Therapeutic Senior Worker – Residential Care

They storm out after school — angry, frustrated, guarded.
Later, you find them on the porch. Hoodie up. Eyes low.
You sit beside them, quiet and steady.

Eventually, they mutter, "Today sucked."
Just two words — but they mean everything.
It's a sign of trust.

Moments like this don't happen by chance.
They're built through patience, presence, and care.

We're looking for Therapeutic Senior Workers who show up with empathy — and stay steady when things get tough.

If that sounds like you, this could be the role that changes lives. Including yours

• Above Award Salary - $85,266.09 - $91,738.24 (pro rata) (Based on Qualifications and Experience).
• 11 Wellbeing Days pro rata (to support worker well-being)- in addition to Annual Leave.
• Awesome Not-for-Profit Salary Sacrificing options of up to $15,899 per FBT year.
• Portable Long Service Leave (from eligible organisations).
• Excellent Learning & Development opportunities

About the Role

Join our dynamic team as a Therapeutic Senior Worker, where you'll play an important role in delivering trauma-informed, therapeutic care to children and young people in our Residential Care Program. Working alongside a dedicated team, you'll provide high-quality physical & emotional care for children & young people, ensuring their safety and wellbeing.

In this multifaceted role, you will provide support, coaching and mentoring to a team of Residential Care Workers, assist in the development & implementation of therapeutic plans with clients that may include trauma informed planning, safety planning, and educational planning and take responsibility for the day to day operation of a house in the absence of the House Supervisor.

Our Therapeutic Senior Workers are required to coordinate and oversee compliance related to the home's safety, support the Line Manager to promote the development of a learning culture within the program team and participate in day-to-day program operations, which include performing specific household duties.

If you're passionate about trauma-informed care and want to support both staff and clients in achieving their best outcomes, this is the role for you. Bring your experience, knowledge, and commitment to making a difference—while continuing to grow and develop your expertise in a supportive, collaborative environment.

These are 0.7 EFT ongoing positions, offering long-term opportunities to make a lasting impact.

Do your skills include:

• A demonstrated understanding of Residential Care and the complex needs of clients who access the service, as well as the ability to provide therapeutic support to all clients within the program.
• A clear understanding of trauma informed practice, including the TCI and PTK frameworks and the ability to implement with clients and Residential Carers.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and ability provide support, coaching and mentoring to a team of Residential Care Workers that ensures quality outcomes for the children and young people in care.
• A genuine interest and empathy for children & young people in care and an open minded and non-judgemental manner.
• Highly developed capacity for emotional self-regulation, including the capacity to set and maintain consistent boundaries to provide safety, stability and consistency for children & young people in care.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability to comply with legislation relevant to the role, case management practices, and the ability to adhere to policy and procedures.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills including the ability to demonstrate experience in liaising with a diverse range of clients.
• Ability to maintain positive, effective working relationships with colleagues, peers, and relevant stakeholders in a wide range of government, business and community organisations.

Are your credentials:

• A minimum qualification of a Certificate IV in Child Youth and Family Intervention, Diploma of Community Services or Bachelor of Social Work or other similar/relevant tertiary qualification. (Qualifications must be approved by recognised professional bodies: i.e. AASW, Community Services Council, APS etc.)Where a Certificate IV in Child Youth and Family Intervention is not held, the following Regulated Mandatory Trauma Units must be completed within the first six months of employment:
  • CHCMHS007 – Work effectively in trauma-informed care
  • CHCPRT009 – Provide primary residential care
  • CHCCCS009 – Facilitate responsible behaviour
• A Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI 7) certification or willingness to upgrade to TCI 7 if a lower-level TCI certification is currently held. Where TCI 7 (or lower level) certification is not held, the incumbent must provide evidence of successful completion of Risk Assessment and De-escalation Training and demonstrate a willingness to undertake internal TCI training to meet requirements within the first six months of employment.Where TCI 7 (or lower level) certification is not held, the incumbent must provide evidence of successful completion of Risk Assessment and De-escalation Training and demonstrate a willingness to undertake internal TCI training to meet requirements within the first six months of employment.
• Current First Aid and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certificates.
• A current Drivers Licence.

About Brophy

Brophy Family & Youth Services has supported children, young people, families, and the southwest Victorian community for almost 50 years. We live here; this is our community; we believe in people and in their ability to create the life they want.

At Brophy, you will join a team of just over 170 employees delivering over 40 programs and services across areas including youth engagement, mental health, family violence, foster care, housing support, employment support, and disability services.

At Brophy our Vision is not just focused externally on our community – we feel just as passionate about our employees being meaningfully connected through their roles with us to create the life they want, and that as a workforce we achieve this together through innovation and healthy relationships, and by positively contributing to building an advantaged community.

Diversity and Inclusion at Brophy:

Brophy is dedicated to fostering an inclusive environment that ensures safety and a sense of belonging for everyone.We embrace individuals of diverse races, ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, ages, religions, abilities, and nationalities, recognising the richness that varied experiences bring to our efforts in supporting individuals and building stronger communities.

Our commitment extends to actively listening, learning, and evolving to become an accessible, inclusive, and secure organisation for all, encompassing First Nations peoples, members of the LGBTIQA+ community, individuals with disabilities, and those with culturally diverse backgrounds.

For more information please contact Kristie Kelly- Manager, Residential Care Services on 03 5561 8888

Applications now open