EOI - SPECIALIST PRACTICE LEADER

Child Protection; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Department for Child Protection in South Australia seeks a Specialist Practice Leader to guide expert practice in a system undergoing major reforms. You will influence practice across DCP, implementing new acts and a contemporary reunification approach while ensuring ongoing service improvements.

You bring extensive clinical experience and a strong ability to translate policy into practical guidance for staff and stakeholders, using culturally safe, evidence-based methods.

Qualifications

• Extensive clinical experience working with vulnerable children, young people and families.
• Strong interpersonal and communication abilities to advise a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to apply cultural safety in child protection practice.
• Eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Work.

Responsibilities

• Provide expert leadership on child protection legislation, policy and practice.
• Apply the DCP Practice Approach to improve service delivery amid legislative reform.
• Lead enquiry processes to identify causes and develop evidence-based solutions.
• Review policies and procedures to ensure high-quality practice advice for staff.
• Engage in strategic consultation across DCP and with key stakeholders.

Skills

Clinical experience

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Social Work degree

Job description

Full-time temporary vacancy available until 26 March 2027

Use evidence and learning to drive continuous improvement

Work at the intersection of legislative reform and practice.

The Office of Professional Practice is seeking internal expressions of interest for a Specialist Practice Leader. In this role, you will provide expert advice and leadership to support the application of the Department for Child Protection’s (DCP) Practice Approach, with a focus on issues affecting children and young people involved in the child protection system.

This is an opportunity to use your practice expertise to influence how we work across DCP. You will contribute to significant reforms, including implementation of the Children and Young People (Safety and Support) Act 2025 and the development of a contemporary approach to reunification practice. Through this work, you will support ongoing improvement across the organisation and help ensure reform leads to meaningful and lasting improvements.

You will be responsible for:

• Providing expert leadership on child protection legislation, policy and practice
• Applying the DCP Practice Approach to improve service delivery in response to legislative reform
• Leading critical enquiry processes to investigate issues, understand their causes and develop evidence-based solutions
• Reviewing policies and procedures to ensure staff have access to high-quality practice advice
• Engaging in strategic consultation across DCP and with key stakeholders.

About you:

You bring extensive clinical experience working with vulnerable children, young people and families across the child protection system. In this work, you apply culturally sensitive and safe child protection practice, with a strong understanding of the needs of those you support.

You experience leading projects enables you to turn ideas into practical outcomes, while working with limited direction and exercising sound judgement to prioritise competing demands.

Strong interpersonal and communication skills help you build relationships, manage contentious issues and provide clear, evidence-based advice to a wide range of stakeholders.

• A degree level qualification in Social Work which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Work.

Persons of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who have the appropriate background and skills but do not have the essential qualification, may apply for and be engaged/assigned to the role of Social Worker and will be entitled to apply for any Allied Health Professional roles requiring a qualification in Social Work within the Department for Child Protection (DCP).

The Department for Child Protection (DCP) plays a key role in the protection of children, young people and their families within South Australia. The department provides support to vulnerable children and young people to be safe, strong and connected.

Contact Us

Enquiries to Jaye Moseley - Project Manager
0404 296 988 [e-mail]

Our workplace reflects the diverse communities we serve, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. This includes women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ communities, and those from culturally diverse backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, safe, and respectful workplace where everyone feels supported.

The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time.