Support children with Purpose, Skill and Strength
This home provides 24/7 therapeutic care to children in statutory out-of-home care. Due to the complexity and risk profile of the placement, only experienced specialist residential care workers are rostered to this home.
This role is not general residential care. It is intensive, high-risk work requiring strong professional boundaries, advanced behavioural insight, and the confidence to maintain safety for yourself, your colleagues, and the child in your care.
About the Role
As a Specialist Residential Care Youth Worker, you will support children with complex trauma and neurodivergent support needs who require highly structured, consistent and skilled care.
Your role will include:
* Providing trauma-informed, child-centred care within a highly structured environment
* Maintaining safety during frequent behavioural escalations, including physical aggression
* Actively recognising escalation patterns and responding early using Behaviour Support Plans
* Defending yourself appropriately and following all safety and protective intervention protocols
* Supporting daily routines, medication administration, transport, and household management
* Delivering activity-based engagement as a core regulation and relationship-building strategy
* Supporting limited education engagement in collaboration with education and clinical teams
* Completing detailed case notes, incident reports and compliance documentation
* Working closely with a multidisciplinary team to ensure consistent, planned responses
What This Placement Is Really Like
The children in placement:
* Require constant supervision and high levels of professional judgement
* Can escalate quickly if needs are not anticipated or managed skilfully
* Have a high prevalence of escalations which can be dangerous and requires carers who can remain calm, decisive and safe
* Respond best to carers who provide clear structure, firm boundaries, choice-based communication and consistency
* Thrive when engaged in activities and routines that keep them occupied and regulated
* Need adults who can actively listen, take their views seriously, and follow through on commitments
You must be able to:
* Read early behavioural cues and intervene before escalation
* Maintain authority and safety without escalating the situation
* Work confidently in an environment where protective responses may be required
* Stay grounded, regulated and professional during repeated challenging incidents
This role will not suit everyone. It is demanding, confronting, and requires advanced resilience and self-management skills.
Essential Requirements
This is a specialist role. Applicants must have:
* Certificate IV in Child, Youth & Family Intervention (or equivalent – see our website for the full list of recognised qualifications)
* Demonstrated experience in high-risk residential or intensive support settings
* Experience supporting children with complex trauma and neurodivergent presentations (ADHD, ASD, ODD, PTSD etc)
* Confidence using Behaviour Support Plans, restrictive practices and protective interventions
* Strong understanding of trauma-informed and neuro-affirming practice
* Emotional resilience and the ability to remain calm under pressure
* Current Australian Driver's Licence
* Current Victorian Employee Working with Children Check
* Current First Aid Certificate
* Willingness to undergo a National Police Check (arranged by us)
* Ability to comply with all safety requirements
Experience working alongside children with complex trauma, disability, behavioural escalation and restrictive practices is essential for this role.
Why Join Us?
We support our staff as strongly as we expect them to support our clients.
* Above award pay
* Penalty rates for afternoon, night and sleepover shifts
* Salary packaging to increase take-home pay (permanent employees)
* Intensive training specific to this placement
* Ongoing professional development + $500 annual external training allowance
* Clinical support, professional debriefing and Employee Assistance Program
* Annual wage increases aligned with Fair Work or CPI
Confidential Enquiries Welcome
Due to the sensitive and high-risk nature of this placement, we encourage interested applicants to contact us for a confidential discussion before applying. Additional information will be provided to suitable candidates at the appropriate stage.
Call People & Culture on or email
How to Apply:
Apply using our online form
* Interviews will be conducted as applications are received
Junction Support Services is a child-safe organisation and an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to diversity and inclusion. We welcome applications from First Nations peoples, individuals with disability or lived experience of disability, and people of all cultural backgrounds, gender identities and sexual orientations. We value the unique perspectives and contributions that diversity brings to our workplace