Senior Mental Health Social Worker jobs

The Hospital:

The Royal Children’s Hospital’s (RCH) Vision is “A world where all kids thrive”.

RCH is a cornerstone member of the Melbourne Children’s Campus, partnering with Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The University of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics and The Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation.

RCH has cared for the children and young people of Victoria for more than 150 years since it was founded in 1870. A full range of paediatrics and adolescent health services are provided plus tertiary and quaternary care for the most critically ill and medically complex patients in Victoria, Tasmania, southern NSW and other states around Australia and overseas. The Hospital has more than 6,000 staff, a budget of $850M, 12 wards and 350 beds. Annually, the RCH has 300,000+ Specialist Clinic appointments, 90,000+ Emergency Department presentations and 20,000 elective surgeries.

The RCH is committed to the Child Safe Standards.

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact.

For further Information on RCH is available here.

Senior Mental Health Clinician

Open to Grade 4 Social Worker

• Full-Time Fixed-Term (until June 2027)
• Ongoing training and development opportunities
• $100,000-$125,000 per annum + super (dependent on experience, qualification and relevant award)

About the Role:

This is a fixed term (until June 30, 2027) full time position at 40 hours per fortnight (job share considered) within the HOPE team within the Mental Health Department.

You will be responsible for completing clinical assessments, formulations and care planning with other child HOPE program staff. You will also provide time limited, evidence-based child and youth focused individual interventions which will include skill building therapies to address difficulties with emotional regulation and social challenges for children seen through the HOPE program. This role works alongside other members of the child HOPE program including the Program Clinical Lead, Lived Experience Peer workers, Speech Pathologist and the Family Support Worker to best support the child and family.

Classification for this position would depend on candidate's experience and qualifications based on their discipline, and will range from:

Grade 4 Social Worker (HR25-HR28)

What you’ll achieve:

• You will expertly manage a complex caseload according to service standards by providing high level clinical care including thorough and responsive assessment, collaborative Recovery Care Plans, high quality therapeutic care and well-planned discharge
• You will provide comprehensive risk assessments, risk formulations, evidence based risk mitigation interventions
• You will provide time limited evidence-based family interventions to reduce the risk of suicide and self-harm including interventions

Your skills and experience:

• Tertiary Qualification or equivalent in relevant discipline
• Current Registration as an Occupational Therapist, Psychologist or Registered Nurse with the applicable Health Practitioner Board or a qualified Social Worker or Speech Pathologist
• Demonstrated effectiveness in working in true partnership with other community mental health teams and community/family welfare agencies to plan and implement effective interventions for children and young people experiencing complex mental health problems
• Depending on discipline, required years of experience in accordance with the EBA will apply

About the Department:

The RCH’s Infant, Child and Family Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (RCH Mental Health) Child Hospital Outreach Post-suicidal Engagement (C&Y HOPE) program is a new program which will provide tailored holistic support to children ages 5 to 11 years old who are experiencing deliberate self-harm, suicidal thoughts and attempts who reside within the North and West Metropolitan Area of Melbourne, as well as their families/ care systems. The program aims to provide psychosocial and clinical support to children, young people and their families/carers for up to 3 months to address factors that may have contributed to the child/young person presenting with deliberate self-harm and/or suicidal thoughts and attempts. The program would initially work closely and form partnerships with the RCH emergency department, the many departments and teams within RCH Mental Health as well as external mental health care providers.

What You’ll Get In Return:

• Salary Packaging – Increase your take home pay by up to $11,500 per annum!
• Support for working parents with our on-site Early Learning centre, feeding facilities and flexible working arrangements
• Looking for a new set of wheels to get you to the office? We offer Novated Leases through our partnership with SmartSalary
• Workplace Culture of continuous improvement, support and training
• Discounted Private Health Insurance
• Help when you need it most! Staff Counselling, financial coaching, legal support, nutritional support and specialist helpline services, and more through our EAP partner, Converge
• Unlimited access to select fitness facilities in your local area via Fitness Passport
• Retail discounts

Application process:

To apply, you will need a resume and a tailored cover letter outlining your skills, experience, and suitability for the position in line with the requirements of the position description.

Shortlisting for this position will commence immediately, we encourage you to apply promptly!

For more information about this position please contact Leah Dalton, A/HOPE Program co-ordinator Ph: 03 93456011 Email: leah.dalton2@rch.org.au

Why work at the RCH?

RCH enjoys high employee engagement and is committed to staff safety and a positive culture through enactment of our Compact. We offer the opportunity to work in world-class facilities, surrounded by Royal Park and only a short tram trip from the heart of Melbourne city.

We also offer staff benefits such as discounted staff parking, salary packaging, and an award-winning health and wellbeing program.

The RCH is committed to a diverse and inclusive workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse background, all members of the LGBTQI community and people with disability.

It is a requirement of your employment that you be vaccinated against Influenza annually for Category A and B roles, in compliance with any public health orders in place at the relevant time, unless you have a medical exception in line with those public health orders, which has been accepted by The Royal Children’s Hospital. Applicants will be required to provide their Australian Government Immunisation History Statement, it is a requirement of the RCH to collect, record and hold vaccination information.

It is also a requirement of your employment that you comply with any direction given by The Royal Children’s Hospital that you be vaccinated against, or prove immunity to, any other disease, unless you have a relevant exemption, and offers of employment are conditional on successful completion of background checks including reference checks.

Are you ready to join our team?

Applications close 15 June 2026