Mental Health Inpatient, Senior Social Worker

An excellent opportunity for a passionate social worker to join a well-established supportive team at the Mental Health Inpatient Units at Royal North Shore Hospital.

• Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
• Position Classification: Health Clinician Level 3
• Hours Per Week: 38
• Requisition ID: REQ592155
• Salary: Social Worker Level 3: $2, $2,223.86 per week

We are a health service that touches thousands of lives across the Northern Sydney Local Health District, together as a team of like-minded people. We are passionate, driven and have the skills and knowledge to care for our patients whilst creating the best services possible. Our teams have meaningful, interesting and rewarding work everyday. We challenge and nurture each other, sharing our knowledge and experience so that we can deliver better care for everyone. There's a real sense of belonging here because we value and respect our patients, employees, and teams' voices. You'll feel a real privilege being a trusted caregiver in our patients, their families, their carers, and our communities' lives.

• Innovation is at our core, with opportunities for research driven evidence based practice, ensuring our work remains engaging and fulfilling.
• Clear pathways for career progression, supported by training secondments, recognition and mentorship, empower employee and leaders alike to reach their professional goals.
• Join us on a journey to a place where every achievement is celebrated and every opportunity is embraced.

NSLHD is proud of our diverse and inclusive workplaces, a place where health care professionals can thrive and feel they belong. We are committed to ensure that all our people feel respected and participate safely within a work environment without aggression, sexual harassment, discrimination and racism.

Mental Health Inpatient Units, Royal North Shore Hospital

The Social Worker will be based in the Mental Health Inpatient Unit and work across the Psychiatric Emergency Care Centre (PECC) at Royal North Shore Hospital. The units are primarily targeted at consumers aged 18-65 years; however they admit consumers across the age spectrum. Both units are committed to providing recovery oriented and innovative approaches to care promoting consumer and carer participation. The units strive to provide an optimistic and positive approach to care with a focus on collaborative decision making and social inclusion. Working with other service partners is central to the model of service delivery promoted across the units.

The Social Worker will be responsible and accountable to the Nurse Unit Manager Level 3 and will work collaboratively with all members of the multidisciplinary team. The Social Worker will deliver high quality social work services to consumers across the Mental Health Inpatient Units in accordance with the ethics and standards established by the Australian Association of Social Workers, the NSW Ministry of Health and other relevant bodies. The Social Worker will provide professional social work services to inpatients of the Mental Health Inpatient Unit, the PECC and community mental health consumers and their families/carers. The Social Worker will also be expected to participate in quality activities conducted within the clinical setting.

The Social Worker will be actively involved in the development and provision of a broad range of structured activities, rehabilitation programs and other therapeutic interventions. The units have three key functions reflecting different levels of care. These include an admission/assessment function through to community integration. Programs are targeted to levels of care and include a variety of social, vocational, clinical rehabilitation and living skills programs.

People of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background are encouraged to apply.

• A Bachelor or postgraduate degree in Social Work or equivalent qualification, evidence of extensive clinical experience, inclusive of experience as a Level 2 Social Work or equivalent and approved for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• Demonstrated extensive specialist knowledge in the provision of evidence-based Social Work Interventions in an inpatient mental health setting and demonstrated commitment to quality improvement and professional development.
• Demonstrated high level interpersonal skills, and written communication skills including the ability to engage and collaborate with consumers, their families and carers and to effectively communicate and consult with other health, community and welfare professionals and basic computer skills.

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• Find out more about applying for this position

For role related queries or questions contact Andrew Nicholls on or

This is a NSW Health Category A position which requires immunisation and screening for certain diseases. The full list of requirements are outlined in the NSW Health OASV Policy (Page 11). You will be required to complete the OASV Undertaking/ Declaration Form and TB Assessment Tool during the recruitment process. Please upload this with your application along with any other vaccination evidence that you may have.

NSW Health is committed to implementing the Child Safe Standards.

Applications Close: 5 September 2025

Seniority level: Mid-Senior level

Employment type: Full-time

Job function: Health Care Provider

Industries: Hospitals and Health Care