Senior Social Worker Level 4 - Mental Health Forensic

Western Sydney Local Health District; Blacktown; On-site; AUD 132,000 - 135,000; Full time

Job summary

Western Sydney Local Health District – Blacktown NSW is seeking a Senior Social Worker Level 4 to lead advanced clinical social work in specialist forensic mental health. You will shape patient recovery through trauma-informed, evidence-based practice and mentor clinicians across a multidisciplinary team.

Join a teaching hospital environment where you influence service quality, contribute to accreditation, and support complex caseloads in a dynamic forensic mental health setting at Blacktown

Qualifications

• Significant experience in a mental health setting including working with families and carers.
• Experience and/or understanding of recovery principles and trauma informed care
• Ability to work with the multidisciplinary team in the management of emotionally and clinically challenging situations
• Demonstrated well-developed time management skills with excellent written and verbal communication, including report writing skills
• Excellent negotiation, decision making and advocacy skills including the ability to interact constructively and collaboratively with other services
• Demonstrated capability in clinical supervision of social work staff and students
• Commitment to involvement in improvement initiatives and service evaluation processes and ongoing attention to accreditation requirements
• Current NSW Driver's Licence and willing to use for work

Responsibilities

• Provide expert clinical leadership and specialised social work services to forensic mental health patients, families and carers.
• Work with high autonomy to apply advanced clinical reasoning to complex situations across Western Sydney Local Health District.
• Lead complex forensic social work caseload management including assessment, intervention and support.
• Apply trauma-informed approaches within risk assessment and care planning frameworks.
• Coordinate with the Forensic Mental Health Network, NSW Trustee and Guardian and other services to navigate complex systems.
• Provide clinical supervision to social work staff and students and promote evidence-based practice.
• Contribute to planning, evaluation, accreditation and policy implementation with leadership teams.

Skills

Mental health experience

Family & carer work

Trauma-informed care

Time management

Report writing

Negotiation & advocacy

Clinical supervision

Accreditation knowledge

Driver's license

Education

Bachelor of Social Work

Master of Social Work

Job description

Senior Social Worker Level 4 - Mental Health Forensic

Western Sydney Local Health District – Blacktown NSW

Lead advanced clinical social work in specialist forensic mental health

Shape patient recovery through trauma-informed, evidence-based practice

Mentor clinicians and influence service quality across a multidisciplinary team

Lead complex care. Strengthen recovery. Make a lasting impact in forensic mental health.

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Position Classification:Social Worker Level 4
Remuneration: $131,585 – $134,775 per annum
Hours Per Week:38
Location:Blacktown

Where you'll be working

Join the Mental Health Service at Blacktown Hospital, based primarily in Budyari Gumada Medium Secure Forensic Unit, and bring your advanced clinical expertise to a service where compassionate care, collaboration and professional leadership matter.

Blacktown Hospital serves one of Sydney's fastest-growing and most culturally diverse communities, with modern facilities, a strong teaching culture and a commitment to exceptional patient outcomes. As a senior member of the Social Work Department, you'll have the opportunity to influence clinical practice, support colleagues and contribute to the ongoing development of forensic mental health services.

Apply your expertise within a medium secure forensic mental health environment supporting people with complex needs.

Contribute to service planning, quality improvement, accreditation and the development of social work practice.

Work alongside multidisciplinary teams, social work leaders and key mental health and community stakeholders.

Access a teaching hospital environment that values evidence-based practice, clinical supervision and student education.

Enjoy landscaped outdoor staff areas, Westpoint shopping centre within a 10-minute walk, and access to public transport and parking options.

What you'll be doing

As a Senior Social Worker Level 4, you'll provide expert clinical leadership and specialised social work services to forensic mental health patients, their families and carers. Working with a high degree of autonomy, you'll apply advanced clinical reasoning to complex situations while helping shape safe, responsive and high-quality care across Western Sydney Local Health District.

Manage a complex forensic social work caseload, providing advanced assessment, intervention and support to patients, families and carers.

Apply trauma-informed approaches within risk assessment and management frameworks, supporting appropriate care planning and positive patient outcomes.

Collaborate with the Forensic Mental Health Network, Mental Health Review Tribunal, NSW Trustee and Guardian, non-government organisations and other services to coordinate care and navigate complex systems.

Provide clinical supervision to social work staff and students, share specialist knowledge and promote professional standards and evidence-based practice.

Contribute to operational planning, service evaluation, quality improvement, accreditation, policy implementation and reporting in partnership with social work management and forensic mental health leadership.

Make a meaningful difference with us

Bring your advanced clinical expertise, sound judgement and collaborative leadership to a role where your work can make a real difference for people experiencing complex mental health challenges.

Qualification: Bachelor of Social Work Degree or Master of Social Work
Registration: Eligibility for AASW (Australian Association of Social Workers) Membership

• Significant experience in a mental health setting including working with families and carers. Experience and/or understanding of forensic mental health issues would be beneficial
• Experience and or understanding of recovery principles and trauma informed care
• Ability to work with the multidisciplinary team in the management of emotionally and clinically challenging situations
• Demonstrated well-developed time management skills with excellent written and verbal communication, including report writing skills
• Excellent negotiation, decision making and advocacy skills including the ability to interact constructively and collaboratively with other services. This will be required for both clinical and management components and will include a diverse range of service providers and stake holders throughout all organisational levels
• Demonstrated capability in clinical supervision of social work staff and students
• Commitment to involvement in improvement initiatives and service evaluation processes and ongoing attention to accreditation requirements
• Current NSW Driver's Licence and willing to use for work

Requisition ID: REQ695494
Applications Close:9th November 2026

People with disabilities who meet the selection criteria are encouraged to apply; and where required, WSLHD will implement reasonable adjustment consistent with industry standard.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. Stepping Up aims to assist Aboriginal job applicants by providing information about applying for roles in NSW Health organisations. For more information, please visit https://www.steppingup.health.nsw.gov.au/ .

Blacktown hospital car parking allocation model is changing. There is a managed waitlist for parking for new staff commencing at Blacktown Hospital. This does not apply to staff with a disability parking permit.