Position Description

Position details
Position title Youth Justice Case Manager
Position number YJ0623
Division Youth Justice
Unit/Branch Youth Justice
Classification/Grade CYF2
Employment status Ongoing, full time
Position reports to Team Leader, Youth Justice

Work location 16-18 Hertford Road, Sunshine VIC

Name: Jayne Simms – Regional General Manager

Position contact Phone: 0439 862 296
Email: jayne.simms@justice.vic.gov.au

Role purpose
The Youth Justice Team provides community-based supervision and a range of case management and support
services for young people who are appearing before, or have been sentenced by, the Children’s Court,
Children’s Koori Court and adult criminal courts and who have been placed on youth justice supervised orders.
The team promotes the personal development of young offenders and contributes to the reduction of crime in the
community including:
 youth-specific court liaison, advice and support services to the Children’s Court, Children’s Koori Court
and adult courts
 reports to and advises the Youth Residential Board and Youth Parole Board
 community-based supervision and support services for young people
 age-appropriate case management, casework interventions and links to programs and supports in the
community, to respond to factors that contribute to offending.
Case Managers supervise and provide support to clients subject to Youth Justice court orders. The position
ensures that all cases are managed to a high standard. This includes preparing Court and Youth Parole Board
reports, developing Client Service Plans and attending court for client matters. Case Managers provide
assessments, develop case plans/reports and advocate for the provision of support services. Case Managers
also maintain professional relationships with Youth Justice Centres, the Youth Parole Board, Courts and
community service organisations. The Youth Justice places emphasis on diversion and rehabilitation of young
offenders in order to minimise further offending. Operating outside normal office hours may be required at times.

Key accountabilities
• Provide day-to-day statutory supervision and case management of young people with complex needs,
challenging behaviours and/or high profile young people on statutory orders issued by the courts or Youth
Parole Board.
• Provide holistic support to increase young people’s opportunities of enhanced quality of life and community
inclusion. This includes adopting a Care Team approach, assessments, implementing and reviewing case
plans and goal-setting, monitoring progress, advocacy and referrals.
• In partnership with service providers, provide information to young people, their families and carers on
procedures, practices, guidelines, legislation and provide advice and case consultation on reports regarding
safety and wellbeing and the role of the department in providing this support.
• Implementation and review client service plans, programs and services to ensure an appropriate standard of
care, supervision, safety and support is provided.
• Contribute to strategies that address offending behaviour and encourage young people to comply with
statutory orders and respond to non-compliance in accordance with program standards.

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 • Operate as required by legislation and departmental standards and exercise the appropriate authorities and
legal delegations pursuant to relevant legislation and other specific delegations and functions.
• Under supervision, liaise with agencies such as courts, policy and mental health services and communicate
effectively with a range of external agencies and service providers.
• Prepare and present comprehensive case and court reports, advice and correspondence containing informed
comment, viable options for consideration and well-reasoned recommendations to the courts and the Youth
Parole Board.
• Contribute to the preparation of reports, briefs and correspondence and maintenance of prescribed registers,
reporting systems and client records ensuring the need to adhere to matters of confidentiality and diversity
within a sensitive environment.
• Facilitate care team meetings or participate in case conferences, including family decision making, with other
professionals.
• Operate as an effective team member, contributing to team planning, work process improvements and day-to-
day administration.
• Maintain effective working relationships with custodial staff and under supervision, participate in relevant
negotiations to ensure the provision of coordinated service delivery designed to successfully reintegrate young
people into the community and reduce offending behaviour.
• Be professionally accountable for decisions that impact on young people and staff, made within bounds of
department policy and with management support.
• Keep accurate and complete records of your work activities in accordance with legislative requirements and
the department's records, information security and privacy policies and requirements.
• Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and for that of others in the workplace by working in
accordance with legislative requirements and the department's occupational health and safety (OHS) policies
and procedures.
• Demonstrate how the actions and outcomes of this role and work unit impact young people and the
department’s ability to deliver, or facilitate the delivery of, effective support and services.

