Social Worker, Grade 3 - Infant, Child, Family and Youth Area Mental Health
Dandenong, VIC, AU, 3175
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Use your Social Work expertise to help young people navigate acute mental health challenges and build a safer, supported pathway back to their community.
About the Role
An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced Grade 3 Social Worker to join Unit 2, Youth Mental Health at Dandenong Hospital in a full-time, ongoing position (1.0 EFT), working Monday to Friday.
Working with young people aged 18–25 experiencing acute and complex mental health concerns, you will provide specialist Social Work assessment, intervention, advocacy and discharge planning. Your work will consider not only a young person's mental health, but the broader social factors that influence their recovery – including family and relationships, housing, safety, financial circumstances, disability, substance use and connection to community supports.
As a senior clinician within the team, you will work autonomously while collaborating closely with young people, families and carers, the multidisciplinary team and community services to support recovery-focused care and safe, sustainable transitions back into the community.
In this role, you will:
- Provide comprehensive biopsychosocial assessment and specialist Social Work intervention for young people with complex needs
- Lead and contribute to complex discharge planning, advocacy and service coordination
- Work collaboratively with families and carers using family-sensitive practice
- Build strong partnerships with services including housing, NDIS, AOD, family violence, Child Protection and other community agencies
- Facilitate family meetings and contribute to the Unit 2 group program
- Provide Social Work expertise and consultation within the multidisciplinary team
- Provide clinical supervision and mentoring to Grade 2 Social Workers and Social Work students, as required
About Infant, Child, Family and Youth Area Mental Health
Infant, Child, Family and Youth Area Mental Health provides a range of mental health services to infants, children, adolescents, youth and their families within the Southern Region.
The organisational and clinical model has been developed to provide mental health care that is flexible and responsive to the individual and developmental needs of the infant to youth populations and their families. As such, this model will support the provision of integrated mental health care for young people, guided by consistent, service-wide protocols and principles of care.
Unit 2 is a specialised 25 bed inpatient unit located at Dandenong Hospital and supports consumers aged 18-25 experiencing mental illness. The unit includes up to eight intensive care area beds and 17 designated low dependency beds, allowing support to varying levels of acuity through comprehensive assessment, treatment, discharge planning, and community engagement.
About You
You are an experienced Social Worker who brings strong clinical judgement, compassion and a genuine commitment to improving outcomes for young people experiencing mental health challenges. You will bring:
- Clinical Social Work experience within mental health, ideally within an inpatient, acute or similarly complex setting
- Strong skills in biopsychosocial assessment, intervention, risk assessment and complex discharge planning
- The ability to work autonomously while contributing effectively within a multidisciplinary team
- Confidence navigating complex social systems and advocating for young people and their families
- Strong communication, stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills
- An ability to provide clinical guidance, supervision and support to developing Social Workers
- A commitment to reflective practice, evidence-based care and continuous improvement
- An AASW-accredited Bachelor of Social Work or entry-level Master of Social Work qualification, providing eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
Experience providing clinical mental health services or accreditation as a Mental Health Social Worker will be highly regarded.
Why Join Us?
This is an opportunity to bring your Social Work expertise to a role where the social context of mental health truly matters.
You will work alongside an experienced multidisciplinary team supporting young people at a critical point in their lives, helping them strengthen connections with family, services and community and creating pathways towards recovery beyond the inpatient setting.
As a Grade 3 Social Worker, you will have the opportunity to deepen your specialist mental health practice, contribute your expertise to complex clinical decision-making, mentor developing Social Workers and help shape Social Work practice within Unit 2.
At Monash Health, you will also be connected to a broader Social Work and Mental Health network, with access to clinical leadership, supervision, professional development and opportunities to continue growing your career.
If you are passionate about youth mental health and want to use your Social Work expertise to make a meaningful difference during some of the most complex moments in a young person's journey, we would love to hear from you.
For a confidential discussion and to explore this opportunity further, please reach out to Shenna Langenbach, Nurse Manager Unit 2 on 0427 437 784.
Supportive Documentation can be found here.
Our Culture and Values
At Monash Health, our people are at the heart of everything we do. Our culture is inclusive, supportive and future-focused, underpinned by clear values and a commitment to continuous improvement. Our teams play a critical role in bringing our new strategy to life, challenging traditional approaches, embracing innovation, and ensuring every appointment reflects our commitment to equity, transparency and excellence.
You’ll be encouraged to share ideas, contribute to improvement initiatives, and grow alongside experienced professionals who are passionate about what they do. We are Full Hearted, Open Minded and All In, enabling excellent service delivery and a positive candidate and employee experience every time.
We recognise the value of equal employment opportunity. We are committed to patient safety, promoting fairness, equity and diversity in the workplace and to Child Safe Standards.
How to Apply
Applications are accepted via the Monash Health online EHub system. For information including how to apply and probity check requirements, please click here for the ‘Application Guide’. Applications will be screened upon receipt and selection activity may commence prior to the closing date.
Applications close: 27 September 2026