Senior Practitioner Youth Justice

Description:

Role Highlights

• Exciting opportunity for those with a passion for working with young people
• Fostering good relationships through consultation, advice and support to staff
• Work with a dynamic and enthusiastic team

Here at the Department of Human Services (DHS), we strive to deliver modern programs, services and policy that strengthen communities and enable South Australians to actively participate in community life. With people at the heart of what we do and a commitment to child safety, ageing well and supporting people with disability, we work to increase inclusion, independence and decision-making, and help our communities when it matters most.

About the Business

Our Community and Aboriginal Partnerships Division helps to build community safety and wellbeing by providing support and services to children, young people and families, including those involved with the youth justice system, remote Aboriginal communities, people who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and people with complex and exceptional needs. The division also leads the department's Closing the Gap efforts.

Role Details

About Us
Community Youth Justice (CYJ) provides statutory supervision and case management services to children and young people who are subject to supervised youth justice mandates within South Australia. CYJ works in partnership with internal partners and other government and non-government services to promote community safety and meet the identified support needs of young people. This includes assisting young people to plan and achieve goals and maintain compliance with court mandates. Our mission is to Provide focused, responsive and culturally appropriate services and programs to young people that encourage pro-social behaviours by developing partnerships which strengthen connections, support re-integration and build community safety.

Why work with us?
* Make a difference in the lives of vulnerable young people and their families.
* Opportunity to think creatively about how you apply your professional knowledge to help change young people’s lives.
* Work with a bunch of passionate colleagues.

The Senior Practitioner is a role within Communities and Justice and is accountable to the Supervisor, Community Youth Justice for:
• taking a lead role in monitoring, promoting, and developing a high standard of practice
• fostering good working relationships through consultation, advice, and support to case managers and other staff
• building the capacity of case managers to provide a high standard of practice
• developing and maintaining partnerships to provide community based programs consistent with legislation and DHS priorities
• model, promote and monitor quality assurance practices, chair selected case conferences, assessment panel meetings and provide staff with appropriate training to improve client outcomes
• provide supervision of children and young people in accordance with conditions and assessed risk and needs and assuming overall responsibility for oversighting, reviewing, and evaluating all aspects of case planning including the making of appropriate referrals and providing programs to address offending behaviour.
• facilitate the interests, rights, and needs of clients within the legislative framework and duty of care requirements including providing services that are accessible, fully utilised, and culturally appropriate.

Special Conditions

• National Police Check required.
• Employment-related Screening Check required.
• Some out of hours work may be required.
• Some interstate and intrastate travel may be required.
• Must hold a current Australian issued driver’s licence (equivalent to minimum class C).
• This is a full-time contract position (1.0 FTE). The role can be physically based in the Adelaide CBD, Pt Augusta or Whyalla offices and will be expected to regularly travel to different regional locations for the purpose of meeting business needs.

Essential Qualifications

Incumbent must hold a degree level qualification in Social Work leading to eligibility for (full) membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
Persons of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who have the appropriate background and skills but do not have the essential qualification, may apply for and be engaged/assigned to the role of Social Worker and will be entitled to apply for any Allied Health Professional roles requiring a qualification in Social Work within the Department Human Services.

Role Status: Term up to 23/01/2026

Salary Range: $88,255 - $102,240 (AHP2)

Location: Adelaide, Pt Augusta or Whyalla

Enquiries: Melissa Hanna, 0428 112 570 melissa.hanna@sa.gov.au

Diversity and Inclusion

DHS is committed to making our services and workplaces safe and inclusive for all people and ensuring the full diversity of the communities we serve are represented in our workforce, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability and/or neurodivergence, young people, older people, culturally and linguistically diverse people, LGBTIQA+ and gender diverse people.

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process. If you require assistance with this process, please contact us at dhsrecruitment@sa.gov.au and a member of the team will get back to you.

The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working, including part time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss flexible working arrangements for this role.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. We also celebrate the many strengths and skills people with disability and/or neurodivergent people bring to our workplace and acknowledge our role in ensuring a supportive work environment for people with disability and/or neurodivergent people to thrive in.

Flexibility Statement
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.