Do you want to be a part of a team that promotes and improves the health of its people and community?

This is a Permanent Full-Time or Fixed Term Full-Time appointment at 76 hours per fortnight. Fixed Term appointments include the future possibility of extension(s) and/or permanency. We currently have a permanent 1.0 FTE position available to commence ASAP.

About our service

The Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Service (NDMHS) provides specialised neurodevelopmental and mental health services to young people admitted to custody. We are a multidisciplinary team currently consisting of psychiatry, developmental paediatrics, clinical neuropsychology, speech pathology, and mental health nursing. We work with young people who are currently remanded or sentenced to youth detention and those transitioning into the community. The team provides assessment, treatment, and consultation for young people with undiagnosed neurodevelopmental, cognitive, or communication problems; severe mental health problems; or challenges in multiple domains that require multidisciplinary input to support management in custody and throughcare into the community. The service is based onsite at Banksia Hill Detention Centre (BHDC) and works collaboratively with other business areas including the Department of Justice psychology, mental health, and case planning teams.

About the role

The Senior Social Worker is the sole social work position within the NDMHS multidisciplinary team. You will provide advanced social work services to young people with mental health disorders and/or conditions known to affect brain development and associated complex psychosocial needs, as well as to their families, carers, and/or relevant others.

This is a rapid-paced, varied, and transdisciplinary role, involving triage, case management, and consultation for young people referred to the service. The Senior Social Worker works alongside health, youth justice, child protection, and other professionals who hold existing care and case management responsibilities. You will provide specialist social work input as part of NDMHS and contribute to coordinated care across custodial and community settings. This position is based onsite at BHDC.

Your specialist social work practice will focus on the psychosocial aspects of young people's neurodevelopmental and mental health needs and other complex presentations. You will work directly with young people and engage families/carers through face-to-face and telephone contact. Key social work functions include:

- Specialist psychosocial assessment with young people and their families/carers, including assessment of psychosocial risk, family systems, relationships, strengths, supports, and needs.
- Specialist social work consultation to the multidisciplinary team and other professionals involved in the young person’s care.
- Social work interventions, including evidence-based therapeutic interventions, counselling, adjustment support, crisis intervention, safety planning, and capacity building.
- Providing advocacy for young people and their families/carers and supporting access to relevant services and supports.

You will also work transdisciplinarily across the neurodevelopmental and mental health functions of NDMHS, including:

- Triaging new referrals, including assessment and screening to determine suitability for further assessment.




- Undertaking mental state and risk assessments and contributing to care planning.
- Contributing to multidisciplinary clinical case formulation and intervention planning.
- Providing case management and care coordination, including liaison with families/carers, health professionals, community agencies, and other services to support care, discharge planning, and referral.
- Providing psychoeducation, consultation, and education regarding neurodevelopmental and mental health needs to young people, families/carers, professionals, and other stakeholders.

As a senior clinician within NDMHS, you will be expected to demonstrate leadership, initiative and innovation, and contribute to service planning, development and quality improvement across NDMHS and the broader State Forensic Mental Health Service. You will also help build child and adolescent expertise and capability across the service.

What we offer

NMHS supports flexible working practices and consideration will be given to flexible work options, where operationally appropriate. In addition to the great salary, our employees enjoy an amazing range of benefits (North Metropolitan Health Service - Pay and Benefits) including:

- Generous salary packaging to increase take-home pay
- Professional and career development opportunities
- Diverse and inclusive culture

Want to know more about this role?

We encourage you to contact Martin Nguyen (Coordinator Mental Health, Neurodevelopmental and Mental Health Service) on 08 •••• •296 or via email at ••••@health.wa.gov.au to discuss how this role aligns with your personal and career interests.

We think you’ll like it here

Our employees like working here, and we think you will too. Watch this video to find out what they have to say.

Ready to join our team?

Applicants are required to apply online www.jobs.wa.gov.au so allow enough time to complete the online application process and attach your documentation. If you experience difficulties, please contact Employee Services on 13 •4 77 for immediate assistance during business hours.

To apply, please provide:

- A detailed resume which sets out your qualifications, capabilities, and experience relevant to this position.
- A written statement of no more than two pages outlining your interest in the Senior Social Worker position and what you would bring to the role. With reference to the “About the role” section above and the attached JDF, your statement should address the following areas, drawing on your relevant experience and examples from professional practice where appropriate:
- Advanced social work assessment and intervention with children and adolescents and their families/carers in the context of complex psychosocial, neurodevelopmental and/or mental health needs.
- Working effectively within multidisciplinary environments and alongside other professionals and services with existing care and case management responsibilities.
- Leadership and initiative, including contributions to service development,



quality improvement and/or building professional or clinical capability.

- Evidence of tertiary qualification in Social Work and eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers, or the Society of Professional Social Workers.
- Evidence of current “C” or “C.A” class driver’s license.
- References - the names and contact details of two (2) referees, one of whom should be a recent line manager.

Applicants must ensure their nominated referees are available to provide references when requested, as failure to do so may result in them being deemed unsuitable. Referee checks may be requested prior to interview.

This vacancy is subject to a Western Australian Working with Children (WWC) Check. For further information please refer to the WWC website at: https://workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au

Eligibility to Apply: To be suitable for appointment you must have documentary evidence of your entitlement to live and work in Australia.

WA Health engages staff in positions of trust and responsibility. WA Health policies require applicants to undertake a criminal records screening and integrity checking as part of the appointment process. As well as undertaking a criminal record screening and integrity checking, you may also be required to undertake a working with children check (if required for the role) and a pre-employment health assessment. We may ask referees to comment on your integrity and past demonstration of ethical behaviour. Please note that adverse information does not necessarily disqualify an applicant but will be considered as part of the appointment process.

Whilst this selection process will initially be used to fill the above vacancy, it may also be used to fill other "similar" vacancies throughout the health service or the wider public service. In addition to this, should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised vacancy, then the next most suitable applicant may also be selected from this process. Both of these options remain valid for a period of twelve (12) months from when the authorised delegate endorses the recruitment decision.

North Metropolitan Health Service (NMHS) fosters an environment of equity and inclusion and strives to ensure everyone experiences a sense of belonging. We celebrate the rich diversity of our community and are committed to recruiting a team that is reflective of those we care for. We encourage anyone who aligns with our values of Respect, Integrity, Teamwork, Innovation and Care to apply for this role.

NMHS is committed to growing the Aboriginal workforce as a part of our Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Strategy. As a measure to achieve equality, Section 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 applies to this position.

NMHS upholds the social model of disability. We welcome applicants who have disability and endeavour to support reasonable workplace adjustments and flexibility. If you have any access needs or require adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please contact the NMHS Talent Attraction Group (TAG) at email [email protected].

Lodgement is system generated. Any submissions after or on, 4:00pm on the closing date will not be accepted.

We look forward to receiving your application.

This document can be made available in alternative formats on request.

© North Metropolitan Health Service 2025

📌 Senior Social Worker (Canning Vale)
🏢 North Metropolitan Health Service
📍 Canning Vale