Senior Social Worker

We are seeking a dedicated Senior Social Worker to join our team in the Gladstone area. This is a full-time position, comprising 0.5 FTE supervision responsibilities and 0.5 FTE clinical duties.

If you're ready to make a difference, we want to hear from you

About the Department of Education:

Working for the Queensland Department of Education means joining an organisation that values its people and promotes leadership and innovation. Be part of an environment that respects professionalism and diversity, offers training and development opportunities and embraces flexible careers and work-life balance. Find out more about working with us ( ).

About the Role:

As the Senior Social Worker, you will:

• Respond to the needs of the student population and school community, including schools with complex needs and in specialised areas of social work practice, to provide personal and family counselling, therapy and group work, facilitation for referrals to other services for the purpose of assisting student's wellbeing and mental health.
• Provide professional supervision, leadership, advocacy and support to school social workers within the region to develop their capability and clinical skills.

Responsibilities Include:

• Provide professional mental health and social welfare assessment, interventions and follow up support to students and families as required, including provision of services for schools with complex needs.
• Provide leadership and demonstrate high levels of expertise in specific or specialised clinical areas to social workers, in collaboration with regional and school management teams, to promote the delivery of safe, effective, high quality social work services.
• Participate as a member of a multi-disciplinary team within an educational setting, providing support to school, communities, regional teams and inter-agency networks relevant to the position's role and facilitate coordination of internal and external support and services for students experiencing mental health and social/emotional concerns.
• Support delivery and continual improvement of social work services in schools by reviewing policies, operational standards and procedures, evaluating service provision and programs as well as providing advice and recommendations to the Senior Advisor, Social Work about alternative models of delivering and resourcing.
• Collaborate with the Senior Advisor, Social Work to identify professional development needs and plan, implement and evaluate clinical supervision, training and development initiatives for social workers in schools and monitor and report on performance.
• Support school communities in responding to critical incidents and emergencies as part of the school and regional response team.
• Provide leadership, plan and implement clinical supervision to social workers in collaboration with regional and school management teams, to support and promote the delivery of safe, effective high-quality social work services, including assisting social workers employed at other DoE sites and university practicum students, to build capacity and skills within an educational setting.
• Contribute to the research, development, implementation and evaluation of validated practices, policies and protocols relating to the delivery of social work services, including preparation and presentation of papers and reports relating to the department's social work services in schools.
• Respond to service complaints and address issues impacting the delivery of social work services in collaboration with the Senior Advisor, Social Work, regional managers and school principals, as required.

Benefits of the position:

• Regular supervision
• Comprehensive induction
• The ability to accrue extra leave to take time off during the school holidays
• PD allowance
• Access to fleet vehicles
• Regular peer supervision
• Laptop provided
• 12.75% Superannuation
• Professional Development Allowance
• Salary Sacrificing options
• Leave loading
• Internal Professional Development
• It is a school-based position, base school to be determined once successful applicant is appointed.

Interested? To Apply:

• Attach a brief resume including contact details for 2 referees (referees should have an understanding of your relevant work history);
• Attach a 2-page written statement in response to the attached role description.
• Attach a copy of your mandatory qualifications/registration outlined in the attached role description.

Applications remain current for 12 months from the closing date and may be considered for appointment to identical or similar vacancies within the Department.

Applications from recruitment agencies will not be accepted.