Senior Practice Leader

THE ROLE

Reporting to the Principal Practitioner, Secure Care Services, the Practice Leader will have a significant role within Secure Care implementing a trauma informed approach across the services.  The Practice Leader, in collaboration with operational staff, will be responsible for continuously improving the way we engage and work therapeutically with children and young people and supporting a culturally safe environment.  Research shows that direct care staff play a crucial role in supporting children and young people in secure facilities to address their complex issues and develop pro-social skills that will assist them to be active members in the community.  As role models, staff need to demonstrate, always, pro-social behaviour, self-management and constructive problem-solving skills to the children and young people who may have not had the opportunity to develop their own skills in these areas. 

The Practice Leader will use their leadership and therapeutic expertise, skills and experience to guide, advise and support staff as they undertake their challenging day to day work with children and young people.  This will be done through one-to-one supervision, group sessions and the provision of education on a range of issues associated with the impact of trauma on children and young people. They will work with other professionals such as teachers and health service clinicians to ensure that there is a consistent therapeutic approach to the work with children and young people.  They will also play a key role in informing case planning and designing behavioural support plans.

The Practice Leader will take a lead role in supporting both direct care staff and child protection in the implementation of the Behaviour Support Plan and work to develop a network of other committed professionals across the mental health, drug and alcohol, education and out-of-home care systems to provide a collaborative and holistic approach to supporting the children and young people.

ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE

• Provide clinical supervision, practice advice and coaching based on sound practice expertise and contemporary, trauma informed research that delivers positive outcomes for children and young people in secure settings.
• Provide advice and consultation in the support and management of high risk, extremely complex and/or sensitive Child Protection cases where placement in Secure Care is planned or has been approved incorporating collaboration and making decisions on intervention strategies and client service delivery.
• Provide authoritative advice, reasoned recommendations and innovative program options and solutions to complex and sensitive situations to a range of internal and external stakeholders.

Please open the position description to read more.

This role requires a Working with Children Check. 
Further advice on obtaining this check can be found here: https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check 
For more information on what this means, and all other requirements, please see the Position Description.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.
Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suitability to the role in line with the Key Selection Criteria. 
Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process. 
Preferred candidates will be required to complete pre-employment screening, including a national police check and misconduct screening.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Victoria | Jobs (www.dffh.vic.gov.au/jobs)

Please apply to submit your interest in this position.