Principal Clinician

A dynamic opportunity to lead staff professional development, guide clinical practice integrity and influence and contribute to clinical projects and practice change
- VPS Grade 6: $130,673 - $174,869 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (the department) is seeking Principal Clinicians, Practice passionate about delivery of quality clinical services in a forensic setting to provide a critical role in Forensic Intervention Services.
About the business unit
Corrections Victoria is part of the Department of Justice and Community Safety and is responsible for the direction, management, and operation of Victoria's adult corrections system, including Community Correctional Services, public and privately operated prisons, and a transitional centre. It ensures prisoners are safely and securely contained and aims to rehabilitate offenders by addressing the underlying causes of offending behaviour.
As a division of Corrections Victoria, Forensic Intervention Services is a specialist program area within the Offender Services Division that provides service users in custody and in the community with offence-specific, evidence-based screening, assessment, and intervention services to support their rehabilitation. In doing so, Forensic Intervention Services is a critical component of the department's strategy to reduce reoffending and contribute to community safety.
About the role
The Principal Clinician, Practice delivers assessments and therapeutic interventions to service users with a primary focus on those who have perpetrated sexual and violent offences, and/or have criminogenic needs related to alcohol or other drugs. The Principal Clinician, Practice exercises expert clinical acumen, and has the distinctive opportunity to manage a direct case load, lead practice integrity and guide staff professional development, and engage in clinical projects that contribute to our understanding of the evidence base and effectiveness of what we do.

**Some of your duties will include**:

- Delivery of assessments, offence-specific and offence-related group and/or individual based interventions for a caseload of complex cases.
- Provide expert level consultation to clinical teams on clinical practice issues, drive and embed a strong practice culture, focus and conduct quality audits of clinical practice and interventions.
- Enhance the quality and effectiveness of clinical programs through the provision of individual support and professional development for clinical staff, supervisors and managers.

To learn more about this role before applying, please read the attached position description.
About you

**To be successful in this role, you will have**:

- Highly developed understanding of and extensive practice experience in clinical work with high risk and complex clients, including assessment of risk, risk management and therapeutic work.
- Expertise in undertaking risk assessment and delivery of offence specific interventions, including facilitation of group programs based on cognitive behavioural therapy.
- Demonstrated understanding of the legislative and operational considerations impacting delivery of clinical services within a forensic environment.

**Qualifications**:

- Registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
- Membership of the Australian Association of Social Work; or
- Credentialed as a Mental Health Nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses; or
- Registration as an Occupational Therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
- AHPRA approved supervisor, or equivalent; or
- A minimum of 2 years of being a practicing supervisor.
- Specialist training and/or postgraduate qualifications in a clinical or forensic field is desirable

What's in it for you?
You will be working for the Department of Justice and Community Safety, which is one arm of the Victorian State Government, a recognised top employer of choice nationally. All our staff work to the vision of a safe, just, innovative and thriving Victoria.
There are many advantages in working for the department, including:

- Job stability - Ongoing position as a member of the Victorian Public Service (VPS)
- A fair salary- enjoy great work conditions and salary sacrificing options.
- Transparent performance framework- approach your work with confidence in how you're tracking, working to professional development plans agreed on by you and your manager.
- Generous leave entitlements- provisions for many forms of leave; including personal, parental, carers, study, cultural, compassionate, and sick leave.
- Employee Assistance Program support- you are encouraged to use this short-term, confidential counselling service if you're experiencing emotional stress, relationship problems, conflict with others or personal issues. It is also available for financial counselling and retirement planning.

To learn more about the type of skills you will need to thrive in t