Grade 3 Clinical Social Worker - Residential Aged Care

About the role

St Vincent's Hospital Melbourne (SVHM) is recruiting a Grade 3 Clinical Social Worker for its Residential Aged Care facilities, based in Kew/Hawthorn East. The role covers Berengarra, Prague House and Auburn House and requires cross-campus work to serve all SVHM RACFs. It is a permanent part-time position (0.5 FTE, 20 hours per week) for a senior clinician providing advanced social work services to residents and their families, including those facing complex psychosocial issues such as imminent risk, elder abuse, legal and financial matters and care planning.

Key responsibilities

• Provide advanced psychosocial assessment, intervention and care planning for residents and their families
• Assess and support the management of complex risk, including family violence and elder abuse
• Advise on decision-making capacity and coordinate VCAT applications and hearings where required
• Work with multidisciplinary teams, families, substitute decision-makers and external services
• Support residents and families experiencing emotional distress and facilitate referrals
• Liaise with the NDIA/NDIS and other services
• Provide secondary consultation and clinical leadership in complex, high-risk matters
• Supervise staff and students and contribute to teaching and professional development
• Take part in research, evaluation, quality improvement and service development
• Build relationships with internal and external stakeholders and support the Chief Social Worker

Required profile

• Bachelor of Social Work or qualifying Master of Social Work
• Minimum of seven years' experience in hospital social work or a related area
• Demonstrated experience working with older people, including those who may be experiencing homelessness
• Eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW)
• Postgraduate qualification in a relevant area, or progress towards it, is desirable
• Strong knowledge of aged care systems, elder rights, homelessness and NDIS
• Knowledge of legal frameworks including VCAT, the Residential Tenancies Act, the Coroners Court and the Aged Care Act 2024

Required skills

• Advanced clinical assessment, problem-solving, negotiation and conflict management
• Leadership and experience supervising staff and students
• Strong written, verbal and interpersonal communication
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary setting

What we offer

• Salary of $104,135 - $118,981 per year depending on classification (SC31 - SC34)
• Salary packaging and a focus on wellbeing initiatives
• Confidential, solutions-focused employee counselling
• Ongoing training, professional development and structured supervision

Applicants must provide a current National Police Certificate and meet health screening and immunisation requirements before starting. Applications close on 19 November 2026; shortlisting begins immediately.