Clinician - Prison Disability Support Initiative

At the Department of Justice and Community Safety, we’re looking for people who want to make a difference. People who take pride in their work. People who get things done. People who are committed to making Victoria a safer place.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the community we serve. We’re all about recruiting the best people, regardless of gender, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation, or cultural background. If you think you can do the job and would be a good fit for our department, we’d love to hear from you.

The department is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and recognises that children’s rights need to be respected, their views welcomed and valued, and their concerns taken seriously and acted upon.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please don't hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

For more information on working with us and our recruitment process, please visit justice.vic.gov.au/careers

We’re proud of the important work we do across Victoria. Want to be part of it?

• Utilise your experience working within the field of disability or the criminal justice system to support the Prison Disability Support Initiative.
• Fixed Term, Full time opportunity to 30 June 2028.
• VPS grade 4: $100,894 - $114,476 plus superannuation.

DJCS is seeking a Clinician, Prison Disability Support Initiative to support people in custody with cognitive impairment and complex needs, helping to strengthen rehabilitation, reintegration and community safety.

About the business unit

The Reintegration and Engagement Services Division, part of Corrections Victoria, delivers evidence-based interventions and support services that help reduce reoffending and improve community safety. Its work includes risk assessment and case management quality assurance, clinical intervention programs, and transition and reintegration support.

Within Corrections Victoria, Offender Services and Reintegration leads a range of best practice services to support rehabilitation and reduce reoffending, including case management, education, training and employment, prison industries, and reintegration supports. The division supports a safe and humane corrections system, creates opportunities for rehabilitation, and works towards Aboriginal self-determination.

The Rehabilitation and Reintegration Branch delivers programs and services across prisons and Community Correctional Services, including transition and reintegration, parenting and family engagement, women's services, disability services, and family violence programs. The Prison Disability Support Initiative (PDSI) is a statewide disability support service within the branch.

About the role

In this role, you will provide clinical services to people in Victorian prisons who show signs of cognitive impairment. You will work as part of the PDSI to assess needs, support access to appropriate services, and deliver interventions that improve outcomes for people in custody.

Key responsibilities include:

• providing clinical services to people in Victorian prisons in line with PDSI service delivery
• managing a caseload and facilitating access to clinical assessments
• developing positive behaviour support plans and other tailored interventions
• identifying disability-related needs and making informed recommendations and referrals
• supporting people with suspected or confirmed cognitive impairment and complex clinical presentations.

Please note that this position is based at 50 Franklin Street, Melbourne, with regular travel to metropolitan prison locations required. Occasional travel to regional prison locations may also be required on an ad hoc basis.

For more information about the role, please refer to the attached position description.

About you

To succeed in this role, you will bring:

• experience working in the disability sector and/or criminal justice system
• experience administering evidence-based psychometric tools to assess cognitive functioning, mood, personality and functional capacity
• experience conducting functional behaviour analysis and developing individualised treatment and positive behaviour support plans
• an understanding of the challenges of working in a forensic environment
• a commitment to the Risk-Need-Responsivity model.

Qualifications/requirements

• Registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), or another relevant tertiary qualification (Provisional Psychologists may also be considered for the role).
• A current Victorian driver's license in required.

How to apply 

Please click the Apply button on this advertisement. Applications should include a resume and covering letter. Attachments can be uploaded in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .txt or .rtf formats. 

The successful candidate will be required to undergo pre-employment checks which may include reference checks, nationally coordinated criminal history checks (NCCHC), and misconduct screening. Dependant on the role, other checks may include VicRoads checks, drivers licence checks, medical checks, Working with Children Checks, and Declaration of Private Interests (for executive and responsible officer roles). 

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application material, please get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad. 

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

CHILD SAFE STATEMENT OF COMMITMENT:

The Department of Justice and Community Safety is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We seek to prevent harm of any kind impacting children and young people and have zero tolerance for racism, child abuse and inequality. Children and young people's rights, relationships, identity, and culture must be recognised and respected, their voices heard, and their concerns acted upon. We aim to foster a culturally safe, child safe and child friendly environment for all children and young people we have contact with, deliver services to, or are impacted by our work.