Disability Support Officer, Prison Disability Support Initiative

• Better support, better outcomes: help people in custody with disabilities get the care they need.
• Help people understand their disability and better manage their behaviours.
• New ongoing, full-time role at Hume Region - Beechworth Correctional Centre
• VPS Grade 3: $79,122 - $96,073 plus superannuation.

Where you will be working:

The Prison Disability Support Initiative (PDSI) is a state-wide rehabilitation service that assists people in custody with cognitive impairments and complex disability needs. The PDSI is a unit within Corrections Victoria, which is part of the Department of Justice and Community Safety.

The PDSI aims to:

• Identify prisoners with neurological and physical impairments.
• Assess disabilityneeds to inform decisions on placement, case management and rehabilitation.
• Educate corrections staff on how to better understand and support the people in their care.
• Link individuals with appropriate disability support services.

What you will do:

As a Disability Support Officer for the PDSI, you will support people in Victorian prisons who demonstrate signs of cognitive impairment and who have a range of disability associated needs, by:

• engaging directly with people in custody with suspected or confirmed disability to understand their needs.
• keeping accurate clinical records and ensuring all work follows professional and legal guidelines.
• advising staff and external agencies on the best ways to support people with disability and complex needs.
• training corrections staff to better understand and respond to cognitive impairment and challenging behaviours.
• participate in training and team development to improve services.

This position takes place at Beechworth Correctional Centre, with occasional attendance at 50 Franklin Street, Melbourne when required.

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

About You:

As our ideal candidate, you will possess:

• Demonstrated experience working with, and implementing supports for people who demonstrate cognitive impairments
• Demonstrated experience in leading case- co-ordination, support pathway planning, advocacy and providing supportive services to people who demonstrate cognitive impairments
• An understanding of, and commitment to the application of, the Risk Needs Responsivity model
• An understanding of the challenges involved in working within a forensic environment
• Demonstrated experience working within the field of disability and/or the criminal justice system.

Qualifications/Requirements:

• Relevant tertiary qualification or experience in the field of allied health or the disability sector is highly desirable for this role.
• A valid Victorian driver's licence is required for this role.

How to Apply:

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include reference checks, national police checks and misconduct screening. Dependant on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles).

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.