs of children in a 'substitute' family.
Children who require foster and respite care may include:
- Children with emotional and behavioural issues;
- Children who may have experienced abuse and neglect;
- Children who need families that are sensitive to and respectful of their culture and their birth family; and
- Teenagers who have not experienced a positive family life and now need extra patience and commitment.
As a Foster Carer, some of your duties and responsibilities will likely include:
- Providing a stable, supportive and nurturing home for the young person;
- Providing emotional support and care to meet the young person's day-to-day needs;
- Encouraging positive communication and behaviour in the young person;
- Supporting the young person in his/her educational and recreational activities, as well as cultural and religious needs; and
- Working with Life Without Barriers to achieve goals and plans for the young person.
It is also important for Foster Carers and Respite Carers to maintain contact with people and places which are of importance to the young person.
About the Opportunities
Life Without Barriers (LWB) has wonderful opportunities for compassionate people to join their team as Intensive Therapeutic Foster Carers and Foster Carers (Long Term & Respite) to care for young people with a range of complex and challenging behaviours throughout the Adelaide Metro and Adelaide Hills areas.
In terms of the Intensive Therapeutic Foster Carers, you will be focused on providing individual home-based care for either a 12 year old boy or a 13 year old girl. Both young people have experienced a severe traumatic and abusive background, and require carers who can provide a positive nurturing and stable environment.
The successful applicants for these roles will either be a single person or a couple, have no children in their care and are prepared not to engage in other employment. You will show a commitment and willingness to work with a team of Clinicians and Support Workers, engage in training to learn how to provide a therapeutic, caring environment to assist the young person to settle and to form positive relationships and behaviours.
The main objective of the Long Term and Respite Foster Carer roles is to provide stability and support to young people, either on a full time basis or for regular weekends and sometimes during carer vacation periods.
Similar to the Intensive Therapeutic role, you will need to be prepared to work as part of a team and to assist a child or young person overcome the effects of trauma and abuse. You will have the support of a team and receive high level training and support.
For children and young people from particular ethnic, migrant or refugee backgrounds, being away form their birth parents can be difficult. LWB is committed to assisting and supporting as far as possible to maintain their identity, language, cultural and religious connections.
In selecting Foster Carers, LWB will consider applicants' maturity, health, lifestyle and capacity and /or experience to manage and care for young people with complex and challenging needs. Some experience in this role or experience in human services would be held in high regard but not essential. Furthermore you must possess a first aid certificate (or be willing to obtain one).
You must be able to:
- Make a commitment to being a meaningful person in a child's life;
- Provide a safe, loving and caring environment to a child;
- Respect children and their primary attachment to their families; and
- Demonstrate that you are a creative problem solver, have listening skills, flexibility and a sense of humour.
Furthermore, Carers should have adequate, safe accommodation for a child. Carer homes must be maintained in a hygienic, safe and orderly manner, and it is mandatory that you have a spare bedroom available for the foster child. It is also important that you provide a smoke-free environment, or that all smoking is done outdoors and away from children. All successful applicants will be required to undertake a Criminal History check and a Working With Children check before commencement.
All Carers are integral to the team, and this is reflected in the high level of excellent support, training and workshops provided by LWB. You will also be required to work closely with the LWB Clinical Services Team, which provides therapeutic support, training and workshops for Out of Home Care staff and Carers.
You will be fully supported by LWB at all times in these important roles, through access to 24 hour on-call telephone support, clinical support and regular training and development opportunities. You will also be allocated a Supporter of Carers, who will be there to advise and support you as necessary.
LWB expects their Carers to provide the highest quality care to young people. As such, Intensive Therapeutic Foster Carers will be provided with a generous salary between $60,000 - $80,000, to be negotiated, while Long Term and Respite Foster Carers will be provided with a substantial tax-free Carer reimbursement of at least $600.00 per week.
As a LWB Carer you will also enjoy access to regular networking events including picnics, morning teas and peer support events.
These are extremely satisfying and rewarding roles, where you will improve the lives of others and truly make a difference within the community!
PLEASE NOTE: Your application will be forwarded to a panel for review. Successful candidates will be forwarded an Information Pack and invited to attend an Information Day and training.