• Lead the delivery of high-quality criminogenic and psychosocial interventions, to promote positive behaviour change and rehabilitative outcomes for young people.
• Fixed, Full-Time (up to 2 years) opportunity to work with a high-performing and passionate team.
• STS Grade 7: 188,297 - 256,088 Total Renumeration Package.

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is seeking a Director, Statewide Rehabilitation Services to provide a critical role within Youth Justice.

About the Business Unit

The Department of Justice and Community Safety (Youth Justice) is responsible for the statutory supervision of children and young people (young people) in the criminal justice system in Victoria focussing on prevention, diversion, and early intervention as the most effective and fiscally responsible ways of reducing youth crime.

From 14 December 2024, Youth Justice commenced an in-house rehabilitation services model for young people in custody and the community. The rehabilitation services model further expanded on the in-house model delivered at the Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precinct (Cherry Creek) since its opening in August 2023.

In-house delivery draws on the Youth Justice workforce and provides greater flexibility in allocating resourcing to address local need. The new Statewide Rehabilitation Services (SRS) model creates a more robust and consistent approach to treating young people whether they are in custody or in the community. In-house delivery provides Youth Justice with the ability to develop an innovative, best practice, and evidence-based rehabilitation services model that strengthens criminogenic program interventions and offence-related psychosocial programs provided to young people.

About the Role

Working closely with executives and teams across Youth Justice and Justice Services, the Director will lead the SRS, including the provision of forensic and clinical oversight for young people, the provision of specialist technical knowledge and continuous practice improvement and development across Youth Justice services.

Reporting to the Commissioner for Youth Justice, this role drives strategic thinking in optimising outcomes, managing organisational risk, and promoting quality and service improvement for the new SRS. The role will lead practice uplift across the broader department, with a focus on developing systems to support a distributed workforce and sustain quality assurance, such as enhancing practice integrity, service delivery, and developing policies and procedures to address any gaps in service provision.

Some of your duties will include:

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for the Youth Justice Statewide Rehabilitation Service (SRS), including provision of expert technical clinical oversight, coordination of clinical governance and evaluative activities.
• Lead ongoing review and continuous improvement across the suite of psychosocial and youth offending programs and services provided by SRS, including setting goals, targets and accountability measures for service delivery. Measure delivery of clinical targets and drive quality change management and risk management processes.
• Oversee and manage quality practice assurance processes and ensure operational service integrity by observing and providing professional feedback and mentoring to SRS teams in relation to both service delivery and multi-systemic system engagement.

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:

• Recognised as an expert in criminogenic intervention, including advanced skills and understanding of evidence-based assessment, intervention and multi-disciplinary case management of young people involved in the justice system.
• Significant record of achievement in the development of system enablers to support complex multi-disciplinary service delivery and experience in the provision of professional and clinical leadership to drive high performing teams.
• Able to demonstrate achievement in a quality focused and high impact role, coupled with an expert understanding of complex systems, quality care and risk management principles.

Qualifications

• Registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency; or
• Eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW); or
• A master's degree in psychotherapy and eligible for registration with the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA); or
• A master's degree in counselling and eligible for membership with Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA); or
• Credentialed as a Mental Health Nurse with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses; or
• Registered as an Occupational Therapist with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
• A current Victorian driver's licence is required.

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.

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.