Grade 3 Clinical Social Worker - Residential Aged Care
St Vincent's Health Australia
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Job summary
St Vincent’s Health Australia is seeking a Grade 3 Clinical Social Worker – Residential Aged Care for SVHM RACFs (Berengarra, Prague House and Auburn House). The role is permanent part-time 0.5 EFT (20 hours/week) located in Kew/Hawthorn East, Melbourne.
You will deliver advanced psychosocial assessment and care planning for residents and families, provide clinical leadership, supervise staff and students, and work across campus with multidisciplinary teams to improve care and service
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Social Work or qualifying Master of Social Work
- Eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
- Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant area, or progress towards these, are desirable
- Minimum of seven years’ experience in hospital social work or a related area
- Demonstrated experience working with older people, including those experiencing homelessness
- Strong knowledge of aged care systems, elder rights, homelessness and NDIS
- Knowledge of relevant legal frameworks, including VCAT and Aged Care Act 2024
- Advanced clinical assessment, problem-solving, negotiation and conflict-management skills
- Demonstrated leadership and experience supervising staff and students
- Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary environment
- Commitment to service improvement and high-quality social work practice
Responsibilities
- Provide advanced psychosocial assessment, intervention and care planning for residents and families.
- Assess and support the management of complex risk, including family violence and elder abuse.
- Provide expert advice regarding decision-making capacity and coordinate VCAT applications and hearings where required.
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, families, substitute decision-makers and external services.
- Support residents and families experiencing emotional distress and facilitate appropriate ongoing referrals.
- Liaise with the NDIA/NDIS and other relevant services to support residents’ needs.
- Provide expert secondary consultation and clinical leadership in complex and high-risk matters.
- Supervise staff and students as required and contribute to teaching and professional development.
- Participate in research, evaluation, quality improvement and service development activities.
- Develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and support the Chief Social Worker as required.
Skills
Education
Job description
Grade 3 Clinical Social Worker - Residential Aged Care Permanent Part Time (0.5 EFT, 20 hours per week). Located in Kew/Hawthorn East. Ongoing training and development opportunities. Excellent benefits including salary packaging.
St Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is part of St Vincent’s Health Australia and a leading teaching, research and tertiary health service which employs more than 6,500 staff across 18 sites throughout Melbourne. SVHM provides a diverse range of adult clinical services including acute medical and surgical services, sub-acute care, medical diagnostics, rehabilitation, allied health, mental health, palliative care, correctional health and community residential care. SVHM is one of Australia's leading Catholic not-for-profit healthcare providers, driven by values of Compassion, Justice, Integrity and Excellence.
The role would be suited to a dynamic and compassionate social worker who has had experience in supporting people who reside in the Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACFs). The RACFs covered by this position are: Berengarra, Prague House and Auburn House, with a requirement to work cross campus to provide a service to all of the SVHM RACFs. The successful candidate will be provided with a comprehensive and flexible professional development program, as well as structured supervision and support for clinical decision making.
- Contract: Permanent Part Time (0.5 EFT, 20 hours per week)
- Social Worker Grade 3 SC31 – SC34
- Salary: $104,135 - $118,981 per annum
- Bachelor of Social Work or qualifying Master of Social Work
- Eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
- Postgraduate qualifications in a relevant professional area, or progress towards these, are desirable
- A minimum of seven years’ experience in hospital social work or a related area
- Demonstrated experience working with older people, including people who may be experiencing homelessness
- Strong knowledge of aged care systems, elder rights, homelessness and NDIS
- Knowledge of relevant legal frameworks, including VCAT, the Residential Tenancies Act, Coroners Court and Aged Care Act 2024
- Advanced clinical assessment, problem-solving, negotiation and conflict-management skills
- Demonstrated leadership and experience supervising staff and students
- Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills
- Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively within an interdisciplinary environment
- Demonstrated commitment to service improvement, innovation and high-quality social work practice
- Focus on wellbeing initiatives, with regular events and programs
- Confidential, solutions-focused employee counselling
- Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay
- Regular opportunities for professional development to assist you to reach your career goals
- Culture of continuous improvement
About the Department: Social Work sits within the Allied Health and Pharmacy directorate and provides services across acute medicine, acute surgery, sub-acute care, cancer and chronic illness, correctional health and residential aged care. The department is committed to high-quality clinical practice, professional development, education and continuous improvement.
As the Grade 3 Clinical Social Worker – Residential Aged Care, you will provide advanced social work services to residents and their families across SVHM’s Residential Aged Care Facilities, including Berengarra, Prague House and Auburn House. You will work with older people experiencing complex psychosocial issues, including imminent risk, elder abuse, legal and financial matters, emotional distress and care planning. As a senior clinician, you will provide clinical leadership, expert consultation and support multidisciplinary decision-making while contributing to the ongoing development and quality of social work services. This is a cross-campus role requiring you to work across SVHM’s Residential Aged Care Facilities.
- Provide advanced psychosocial assessment, intervention and care planning for residents and their families.
- Assess and support the management of complex risk, including family violence and elder abuse.
- Provide expert advice regarding decision-making capacity and coordinate VCAT applications and hearings where required.
- Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams, families, substitute decision-makers and external services.
- Support residents and families experiencing emotional distress and facilitate appropriate ongoing referrals.
- Liaise with the NDIA/NDIS and other relevant services to support residents’ needs.
- Provide expert secondary consultation and clinical leadership in complex and high-risk matters.
- Supervise staff and students as required and contribute to teaching and professional development.
- Participate in research, evaluation, quality improvement and service development activities.
- Develop strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders and support the Chief Social Worker as required.
You will maintain a strong commitment to clinical quality and safety, working within your scope of practice and maintaining the knowledge and competencies required for the role. You will contribute to clinical risk management and continuous quality improvement and ensure residents are supported to make informed decisions about their care, understand their rights and receive information in an accessible format.
You will contribute to a safe working environment by complying with SVHM health and safety requirements, completing mandatory training, following PPE and fit-testing requirements where applicable, and identifying and reporting risks, hazards and incidents.
This position is classified as Category A and is subject to SVHM health screening and immunisation requirements. The successful applicant will also be required to provide a current National Police Certificate prior to commencement and disclose any relevant pre-existing injury or condition in accordance with SVHM requirements.
Closing Date: 19 November 2026 11:59pm
We encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and abilities. Inclusion is essential to our mission and diversity reflects the community we serve. Please visit our website, for further information regarding our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Employment at SVHM.
We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
At St Vincent’s we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples. For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at indigenouscareers@svha.org.au
Contact Penny Lording penny.lording@svha.org.au
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