Work Type: Fixed-term - Full-time
Salary: $124,516 - $126,089
Grade: DDSO5
Occupation: Community services
Location: Melbourne - CBD and Inner Metro suburbs
Reference: VG/DFFH/00374942
THE ROLE
The Senior Practice Leader provides specialist forensic disability expertise focused on developing and maintaining best practice across Forensic Residential Services (FRS). The role reports to the Manager, Service and Practice Development and promotes treatment support and staff engagement in the service delivery model to benefit the assessment, treatment and care of FRS clients, particularly those receiving residential treatment.
Residential Treatment Facility (RTF) residents have multiple and complex needs. They have typically been exposed to traumatic events, psychosocial disadvantages and have serious offending histories. RTF residents require a high level of intensive clinical and operational support within a strong therapeutic milieu (i.e., a therapeutic community model) to enable positive behaviour changes. The Senior Practice Leader is therefore responsible for promoting effective practice as it relates to both disability and offender management practice within the residential environment. The Senior Practice Leader role also holds a key function in further developing and strengthening the therapeutic community model across all accommodation sites and assisting clinical and operational staff to work collaboratively to engage and adhere to the standards of the model.
This role is also responsible for supporting the practice of the Therapeutic Feedback Model (TFM) which is central to the RTF therapeutic communities and provides a system of dynamic feedback based on rewards for appropriate behaviour and consequences for inappropriate and at-risk or serious behaviours. This role will primarily support the practice of staff who work across the RTF, offering/coordinating reflective practice opportunities on an as-needed basis and ensuring best practice. The role will also support the development of treatment models across other residential settings.
The Senior Practice Leader identifies services gaps and joint training needs of the Forensic Disability Clinical Services (FDCS) and broader FRS staff and works collaboratively with the Professional Development and Wellbeing Unit and the relevant managers who are responsible for ensuring effective implementation of practice. When working with FRS staff who require additional wellbeing supports, the Senior Practice Leader will work with the relevant line managers to encourage staff to engage in DFFH-funded formal services (e.g., Employee Assistance Program) to promote staff wellbeing.
ACCOUNTABILITIES INCLUDE
Please open the position description to read more.
This is an NDIS Risk Assessed Role / This is a Key Personnel Role.
Staff appointed to this role at the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing may not commence in role until they have an NDIS Worker Screening Clearance and have provided this detail for recording.
For more information on what this means, and all other requirements, please see the Position Description.
This role requires a Working with Children Check.
Further advice on obtaining this check can be found here: https://www.vic.gov.au/working-with-children-check
For more information on what this means, and all other requirements, please see the Position Description.
HOW TO APPLY
Applicants are encouraged to apply online. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats.
Applicants are required to submit a CV and Cover Letter (max 2 pages) outlining their suitability to the role in line with the Key Selection Criteria.
Applicants must be an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or hold a valid work permit or visa. Work eligibility will be checked as part of the recruitment process.
Preferred candidates will be required to complete pre-employment screening, including a national police check and misconduct screening.
For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Victoria | Jobs (www.dffh.vic.gov.au/jobs)
Please apply to submit your interest in this position.