Social Worker | Full-time Temporary with a Possibility of Permanency

Australian Capital Territory; Canberra; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 105,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay rates

Salary packaging

Flexible working conditions

12.5% Superannuation

Employee Assistance Program

Onsite Physiotherapists

Job summary

Canberra Health Services (CHS) seeks an experienced Social Worker for temporary, full-time work within Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services (AIMHS). You will deliver social work assessments and therapeutic interventions across Ward 12B and related units, partnering with consumers, carers, and families to support recovery and meaningful outcomes.

You will contribute to clinical governance, service improvement, and the development of social work practice in a specialised inpatient setting while

Qualifications

• Experience in social work within acute mental health settings.
• Strong communication and advocacy abilities.
• Ability to collaborate in multidisciplinary teams.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality social work assessments and interventions.
• Collaborate with consumers, carers, families, and partner services.
• Contribute to clinical governance and service improvement initiatives.
• Mentor junior staff and students in a supportive learning culture.

Skills

Communication skills

Advocacy

Relationship building

Job description

Social Worker
Full-time Temporary with a Possibility of Permanency

• Competitive pay rates and excellent working conditions within a tertiary hospital.
• Salary Packaging with many options that provide full fringe benefits tax concessions.
• Flexible working conditions.
• 12.5% Superannuation.
• Access to Employee Assistance Program.
• Access to onsite Physiotherapists.

About the Role:

Join the Allied Health team within Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services (AIMHS) and play a key role in supporting consumers experiencing acute, severe, and complex mental health challenges. Working across The Canberra Hospital’s Adult Mental Health Unit, Ward 12B, Mental Health Short Stay Unit, and mental health surge wards, you will deliver high-quality social work assessments and therapeutic interventions that support recovery, independence, and meaningful outcomes. As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will collaborate closely with consumers, carers, families, and partner services to provide person-centred care in a dynamic inpatient environment.

This role offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact at both an individual and service level. Alongside delivering evidence-based interventions, you will contribute to clinical governance, service improvement initiatives, and the development of social work practice within a specialised mental health setting. You will also play an important role in supporting and mentoring junior staff and students, helping to foster a culture of learning, collaboration, and clinical excellence.

The successful candidate will be an experienced and compassionate clinician with strong communication, advocacy, and relationship-building skills. You will be confident working with complex mental health presentations, navigating sensitive situations, and collaborating effectively within multidisciplinary teams. Adaptable, resilient, and committed to continuous improvement, you will bring a recovery-focused approach and a genuine passion for supporting consumers, carers, and colleagues alike.

Please note prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:

• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

Note: This is a temporary position available for a period of four months with the possibility of extension up to less than 12 months and/or permanency.

Note: Under the ACTPS employment framework you may be placed in another role where required for the efficient administration of the service.

Where an offer of employment is for a fixed-term period, any related temporary contracts within the Territory will be issued in compliance with the requirements and applicable exceptions outlined in the Fair Work Act.

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person centred care. It provides acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding region. More information can be found on the CHS website .

Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together
Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community
Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind

CHS is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are particularly encouraged to apply.

The ACT public service is committed to closing the gap, underpinned by the belief that when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved. More information can be found here ACT Closing the Gap Implementation Plan - ACT Government Transparency Portal .

#LI-DNI

Note

This is a temporary position available for a period of four months with the possibility of extension up to less than 12 months and/or permanency.