Manager Casework

Department of Communities and Justice; South Australia; On-site; AUD 133,000 - 147,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation incentives

Up to 5 weeks annual leave

Remote area allowance

Flexible, autonomous work environment

Competitive pay and conditions

Training and development opportunities

Health & Wellbeing and EAP

Job summary

NSW Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is seeking a Manager Casework to lead a team of caseworkers dedicated to improving outcomes for vulnerable children, young people, and families. The role emphasizes ethical practice, supervision, and strategic direction to ensure high-quality casework.

The position requires tertiary qualifications in social disciplines and extensive leadership experience in complex settings.

Qualifications

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Social Science, Welfare or a related discipline.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates may be considered without tertiary qualifications.
• Extensive experience in applying best practice casework with children, young people and their families.
• Experience leading and managing teams in complex and challenging situations.

Responsibilities

• Monitor and establish daily priorities and resource allocations for Caseworkers.
• Lead and manage a team of caseworkers through supervision and coaching.
• Provide authoritative practice through ongoing professional development and collaboration across the agency.
• Contribute to operational and policy issues and change management strategies.
• Ensure casework and client records compliance through effective review and feedback mechanisms.

Skills

Team leadership

Casework expertise

Trauma-informed care

Education

Social Work

Psychology

Social Science

Welfare

Job description

Salary - Grade 9/10 - $133,348 - $146,945 p.a. + superannuation and annual leave loading

Our Community Service Centres (CSC) are looking for committed, compassionate, and resilient leaders with a passion to empower people to improve the lives of children and families in NSW. The Manager Casework role requires you to have a mix of knowledge, skills and values to empower, mentor and provide strategic direction to a team of Caseworkers and Casework Support Workers.

What you'll do

As a Manager Casework, you will monitor and establish daily priorities and resource allocations for Caseworkers. You will ensure the implementation of high-quality work that meets best practice standards to improve the life experiences of vulnerable children, young people, and families at risk.

Lead and manage a team of caseworkers through effective group supervision, leadership and individual casework coaching and feedback to deliver accountable and collaborative casework that respects the culture and context of each child, young person, family and community.

Model ethical and curious casework practice and culture which nurtures quality family work and draws on differing views, external expertise and fosters debate and learning.

Ensure casework and client record compliance through effective review and feedback mechanisms.

Preparation and review of legal documentation, briefings and correspondence ensuring responses are accurate for matters withing Children's Court, District and Supreme Courts in a timely manner.

Managing and supporting staff with time frames, work allocation and performance management when required.

Contributing to operational and policy issues and change management strategies which support the agency goals and objectives.

Provide authoritative practice through ongoing professional development and collaboration across the agency and with community partners.

Participate and contribute to a culture of continuous learning and professional development to ensure practice knowledge and skills are contemporary and evidence-based.

What we’re looking for

Tertiary qualifications in Social Work, Psychology, Social Science, Welfare or a related discipline.

Recognising the value of cultural knowledge, community connections and lived experience, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates with proven experience supporting children, young people and families may be considered without tertiary qualifications.

Extensive experience in applying best practice casework with children, young people and their families.

Experience leading and managing teams in complex and challenging situations, including a high-volume work area.

A demonstrated understanding of trauma informed care and the impact poverty, trauma and violence has on children and their families.

Valid driver's licence, as travel is a requirement of the role.

Travel required as part of the role to local offices aligned to the management responsibility area including Broken Hill, Dareton and Wilcannia. Other travel across the broader South West NSW region will also occur as required.

Appointments are subject to reference checks and the following pre-employment checks:

National Criminal History Record Check in accordance with the Disability Inclusion Act 2014

Working with Children Check clearance in accordance with the Child Protection (Working with Children) Act 2012

What We Offer

We offer a variety of benefits, including:

• Relocation incentives may be negotiated.
• A challenging and rewarding career
• Up to 5 weeks annual leave (subject to geographical location)
• Remote area allowance based on location
• Flexible, autonomous work environment
• Competitive pay and conditions
• Training and development opportunities to build and maintain capabilities
• Health & Wellbeing and Employee Assistance Programs.

We do work that really matters

Working for the Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) provides lots of opportunities to make a real difference. We collaborate with other agencies and community partners, to improve lives and realise the potential of children, adults, families and communities. We're focused on breaking, rather than managing, disadvantage. It's work that really matters.

Applications close 11th November 2026 at 11:59pm AEST.

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers and other diversity groups.

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months.

Thank you for your interest in this role. We look forward to receiving your application.

The Welcome Experience

Thinking about moving to regional NSW? Get free, personalised support with housing, schools, jobs, and settling in. Learn more: www.nsw.gov.au/welcomeexperience

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is committed to creating safe, just, inclusive and resilient communities across NSW. Our work supports people's access to justice, strengthens families, promotes early intervention and inclusion, and helps improve outcomes for individuals and communities.

We work with children, young people, adults, families and communities through a diverse range of services spanning child protection, housing, courts and tribunals, youth justice, victim support, and corporate functions. By taking a unified and collaborative approach, our employees play an important role in delivering meaningful services that make a positive difference every day.

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) is committed to creating safe, just, inclusive and resilient communities across NSW. Our work supports people's access to justice, strengths families, promotes early intervention and inclusion, and helps improve outcomes for individuals and communities.

We work with children, young people, adults, families and communities through a diverse range of services spanning child protection, housing, courts and tribunals, youth justice, victim support, and corporate functions. By taking a unified and collaborative approach, our employees play an important role in delivering meaningful services that make a positive difference every day.