Social Worker Level 3

**_Join a dedicated team protecting children and families—your expertise can change lives._**

**Employment Type**: Permanent Part Time
**Position Classification**: Social Worker Level 3 - Newcastle Joint Child Protection Response Program
**Remuneration**: $56.68 - $58.52 per hour + superannuation
**Hours Per Week**: 23
**Requisition ID**: REQ612507
**Location**: Wallsend Campus
**Applications Close**: Thursday 30th October 2025

**Where you'll be working**
The Joint Child Protection Response Program (JCPRP) provides a coordinated, seamless response to children and young people who are at risk of significant harm due to sexual assault, serious physical abuse, or extreme neglect. This critical program is a collaboration between three key agencies: the NSW Police Force, the Department of Communities and Justice, and NSW Health. Together, these agencies work closely to ensure timely, effective support and protection for vulnerable children and families.

**What you'll be doing**
If you’re seeking a rewarding role as a Social Worker where you can make a real difference, join the Joint Child Protection Response Program (JCPRP) team. In this position, you will provide an integrated psycho-social and therapeutic health response to clients who are victims of sexual assault, serious physical abuse, and extreme neglect. Based in the beautiful Honeysuckle area of Newcastle, the JCPRP team plays a vital role within the Violence, Abuse, and Neglect (VAN) network for Hunter New England.
You will be supported by Senior Health Clinicians and the broader JCPRP team, receiving tailored on-the-job mentoring and training specific to the service. Formal, ongoing education pathways are available to build your capacity, knowledge, and clinical confidence in this meaningful role.
A structured local orientation program will introduce you to the service model, team members, and key interagency partners, including Health, DCJ, and Police. You’ll have opportunities to shadow experienced clinicians to deepen your understanding of the JCPRP framework and trauma-informed clinical practice. Training in organisational systems, documentation standards, and local policies will ensure you are well-prepared to work effectively.
You will receive regular individual clinical supervision from senior practitioners via the Education Centre Against Violence (ECAV), as well as access to group supervision and case review meetings to support reflective practice and peer learning. Strong managerial and collegial support is provided, with open access to senior leadership for consultation and debriefing.
Additionally, you will have access to Joint Agency JCPRP training, enhancing your skills in interagency child protection responses, along with funded opportunities to attend internal and external education sessions relevant to your clinical specialty. Professional development programs and forums offered by HNE Health are also available, along with eLearning platforms, evidence-based resources, and structured learning pathways to maintain and advance your clinical practice.
There are further opportunities to contribute to quality improvement, research, and service development projects, allowing you to play a key role in shaping the future of child protection services.

**About you**
Non-negotiables for this role include demonstrated advanced clinical assessment and intervention skills, particularly with children, young people, and families experiencing trauma, abuse, or neglect. You must have the capacity to exercise independent professional judgment in complex and sensitive cases, along with a sound understanding of evidence-based, trauma-informed, and person-centred practice. Proven ability to work collaboratively with multi-agency partners such as Health, DCJ, and Police in highly sensitive contexts is essential, as are strong communication and negotiation skills to manage interagency expectations and coordinate responses.
The role requires the ability to engage with children, young people, and families in distress with empathy, professionalism, and cultural sensitivity. You should have confidence to operate autonomously with mínimal supervision while maintaining accountability and alignment with service standards. Demonstrated alignment with the NSW Health Values Charter and Code of Conduct, respect for cultural diversity, and understanding of Aboriginal health priorities (Closing the Gap) are critical. High ethical standards, commitment to confidentiality, and maintaining professional boundaries are mandatory. Additionally, you must have the capacity to maintain accurate, timely documentation to legal and professional standards, alongside strong organisational and time management skills to balance competing demands.
Skills and knowledge that can be developed on the job include familiarity with specific local service models or documentation systems such as eMR, CHIME, or JCPRP protocols; advanced skills in specialised therapeutic interventions, which ca