House Parent - Career Advice - Community and Health

Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant
Refuge Worker

Related Jobs or Working with these Jobs

Hostel or House Parents provide care and supervision for children and young people living in residential facilities such as boarding school residential colleges and hostels.

House parents are concerned with all the tasks relating to the personal care, boarding accommodation, meals, study, recreation and weekend activities of children and adolescents in a residential Future Growth Very Strong establishment. They usually live in or near the boarding establishment.

ANZSCO ID: 423412

Alternative names: The term "Houseparent" is one of many names to describe Residential Child Care Worker, Homeparent, Hostel Parent, Residential Staff, Teaching Parent, Resident Counselor.

Specialisations: Boarding School Supervisor - usually provides a similar service to that of a house parent, operating from a school boarding house that provides accommodation facilities for students.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

concern for the wellbeing of young people
understanding of students' needs and cultural differences
sense of responsibility
good leadership skills
good organisational skills
able to work closely with others in a community setting
able to cope with the physical demands of the job.

Boarding School Supervisor
(Source: Advertiser)

Duties & Tasks

House parents may perform the following tasks:

ensure good behaviour of the children
supervise and arrange activities that promote intellectual, physical, social and spiritual development
ensure living and hygiene standards are maintained
ensure students are attending classes
lend a sympathetic ear to children with problems or provide counselling services
perform minor domestic duties
accompany students on weekend outings.

Working conditions

Being a house parent can be considered more of a calling than an occupation. While on duty, this is a 24 hour a day responsibility (just like being a parent to your own children). You must have an innate concern for the wellbeing of youngsters. You don’t choose the children placed in your care, so a good understanding of cultural differences is important. Effective houseparents have a strong sense of responsibility, great leadership skills, are very organized, able to work in close proximity to others, and be in good health and physical condition.

Most of the time, you will be in close contact with biological parents, social workers, counselors and child psychologists, teachers and more. The ability to interface with a variety of people is essential. Good record keeping is also important.

Many employers require a college degree for at least one of the houseparent couple. Certainly experience working with children is viewed very favorably (including your own children). Most of the time houseparents work with troubled children, so specific experience in this field will give the applicant couple a favorable position.

Because of the interpersonal nature of this work with children, you can expect a very thorough background drug, and reference check.

You will need a valid drivers license and be insurable. You will probably be required to have CPR and first aid certifications, or be able to obtain them.

House parents are employed in a variety of environments. You could work in a Christian facility, a state or county organization, maternity home, etc. It is important that you research the guiding principles of the employer, to ensure that they line up with your own personal principles. This job is not 9 to 5. It’s your life. Due diligence up front will make for a much happier home life for you (and the children in your home).

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a Hostel Parent without formal qualifications, however, they may be useful. A course in residential care might be helpful.

Did You Know?

There are Domestic and Family Violence (DFV) refuges (also called Safe Houses and Shelters) throughout Australia. They provide a safe and secure place for women and children fleeing DFV to live. The length of time someone will stay in a refuge depends on their individual needs and their personal circumstances. The evidence shows separation is the most dangerous time for women experiencing domestic and family violence

No two stories of people coming into refuge are the same, however all people coming into refuge will have access to specialist, intensive support. Staff in the refuge will help their clients with support, validation and advocacy. They will provide risk assessment and safety planning, assistance with Centrelink, financial institutions, long term accommodation needs and Court matters.

The location and details of women’s refuges are highly confidential and not available to the public. This is to protect the safety and security of both the refuge and the clients who call the refuge their home.

Example of a Women's Domestic Violence Refuge
https://youtu.be/ivUyLapV9sY

Child or Youth Residential Care Assistants provide care and supervision for children and young people living in residential or institutional facilities such as group homes and correctional institutions. Future Growth Very Strong Residential Care Officers provide care and supervision for children or disabled persons in group housing or institutional care.

ANZSCO ID: 423411

Alternative names: Residential Care Officer

Knowledge, Skills & Attributes

A person that is passionate about making a real difference in people's lives and strives on helping others. Someone that enjoys working with variety of different challenges in their day-to-day.

Flexibility across a 7 day/night roster, which includes shift work, periodic weekend, public holidays, night shifts & overnight sleepovers.
Knowledge and understanding of Child Protection Residential Youth Work is essential
Understanding or ability to gain knowledge about trauma based behaviours.
A requirement prior to commencement, is eligibility to apply for or currently hold the below: (these are to be maintained at your own expense).
- Suitability Blue Card for Working with Children and Young People
- Positive Notice Criminal History Check - Yellow Card or NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Child Protection and Personal History Screening Check
- Valid and current First Aid and CPR certification
- Must have completed or be enrolled to commence a minimum Certificate 4 Qualification in a relevant area (Child, Youth and Family Intervention/Disability/Mental Health/Community Services)
- Must have a drivers licence
- Must have completed the NDIS Worker Orientation module

Children's feet
(Source: Gold Coast Bulletin)

Duties and Tasks

Plans and implements programmes of supervision and care for children in residential care.
Supports families and provides education and care for children and disabled persons in adult service units, group housing and government institutions.
Assesses clients' needs and plans, develops and implements educational, training and support programmes.
Interviews clients and assesses the nature and extent of difficulties.
Monitors and reports on the progress of clients.
Supervises and arranges activities to enhance the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of children in residential care.
Wakes children and ensures they are washed, dressed, fed and ready for educational and recreational activities.
Supervises children during domestic activities such as eating meals and showering.
Maintains discipline, enforces regulations and behaviour standards, compiles disciplinary reports and assists in implementing remedial measures.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You usually need a certificate III or IV in community services, social services, or child, youth, family intervention, residential care, individual support, aged care or another related field to work as a Residential Care Officer or Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant. Some workers have university qualifications.

Refuge Workers provide services and support to people seeking assistance in a refuge. They may work with high-risk children who live in residential facilities, group homes, or correctional facilities, or they may provide emotional and psychological support to people who live in refuges.

ANZSCO ID: 423413

Alternative names: Refuge Workers, also known as special care workers, work with children and adults in a variety of capacities.

Knowledge, skills and attributes

Ability to perceive when others are in need of help
Active listening
Empathy
Interpersonal skills
Positive and nonjudgmental attitude

Youth Refuge Worker
(Source: The Salvation Army)

Duties and Tasks

Organises refuge accommodation.
Provides emotional support to residents of refuges.
Ensuring children are following facility rules and disciplining them and filing disciplinary reports when infractions occur
Ensuring children in group homes are washed and fed
Planning, coordinating, and supervising individual and group activities for children in residential care facilities
Steering refuge residents to welfare services as necessary and needed
Supervising children in residential or group homes
Refers residents of refuges for health and welfare assistance and ensures security of refuge.

Working conditions

Refuge Workers may live where they work, as in a children's correctional facility, group home, or other residential structure. They may also commute to a place of refuge or other facility on a daily basis.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a Refuge Worker without formal qualifications, however, they may be useful. VET (Vocational Education and Training) and university are both common study pathways for Refuge Workers.

Childcare Centre Manager	Community Corrections Officer Parole or Probations Officer	Community Worker	Counsellor
Early Childhood Educator	Drug & Alcohol Counsellor	Nanny	Social Worker
Special Care Worker	Teacher	Youth Worker