• Clerk Grade 5/6 (35530) 
• A role that benefits the community 
• Industry leading training and career development 
• Salary of $87,493 - $96,540 pa plus superannuation 
• Existing Ongoing Opportunity/s and Talent Pool for future opportunities  
• Locations: Wellington Correctional Complex (Wellington Correctional Centre, Macquarie Correctional Centre) 

About the Company 

The Department of Communities and Justice (DCJ) was formed in 2019 with the merger of two former departments Family and Community Services (FACS) and Justice.   

By combining FACS and Justice, the two former agencies are now able to work together as DCJ to support everyone’s right to access justice, to help families, and to promote early intervention and inclusion, in order to provide benefits for the whole community. 

Corrective Services NSW (CSNSW) delivers professional correctional services and programs to reduce the risk of re-offending and enhance public safety. It serves a key function of the NSW Communities and Justice Sector by providing effective, safe and humane management of offenders both in custody and in the community CSNSW also works in partnership with other government and community agencies to ensure that offenders and their families are supported. 

About the Correctional Centres 

Wellington Correctional Centre and Macquarie Correctional Centre locate adjacent to each other at Wellington.    

Macquarie Correctional Centre houses maximum-security male offenders.  

Wellington Correctional Centre is a maximum-security correctional centre which houses low to high risk male and female inmates and remandees. 

In the pre-screening questions, you will be asked to nominate your preferred work locations.  

About the Role 

The Offender Services and Programs Branch is responsible for interventions that aim directly at reducing re-offending and for ensuring the exercise of proper duty of care in terms of the well-being of offenders. The Branch has particular responsibility for the governance of psychology, program facilitation and education services. 

You will be responsible for: 

• Providing induction, assessment, support, and case management processes and reporting. 
• Facilitating group based programs to offenders within a Correctional Centre or in the community. 
• Delivering strategies and programs that promote health and reduce harm for offenders. 
• Undertaking individual interventions for offenders as required. 

• Resolving critical situations by providing information, expertise, support and referrals. 
• Assisting offenders with pre-release planning. 
• Maintaining documentation and case notes on all offenders receiving services. 
• Working effectively with a diverse range of offenders. 
• Managing key internal and external relationships with offender’s families and external agencies.  

Essential Requirements  

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in social work, psychology, mental-health or other human service fields; and /or demonstrated relevant equivalent experience working with family, social and / or drug and alcohol related issues. 
• Current Certificate IV in Correctional Practice with the necessary Units of Competency for this role (or equivalent proven experience) or capacity to complete Certificate IV in Correctional Practice in accordance with specified CSNSW timeframes. Training for this role is scheduled for February 2022 in Sydney. If you are recommended for a role, you will need to be available to attend the 10-week training starting 7th February 2022. 
• Current driver licence with ability and willingness to travel throughout NSW 
• Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander persons who are culturally aware and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal people and communities (for identified roles only) 
• Australian or New Zealand Citizen or Permanent Resident for ongoing appointments 
• It is an essential requirement of the role that successful applicants will have had their 1st dose of an approved COVID-19 vaccine prior to their commencement and a 2nd dose by no later than Monday 17 January 2022. 

Skills and Experience  

We are looking for individuals with: 

• Thorough knowledge and understanding of the transitional factors affecting offenders and their families. 
• Demonstrated ability and experience in assessment, case management and intervention with clients with complex welfare and alcohol and drug related needs 
• Demonstrated ability and / or experience in delivering group-based interventions  
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of alcohol and other drug dependence and evidenced based interventions.   

In addition, the successful candidates need to: 

• Be able to work collaboratively with clients and colleagues from a variety of backgrounds 
• Be comfortable and confident in running group and/or individual sessions with inmates in a correctional setting 
• Be able to act with integrity and display resilience in face of challenges 

 Please review the Role Description for SAPO for further details. 

How to Apply 

Simply click ‘apply now’ to complete the application form.  

Please attach: 

• a resume (maximum 3 pages), and 
• a cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining how you meet the requirements and focus capabilities of this role as specified in the role description. 

After you start your application, you will be prompted to answer some pre-screening questions including the following two questions: 

1. Describe your knowledge and experience providing support services and programs to clients with complex needs. Explain how you observe and prioritise service integrity and professional boundaries.  (Word limit 300 words)  
2. Describe to us a time when your professional integrity was challenged and what was the outcome?  (Word Limit 300 words) 

Job Notes: Part of the assessment process includes additional online capability testing, skills testing or work samples in accordance with the Government Sector Employment Act 2013.  

For application enquiries or technical issues, please contact the Talent Acquisition team at [email protected], using the subject line: Services and Programs Officer - Macquarie and Wellington Correctional Centre enquiry via EthicalJobs.

For more specific information about the role please contact: Manager Offender Services & Programs, Kathy O’Grady on [email protected] or Mobile 0437 667 756.

To ensure recruitment at the Department of Communities and Justice continues without interruption during the COVID-19 pandemic, some interviews and assessments may be performed using alternative methods. This may include video interviewing, telephone interviewing and online assessments. If you are successful following review of your application, you may need to perform assessments and/or interviews via online platforms using a PC, laptop, or smart phone. By doing so, we will be adhering to the strict social distancing advice currently in place. 

Talent Pools: 

A talent pool may be created for future ongoing and temporary roles and is valid for a period of up to 18 months. If a vacancy arises in your preferred location during this time, you may be contacted and asked to attend the location to meet the manager. From there a final decision will be made regarding whether to activate the talent pool. Offers are based on location preference, capabilities, knowledge, and experience. 

Inclusion and Diversity lies at the heart of how we recruit 

We continue to hire great people with a wide variety of skills, experience, and backgrounds. This includes people with disability, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, women, people identifying as LGBTIQ+, culturally and linguistically diverse people, carers, and other diversity groups. 

If you require an adjustment within the recruitment process, please contact [email protected] and advise us of your preferred method of communication. 

If you are looking for more information about workplace adjustments at DCJ, please visit our Careers site.