We are seeking Expressions of Interest from experienced and passionate leaders to join our growing Youth Services team as a Practice Lead.
This role is ideal for a highly motivated professional who is passionate about supporting vulnerable young people, building capable teams, and driving best-practice service delivery across Special Out of Home Care (SOOHC), Intensive Therapeutic Care (ITC), Supported Accommodation and Youth Support Programs.
As a Practice Lead, you will play a critical role in ensuring young people receive safe, therapeutic, and person-centred support while fostering a culture of accountability, learning, and continuous improvement.
About the Role
The Practice Lead provides operational and practice leadership across a portfolio of youth services, supporting frontline teams to deliver high-quality care that promotes safety, stability, independence and positive life outcomes for young people.
Working closely with the Operations manager and key stakeholders, the Practice Lead will provide coaching, mentoring and oversight to ensure services are delivered in accordance with legislative, contractual and therapeutic care requirements.
The role is predominantly Monday to Friday with flexibility to respond to critical incidents, support transitions, and provide after-hours leadership when required.
Key Responsibilities
Practice Leadership
- Lead and support teams delivering therapeutic care and support services to young people.
- Coach, mentor and develop Team Leaders, Senior Youth Workers and Support Workers.
- Promote trauma-informed, therapeutic and strengths-based practice.
- Foster a culture of accountability, reflection and continuous improvement.
Young Person Outcomes
- Support the delivery of individualised care that promotes safety, wellbeing and independence.
- Assist teams to respond effectively to complex behaviours and presenting risks.
- Ensure young people have opportunities to participate in decision-making and goal setting.
- Promote positive relationships with families, carers, schools, communities and support networks where appropriate.
Service Quality & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with NSW Child Safe Standards, OOHC Standards, relevant legislation and contractual requirements.
- Support incident reviews, investigations and safeguarding processes.
- Conduct practice observations, audits and quality reviews.
- Ensure accurate and timely documentation and reporting.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain effective relationships with DCJ, schools, clinicians, allied health providers and community partners.
- Represent Sirv professionally in meetings, case conferences and planning discussions.
- Support referrals, transitions and service commencement processes.
Operational Leadership
- Support workforce planning and service sustainability.
- Assist with onboarding, training and performance management processes.
- Contribute to service development and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Support organisational projects and strategic priorities.
What We’re Looking For
Essential
- Minimum 3 years’ experience working within youth services, OOHC, child protection, residential care, mental health or community services.
- Demonstrated leadership experience within human services.
- Strong understanding of trauma-informed and therapeutic care frameworks.
- Experience supporting young people with complex behaviours and support needs.
- Excellent communication, conflict resolution and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Ability to coach, mentor and develop others.
- Current Driver Licence.
- NSW Working With Children Check.
- Current NDIS Worker Screening Check (or ability to obtain).
- Completion of Therapeutic Crisis Intervention (TCI) training or willingness to undertake.
Desirable
- Degree or Diploma in Social Work, Psychology, Community Services, Youth Work, Social Science or related discipline.
- Experience within Intensive Therapeutic Care (ITC) or Residential OOHC.
- Knowledge of Child Protection legislation and Permanency Support Program requirements.
- Experience in quality, compliance or practice improvement roles.
The successful Practice Lead will:
- Build strong, confident and capable teams.
- Create safe and therapeutic environments for young people.
- Improve placement stability and positive life outcomes.
- Maintain high-quality, compliant service delivery.
- Strengthen stakeholder relationships and organisational reputation.
- Champion a culture of learning, accountability and excellence.
Interested employees are invited to submit:
Required Documentation
- Current Resume.
- Cover Letter (maximum 2 pages) addressing:
- Why you are interested in the Practice Lead role.
- Your experience working with vulnerable young people.
- Examples of leadership and team development.
- Examples of how you have improved outcomes for young people or service quality.
- Your understanding of therapeutic and trauma-informed care.