Key selection criteria

Technical • An understanding of the youth justice system, particularly the principles and philosophy
expertise underpinning relevant legislation and the Victorian Youth Justice program.
• An understanding of the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 and associated policies and
guidelines developed for use by youth justice workers.
• An understanding of the principles of case management and case work and being able to utilise
a range of assessment and interventions relevant to the age, gender, developmental stage, and
cultural background and offending related needs of the young person.
Knowledge • Stakeholder Management: Understands underlying needs and issues of stakeholders, and
and skills negotiates effectively to develop and implement solutions.
• Influence and Negotiation: Establishes trust with others, gathers information and develops
persuasive arguments based on facts, precedents and common views to advocate own
viewpoint and win concessions while maintaining good relations.
• Self Management: Plans and prioritises work of self and others, and seeks to understand
alternate views and circumstances in order to address personal preference or bias and select
the most effective method to ensure targets are achieved.
Personal • Customer/Client Focus: Builds and sustains effective relationships with customers in order to
qualities build a common understanding and address their needs.
• Empathy and Cultural Awareness: Demonstrates an interest in and an appreciation of a
range of different cultures and actively seeks to understand and effectively address the issues
and views of others.
• Initiative and accountability: Takes responsibility for actions and proactively implements work
plan and addresses issues.
• Teamwork: Cooperate effectively with the team and work collaboratively to achieve work plan
and goals.

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 Qualifications

 A Bachelor of Social Work or Diploma in Community Services Work is highly desirable. Other tertiary
qualifications at Diploma level or above will be considered only if they include units of study in case
management/casework practice and have had supervised practical work placements.
 A full driver’s licence is required due to the need to respond to emergencies across the state at short notice
and outside business hours as required.
 A current employee Working with Children Check (WWCC) card is required and will need to be provided prior
to commencement of employment by the applicant. Currency will need to be maintained by the employee for
the period of employment.

Important information
The salary range for this position is set out in Schedule B of the Victorian Public Service Enterprise Agreement
2016. Please refer to the Department of Treasury and Finance website (dtf.vic.gov.au) for further information.
Department policy stipulates that salary upon commencement is paid at the base of the salary range for the
relevant grade. Any above base requests require sign off by an executive delegate and will be by exception only
or where required to match the current salary of Victorian Public Service staff transferring at level.
Individuals who have received a Voluntary Departure Package from a Victorian Public Service
department/agency are ineligible for re-employment for a minimum period of three calendar years from the date
of separation.
The department is committed to providing and maintaining a working environment which is safe and without risk
to the health of its employees.
All appointments to the Department of Justice and Community Safety are subject to reference checks and
criminal record checks. Some positions may also be subject to a medical check and/or ‘Working with Children
Check’.
If the position is based in a prison or community corrections location or has offender management
responsibilities, employment may be subject to a number of additional pre-employment security and safety
checks, including, but not limited to:
 Pre-employment Security Check (Declaration Form).
 National Police Record and Fingerprints Check and International Police Clearance (if applicable).
 VicRoads Information Check and Interstate Drivers Licence Check (if applicable).
Department of Justice and Community Safety employees are required to demonstrate commitment to:
 The department’s values and behaviours – serve the community, work together, act with integrity,
respect other people and make it happen.
 The environment – the department is committed to minimising its environmental impact and requires all
staff to comply with its environmental policy.
 Recordkeeping – the department is committed to good recordkeeping and requires all staff to routinely
create and keep full and accurate records of their work-related activities, transactions and decisions, using
authorised systems.
 Diversity – the department embraces diversity amongst its staff and strongly encourages suitably qualified
people from all cultural backgrounds to apply.
Please visit About the Department on the Department of Justice and Community Safety website
(justice.vic.gov.au) for information on our:
 organisational values and structure
 policies such as privacy and conflict of interest
 Victorian Public Service (VPS) code of conduct
 Disability Action Plan and other topics relating to employment in the department
 commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children.

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