EOI - Principal Social Worker - CAMHS

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

Principal Lead Social Worker – AHP4

CAMHS – Kaurna land, North Adelaide 5006

0.7 FTE

Staff are invited to express interest in undertaking this role and must be available for a period of 4 weeks from 29/12/2025 until 23/01/2026

The Principal Social Worker will be responsible for:

Within the framework of the National Mental Health Policy and the Standards for Mental Health Services and in a manner consistent with the stated Vision and Values of the Women's and Children's Health Network (WCHN) the Principal Social Worker is a recognised clinical expert in Social Work practice in child and adolescent mental health and is responsible to the Clinical Director, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) for the clinical governance and leadership of Social Work services across CAMHS.

To ensure best practice standards are achieved, the Principal Social Worker works in partnership with CAMHS Executive and key stakeholders on service development initiatives, facilitates profession-specific input into human resource processes, ensures compliance with the Clinical Supervision Policy and credentialing requirements, leads relevant quality improvement initiatives, and facilitates access to relevant professional training and clinical support activities.

The Principal Social Worker also plays a leadership role in applying National and State health reforms and in service quality and workforce development initiatives, working in partnership with key stakeholders. The Principal Social Worker works in close collaboration with the Regional Director, Allied Health and other Principal Discipline Leads on inter-professional initiatives, acts as a consultant and professional advisor on Social Work professional issues, and convenes or sits on internal and external committees.

The Principal Social Worker will be available to consult with other staff around complex clinical cases and may manage a complex clinical case load commensurate with other responsibilities, and is responsible for the clinical supervision and support of AHP3 Senior Social Workers, other Social Workers and designated staff across CAMHS

It is essential that applicants for this role have:

Educational/Vocational Qualifications

• Appropriate degree or equivalent qualification which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Personal Abilities/Aptitudes/Skills:

• Ability to provide discipline-specific professional coordination, strategic consultation and liaison, and leadership across CAMHS to address clinical matters affecting Social Work service planning decisions, policy and workforce.
• Highly competent to successfully participate in the Women's and Children's Health Network's clinical governance system to ensure outcomes consistent with Social Work and Allied Health standards, and organisational objectives.
• High level leadership and interpersonal skills to build the trust, cooperation and commitment of CAMHS and Health Network staff to work together to achieve change and organisational objectives.
• Demonstrated ability to apply significant professional judgement in the leadership of Social Work Services within CAMHS.
• Advanced skills in the provision of a range of evidence-based therapeutic Social Work mental health interventions appropriate for infants, children, young people and their families.

Experience

• Demonstrated extensive experience in clinical leadership and the facilitation of service planning to ensure clinical best practice underpins the development of Social Work services.
• Demonstrated extensive clinical experience in collaborative development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of planned interventions for infants, children, young people and their families with high or complex mental health problems.
• Demonstrated experience in undertaking and/or facilitating Social Work safety and quality improvement activities to promote and improve Social Work services

Knowledge

• Extensive knowledge of Social Work and mental health contemporary methods, principles, practices and skills across the continuum of care in child and adolescent mental health inpatient and community settings.
• Extensive knowledge of the Social Work Code of Ethics, Practice Standards for Mental Health Social Workers and supervision standards.
• Knowledge of human resource practices, workforce development and performance management.
• Extensive knowledge of relevant legislation pertaining to Social Work, mental health, OHS&W, EEO and relevant National and State Mental Health Plans.
• Extensive knowledge of the child protection system in South Australia and a thorough understanding of legislation and policies affecting practice.

EOI must be received by Tuesday 25 November :55pm

Enquires can be made to:

Rebecca Tricker

Operations Manager - CAMHS

Application Criteria

Applicants are required to submit a resume and (if applicable) are encouraged to provide a statement (cover letter) outlining their interest in the role and the attributes they can bring, matched to the Role Description.

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Attachments

AHP4 - Principal Social Worker Lead - CAMHS - Role Description

WCHN Competency

Australian applicant guidelines