Lead Social Worker/Counsellor (Yishun Family Service)

Singapore Children's Society; Singapore; On-site; SGD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading children's support organization in Singapore is looking for a highly experienced candidate to oversee clinical governance and manage complex casework. The successful applicant will have at least 15 years of experience in social work, including 5 years in a senior leadership role, and will be responsible for mentoring staff and developing safety frameworks. Excellent communication skills and the ability to lead diverse teams are essential. This position offers a significant opportunity to make impactful changes in children's support services.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in casework and counselling, including 5 years in senior leadership.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex cases.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain risk assessment and safety frameworks.
• Guide caseworkers in managing complex cases.
• Provide reflective supervision to senior staff.
• Set and maintain clinical practice standards.
• Mentor senior practitioners.

Skills

Leadership

Clinical reasoning

Communication

Team management

Education

Degree in Social Work, Counselling, or related discipline

Job description

Key Responsibilities

A. Practice Quality & Safety

• Develop, review, and maintain centre-wide risk assessment and safety frameworks.
• Provide clinical guidance on ethical dilemmas, safeguarding, and professional boundaries.
• Ensure practice across programmes and casework is trauma-informed and ethically sound.
• Guide caseworkers and supervisors in managing complex cases

B. Clinical Thinking and Case Formulation

• Embed systemic practice principles into centre’s approach towards case assessment, intervention, and review.
• Guide thinking about long‑term change pathways, not just immediate problem‑solving.
• Lead clinical discussion in complex or stuck cases.

C. Supervision Practice

• Provide reflective supervision to supervisors and senior staff.
• Conduct supervision‑of‑supervision to strengthen supervisory quality.
• Support supervisors in holding staff emotional load and preventing burnout.
• Model reflective, ethical, and systemic supervision approaches.

D. Clinical Governance

• Set and maintain clinical practice standards for the centre.
• Lead or contribute to reviews of serious incidents, critical events, and near misses.
• Conduct quality assurance focused on clinical reasoning and decision‑making.
• Advise on risk escalation and collaborate with the Centre Head on clinical risk management.
• Contribute to policy development and continuous improvement initiatives.

E. Leadership & Development

• Mentor senior practitioners and build capacity for systemic and trauma‑informed practice.
• Represent the centre in professional networks and partnerships.

Requirements

• Degree, Graduate Diploma, or Master’s in Social Work, Counselling, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 15 years’ experience in casework and counselling, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role.
• Proven ability to lead teams and manage complex cases effectively.
• Excellent communication, report writing, and interpersonal abilities.
• Prior experience in systemic practice will be an advantage.