Lead Clinician - Specialist Services Team

Bring your clinical expertise to a role where you can guide practice and support others to deliver quality care.

• Full-time temporary vacancy available until 5 September 2027
• Make a difference through service improvement and innovation
• Child Protection Allowance in addition to annual salary.

Role Status: Full-time temporary vacancy available until 5 September 2027

Remuneration: AHP3 ($112,139 - $120,284) plus 12% superannuation

We are seeking a Lead Clinician – Specialist Services Team, based in Keswick (with some opportunity to work from other locations), to oversee the delivery of therapeutic support to children and young people living in residential care. Working within our Specialist Practice directorate, you will promote quality care and positive outcomes.

This is an opportunity to guide teams delivering important work, while contributing to service development and professional practice. It will suit an experienced clinician and people-focused individual who has a strong understanding of disability and developmental trauma and values helping others deliver quality care. You will bring sound professional judgement and a genuine commitment to supporting others to do their best work.

You will be responsible for:

• Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team to deliver specialised interventions and high-quality services
• Providing professional advice and consultancy to staff and other agencies, including through education and resources
• Identifying strategies to support early intervention and carer resilience
• Building strong relationships across the organisation, as well as with external partners and service providers
• Sharing your clinical expertise with Youth Workers in residential care settings to understand and respond to the unique developmental and relational needs of the children and young people they care for
• Supporting residential care teams and other stakeholders to work collaboratively to create and maintain therapeutic environments for children and young people living in residential care settings.

About you:

• You are able to sustain strong collaborative relationships and skilfully navigate differing perspectives between stakeholders to work towards common goals in the interest of children and young people living in residential care settings
• You apply clinical reasoning and advanced problem-solving skills to provide sound direction and advice
• You recognise how trauma, disability and developmental delay can affect children, young people and their carers
• You analyse information to develop practical solutions and minimise risk
• You understand how relationship, connection and developmental understanding are critical to supporting positive outcomes for children and young people living in residential care settings
• You have highly developed written communication skills that enable you to produce professional reports, easy-read documents and visual supports for a range of audiences including children and young people with limited communication skills.

Essential Qualifications:

• An appropriate degree or equivalent qualification in Social Work, Psychology, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Pathology or Developmental Education which entitles registration or membership with the relevant board or association. All requirements to maintain registration or membership must be fulfilled.

Salary and benefits:

AHP3: $112,139 - $120,284 + 12% super

+4% child protection allowance

+Professional Development Allowance

+Entitlement to claim reimbursement of eligible professional development expenses

+Area of Practice Endorsement allowance may apply to psychologists who hold the relevant endorsement

+Qualification Allowance may apply to other eligible professionals who hold an additional qualification relevant to the role.

What’s in it for you – Perks That Matter:

At DCP, these are just some of the benefits you’ll enjoy:

• A collaborative team environment, working alongside people with highly developed clinical expertise who are committed to best practice and making a meaningful impact
• Flexible working options with tailored arrangements to help you balance work and life
• Paid Parental and Partner Leave – additional paid time to support you and your growing family
• Recognition and Growth – we celebrate your achievements and open doors to development across DCP
• Salary Packaging – reduce your taxable income with a range of pre-tax benefits
• Health and Fitness Perks – free flu vaccination plus access to more than 1,700 gyms, fitness centres and pools across Australia through our Fitness Passport program for you and your family
• Wellbeing Support - confidential Employee Assistance Program services for you and your family.

See our full list of benefits.

About DCP

The Department for Child Protection (DCP) plays a key role in the protection of children, young people and their families within South Australia. The department provides support to vulnerable children and young people to be safe, strong and connected.

Special Conditions:

• You must have a current Working With Children Check.

For a successful application you will need to respond to all points listed under the your capabilities section of the attached role description. Please also note any special conditions that may be listed.

Want to know more?

Contact Mark Turner - Manager, Specialist Services Team for a confidential discussion

Via tel: 0408 298 601 or email: mark.turner2@sa.gov.au.

Our workplace reflects the diverse communities we serve, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. This includes women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, LGBTQIA+ communities, and those from culturally diverse backgrounds. We are committed to fostering an inclusive, safe, and respectful workplace where everyone feels supported.

To apply for this role, please click on the apply button to be redirected to the DCP Career Portal.

Applications close: 11 October 2026, 11:00 PM