The posting
As a Senior Social Worker, you will undertake a dual role comprising senior clinical practice (50%) and leadership of the Youth Development & Growth portfolio (50%).
In your clinical role as a Senior Practitioner, you will conduct clinical assessments, formulate and provide psychological interventions, manage risk and complexity, coordinate care, support caregivers and contribute to clinical reviews and practice development.
As Portfolio Lead, you will guide the design, implementation and evaluation of developmental initiatives that help youth develop identity, purpose, agency and relationships. You will provide direct supervision to two to three staff members assigned to the portfolio. Across both areas, you will work with youth and family advisors, clinical colleagues and community partners to ensure that developmental opportunities and clinical care are complementary, coordinated and responsive to youth needs.
Key Responsibilities
Senior Clinical Practice - approximately 50%
- Manage an appropriate clinical caseload as a Senior Practitioner, including youth presenting with greater risk or complexity.
- Conduct comprehensive mental health assessments, case formulation and collaborative care planning with youth and families.
- Provide psychosocial and psychological interventions, including counselling, psychoeducation, caregiver support and casework management.
- Assess and manage clinical risk, develop safety plans and escalate concerns in accordance with organisational protocols.
- Coordinate care with families, schools, healthcare providers and other services, including transitions into, between and out of services.
- Participate in case reviews and clinical supervision, and contribute senior-practice perspectives to clinical decisions and service improvement.
- Maintain timely, accurate clinical documentation and comply with ethical, legal, funding and organisational requirements.
Youth Development & Growth Portfolio Leadership - approximately 50%
Portfolio direction, delivery and quality
- Lead the Youth Development & Growth portfolio and translate its direction into coherent programmes, pathways, priorities and annual workplan.
- Oversee the development of accessible opportunities for youth to connect, explore interests and strengths, and seek support without stigma or over-medicalisation.
- Create meaningful pathways for youth participation, enabling youth to progress from programme participants to volunteers, co-design partners, facilitators and advisors.
- Co-create programmes and improvement initiatives with youth and families so that lived experience informs programme design, delivery and review.
- Build and maintain partnerships with schools, community organisations and other stakeholders that broaden developmental opportunities and strengthen continuity of support for youth.
- Evaluate and use evidence, programme data and feedback from youth, families and partners to monitor outcomes and continuously improve initiatives.
- Oversee data collection, report generation and timely submission of portfolio reports in compliance with organisational and funding requirements.
- Coordinate work across the Growth, Clinical, Community and General Circles so that developmental programmes complement clinical care and other centre functions.
Supervision of Portfolio Staff
- Provide direct supervision, work direction and developmental support to two to three staff members contributing to the Youth Development & Growth portfolio.
- Establish role clarity, priorities and accountability for agreed outputs while fostering reflective practice, collaboration and professional growth.
- Monitor staff workload, performance and well-being, and address capability or delivery concerns in a timely manner.
Job Requirements
Qualification
- Degree or post-graduate diploma in social work, counselling or clinical mental health.
- Minimum six years of direct work experience with youth and families of which three years of clinical experience with youth and/or youth mental health.
- Experience in designing, implementing and evaluating youth development, group-based or community-based programmes.
- Proven track record in leading and mentoring teams in clinical or community-based settings.
- Experience facilitating youth participation or co-design with youth and families is an advantage.
Skills
- Strong programme design, facilitation and evaluation capabilities, with the ability to translate developmental aims into practical experiences and pathways.
- Ability to engage youth meaningfully and create conditions for shared decision-making, co-design and youth leadership.
- Excellent partnership-building and stakeholder-engagement skills across schools, community organisations and service providers.
- Strong interpersonal, supervision and leadership skills to guide and inspire a multidisciplinary team.
- Proficiency in mental health assessment, psychosocial and psychological intervention and case management.
- Ability to use evidence, feedback and data to support learning, decisions and continuous improvement.
Attributes
- Passionate about enabling youth to flourish, with a strong belief in their strengths, voice and capacity to contribute.
- Empathetic, adaptable and resilient in navigating a dynamic work environment.
- A systemic and strategic thinker who can connect youth development, clinical care and community supports.
- Collaborative and able to work effectively across disciplines, portfolios and organisational boundaries.
- Reflective and learning-oriented, with a commitment to ethical practice, service excellence and continuous improvement.
- A clear communicator who can inspire, develop and mobilise team members and partners.
