• Provide clinical leadership for the state-wide prison disability support service, the Prison Disability Support Initiative.
• Fixed, Full-Time (until 30/06/2026) opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team.
• VPS Grade 5: $109,730 - $132,764 plus superannuation.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Senior Clinician, Prison Disability Support Initiative, to provide a critical role within the Rehabilitation and Reintegration Branch.

About the Business Unit

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is responsible for promoting community safety through the effective management and provision of rehabilitation and reparation opportunities to prisoners and offenders under custodial and community-based supervision.

The Offender Services and Reintegration division of Corrections Victoria (CV) is responsible for providing best practice interventions which aim to reduce the risk of reoffending including case management, education, employment, and transition and reintegration supports. The Rehabilitation and Reintegration Branch (RRB) is responsible for a range of rehabilitation and reintegration programs and services. RRB's purpose is to contribute to a safer community through a safe and humane corrections system that provides opportunities for rehabilitation, supports reintegration and working toward Aboriginal self-determination.

The Prison Disability Support Initiative (PDSI) is a state-wide disability support service operating within RRB. The PDSI aims to:

• Improve the identification of people accommodated within the prison system with cognitive impairments and associated complex disability needs.
• Enhance the capacity of prison staff and stakeholders, particularly custodial staff, to effectively support people accommodated within prison settings who demonstrate cognitive impairments.
• Enhance decision-making about all aspects of supporting those people whilst accommodated in a prison setting, including decisions relating to: placement, case management, rehabilitation options, and transition and reintegration needs.
• Provide evidence-based therapeutic intervention to improve the independent functioning of people accommodated within prison settings who demonstrate cognitive impairments.
• Support people accommodated within prison settings who demonstrate cognitive impairments to access appropriate disability support services.

About the Role

As a Senior Clinician in the Prison Disability Support Initiative you will:

• Work alongside a multi-disciplinary team to provide clinical leadership for the state-wide prison disability support service, the Prison Disability Support Initiative.
• Provide clinical oversight and operational management of clinical service delivery and complex case co-ordination, as well and undertaking a clinical workload supporting people in custody with suspected or confirmed cognitive impairment and complex needs.

The Senior Clinician of the PDSI is a leadership role within the clinical services stream and will demonstrate a high level of clinical experience and skills, particularly with regard to understanding cognitive impairments and complex and challenging behaviours, whilst also demonstrating an understanding of the criminal justice setting, specifically the unique environment of prisons.

Some of your duties will include:

• Actively support the PDSI team in the day-to-day clinical operations of the PDSI, including line management of a team of Clinicians and Complex Case Coordinators and ongoing internal and external stakeholder engagement.
• Support triaging and allocation of service users and provide advice on referral pathways for potential service users.
• Maintain a small complex case load and facilitate access to clinical assessments, develop positive behaviour support plans, and develop and deliver other relevant interventions designed to address deficits associated with cognitive impairment and complex clinical presentations.

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:

• Demonstrated experience managing and leading staff in multidisciplinary clinical teams.
• Demonstrated experience in providing clinical services for individuals demonstrating cognitive impairment and complex presentations, including experience undertaking clinical assessment, functional behaviour analysis and developing individualised intervention and behaviour support plans.
• Demonstrated experience in administering a range of evidence-based psychometric tools associated with assessing cognitive functioning mood, personality, and functional capacity.
• An understanding of the challenges involved in working within a forensic environment, and commitment to the application of, the Risk Needs Responsivity model.

Qualifications and requirements

• Registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), or another relevant tertiary qualification.
• A minimum of three years post-registration experience.
• Psychology Board of Australia Approved Supervisor is highly desirable.
• Specialist endorsement and/or experience in a clinical or forensic field, would be highly desirable.
• A current Victorian driver's licence is required.
• The PDSI is a state-wide essential prison service with staff actively providing in prison services. This role consists of a hybrid of working from 50 Franklin Street and providing in prison services across all metropolitan and regional prisons.

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 a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check (NCCHC) and misconduct screening.

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.

FOR INTERNAL VPS EMPLOYEES:

• For this particular vacancy, priority consideration applies to Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform.
• For all VPS employees, due to the new Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) policy, please apply through the JSE to be eligible to be considered for this position in the first round.

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.