SENIOR CARE CONCERN OFFICER

Child Protection; Adelaide; Hybrid; AUD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Paid parental leave

Salary packaging

Health and fitness perks

Wellbeing support

Job summary

The Department for Child Protection (DCP) in Adelaide is seeking a Senior Care Concern Officer to conduct sensitive assessments and manage care concern matters, safeguarding vulnerable youth.

You will work with SAPOL, CP Services, and the DCP Investigation Team, provide expert consultation, and help improve practice and policy while maintaining confidentiality.

Qualifications

• Experience in case management and safeguarding youth.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with confidentiality.
• Ability to adapt to organizational change and prioritize deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Oversee information gathering to ensure care concerns are properly assessed and managed.
• Implement high-level improvement strategies to heighten practice and service delivery outcomes.
• Strengthen operational processes through action plans and monitoring of care concerns.
• Adhere to procedural and legislative guidelines to maintain confidentiality.
• Provide expert consultation and liaise with SAPOL, CP Services, DCP Investigation Team and other stakeholders.

Skills

Case management

Interpersonal skills

Stakeholder liaison

Report writing

Change management

Job description

Full-time temporary vacancy available until 11 June 2027

Foster a culture predicated on learning and development

Administer expert care concern assessments to safeguard vulnerable youth.

As a Senior Care Concern Officer situated in Adelaide, you will conduct highly sensitive assessments, administration and management of care concern matters within DCP. Your ability to prioritise tasks and maintain confidentiality is vital, as you identify systemic issues arising from the management of care concerns.

The team are seeking an individual with sound case management and field experience to provide valuable consultation and guidance to an array of stakeholders. Your ability to adapt to change and shape departmental processes will elevate the broader Quality and Safeguarding unit.

In this role, you will:

• Oversee vital information gathering processes to ensure care concerns are properly assessed and managed
• Implement high-level improvement strategies to heighten practice, policy and service delivery outcomes
• Strengthen operational processes through effective action plans and monitoring of critical care concern matters
• Adhere to strict procedural and legislative guidelines to maintain confidentiality
• Provide expert consultation and liaise with SAPOL, Child Protection Services, DCP Investigation Team and other internal and external stakeholders.

About you:

• You possess phenomenal interpersonal skills to clearly communicate sensitive matters to key stakeholders
• You have excellent assessment and report writing skills to accurately summarise critical information
• You demonstrate sound experience in reviewing existing workplace systems to employ suitable improvements
• You are receptive to feedback to support your ongoing professional development
• You can adapt to departmental change and prioritise workloads to meet deadlines.

Why You’ll Love It Here - DCP Benefits That Matter:

• A collaborative team environment, working alongside people who are committed to best practice and making a meaningful impact
• Flexible working options with tailored arrangements to help you balance work and life
• Paid Parental and Partner Leave – additional paid time to support you and your growing family
• Recognition and Growth – we celebrate your achievements and open doors to development across DCP
• Salary Packaging – reduce your taxable income with a range of pre-tax benefits
• Health and Fitness Perks – free flu vaccination plus access to more than 1,700 gyms, fitness centres and pools across Australia through our Fitness Passport program for you and your family
• Wellbeing Support - confidential Employee Assistance Program services for you and your family.
• You must have a current Australian driver’s licence and a willingness to drive is essential.

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 Niki Stone - Manager, Care Concern Management Unit 0407 721 428 [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. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.