JOB AND PERSON SPECIFICATIONS
Title of Position : Principal Advisor Offender Services CORRECTIONAL SERVICES Classification : AHP4 Position No: CS1408 Location : Adelaide Division : State-wide Operations Reports To : Deputy CE, Statewide Operations PS Act x Contract Up to 5 Yrs Casual Job Status: Ongoing x Contract Up to 2 Yrs FTE
Financial Delegation: $ 5,000
JOB AND PERSON SPECIFICATION APPROVAL
……...... ……….…/….…/ …… Chief Executive or Delegate
JOB SPECIFICATION 1. KEY PURPOSE OF THE POSITION The Principal Advisor, Offender Services is responsible for providing expert advice and consultancy to the Department’s Executive Committee on strategic directions and priorities for prisoner health and forensic mental health and providing high level support to prison General Managers in relation to prisoner health and forensic mental health related matters. The incumbent is responsible for ensuring clear and strong linkages with the key Departmental clinical service delivery areas and providing support, guidance, leadership and professional advice relevant to clinical service delivery on a statewide basis. The Principal Advisor will liaise with General Managers, South Australian Forensic Mental Health Service, South Australian Prison Health Service, Families SA, Department for Communities and Social Inclusion, South Australian Police (SAPOL) and other agencies in relation to best practice approaches to health and mental health strategies in a Correctional environment; and oversee Crisis Intervention and Support Services and ensuring that high standards of clinical and medical care are followed for prisoners at risk of suicide or self-harm.
2. KEY STAKEHOLDER INTERACTION Reports to the Deputy Chief Executive, Statewide Operations Maintains a strong connection with and may report to the Director, Operations on some matters. Manages a small team. Liaises with the Chief Executive, Executive Director: Community Corrections, Executive Director: Offender Development, General Managers and Regional Directors, South Australian Prison Health Service, Forensic Mental Health Services, and the Manager, Aboriginal Services. Regular interaction with both health and justice related organisations.
3. BRANCH PROFILE Statewide Operations is responsible for the management and operation of the nine South Australian prisons and 16 Community Corrections Centres, Statewide Operations is also responsible for the Operations Security Unit.
The Offender Services component of Statewide Operations oversees offender development delivery and services, forms part of the Statewide Operations Division and is located in Central Office with responsibilities across all prisons and Community Correctional Centres throughout the State. Prisoners are provided with development programs that address their behavioural and criminogenic needs, and that give them the life skills they will need to successfully rejoin the wider community on release.
Principal Advisor Offender Services AHP4 Apr 16 JOB & PERSON SPECIFICATION 2 4. SPECIAL CONDITIONS Section 47 of the Public Sector Act 2009 applies in conjunction with other provisions of the act and other applicable industrial entitlements. The incumbent is required to satisfactorily complete a National Criminal History Check; A current South Australian Driver’s Licence is essential; A flexible approach to working hours is required; Placement in the first instance will be Adelaide. The individual will be expected to work across a number of sites; Some interstate and intrastate travel will be required which may necessitate overnight absences.
5. HIGHLIGHTED EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS A requirement to understand, observe, conform and adhere to: Legislative requirements that apply to the role. This includes, but is not limited to, the Public Sector Act; Correctional Services Act, Work Health & Safety Act, Return to Work Act, Equal Opportunity Act, Independent Commissioner Against Corruption Act, the State Records Act and various relevant industrial awards and enterprise agreements. The Public Sector Principles and Practices including the SA Public Sector Code of Ethics, the Professional Conduct Standards, the Commissioner’s Determinations and Guidelines, DCS Human Resource policies and guidelines and DCS Core Values. Work health and safety and injury management requirements as set out in relevant legislation, Public Sector and DCS policies and procedures, including complying with any reasonable instruction associated with these documents.
6. KEY AREAS OF ACCOUNTABILITY Manage and oversee the offender services program of work to achieve strategic objectives relating to the enhancement of prisoner health and wellbeing, forensic mental health, crisis intervention, education and vocational training, and the provision of other relevant services. Ensure the delivery of the offender services program of work by developing business and program plans, performance measures and targets, allocating work to meet planned outcomes, resolve problems, managing staff performance and developing staff capacity and capability to meet current and future offender services requirements. Liaise closely, establish collaborative working relationships, partnerships and/or negotiate as appropriate with key stakeholders across the Department, and in other agencies, jurisdictions and private organisations in relation to the strategic development and operational delivery of offender services. Coordinate individual and group based supervision; Lead professional / clinical supervision and training to other allied health professionals, technical, operational support staff. Review the efficacy of offender services and prisoner program delivery through the establishment and monitoring of key performance indicators, oversight of custodial performance management and reporting systems, audit of existing services and collation and analysis of data and other evidence, and where necessary make recommendations for improvements to approaches and programs. Lead and undertake research into best practice, evidence-based offender services models, programs, practices and approaches, including maintaining knowledge of national and international trends and assessing suitability for the South Australian context. Identify, assess and prepare mitigation strategies for risks associated with current and proposed offender services models, approaches, programs and practices. Lead and provide strategic and expert input into the development and maintenance of supporting documentation, policies and procedures for offender services programs and practices. JOB & PERSON SPECIFICATION 3 Provide expert advice, consultancy services and written papers/briefings to the Director, Operations, Executive, and other key stakeholders on evidence-based offender services models, practices and approaches and to inform strategic direction and support executive decision making regarding offender services. Develop, manage and deliver strategic projects relating to offender services. Work across South Australia to support the implementation of new or enhanced offender services models, approaches, programs and practices, including providing training, information and advice. Represent the Department on committees and working groups as required. Manage prisoner complaints and correspondence and arranging for issues to be handled in a sensitive and empathetic manner Administer the Offender Services Unit effectively and exercise delegations with good judgement, including managing the Unit’s budget and expenditure, human resources, procurement and other corporate requirements. Participate as a member of the Statewide Operations senior management team by providing input and expertise, including participating in planning, strategy and work program development, collaborating on problem resolution across the Statewide Operations Unit, and supporting the Director, Operations in achieving strategic objectives. Responsible for taking reasonable care for their own and others’ health and safety and not adversely affecting the health and safety of others. Responsible for early notification and reporting of workplace hazards, incidents and injuries.
7. QUALIFICATIONS Essential: A Master’s degree in psychology and registered under the Psychology Board of Australia or; A degree level qualification in Social Work leading to eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers
8. PERSONAL CRITERIA 8.1 Essential Criteria Proven experience in the management and delivery of clinical and forensic intervention services including clinical assessment procedures and programs of intervention in a culturally and socially diverse organisational environment. Demonstrated knowledge and skills in prisoner or offender assessment, complex case management of prisoners exhibiting high and co-morbid needs, and other concepts underpinning the delivery of services to prisoners and offenders. Demonstrated ability to work with a minimum of direction and to initiate creative and innovative solutions to a range of presenting clinical problems, whilst maintaining high standards and professionalism in service delivery. Demonstrated experience in offender services program and practices development and implementation in the context of contemporary correctional services. Demonstrated ability to lead and manage several complex major projects and activities concurrently at a senior level and effectively manage the needs of multiple stakeholders. Ability to identify and assess emerging organisational issues, their impact and appropriate actions to address them. Demonstrated high level interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills including the ability to represent the organisation in highly sensitive matters and provide expert advice to Executive and other internal and external stakeholders. JOB & PERSON SPECIFICATION 4 Demonstrated ability to provide leadership and motivation to staff including counselling, mediating, professional oversight of frontline operational practices and fostering a team oriented approach. Demonstrated high level of problem-solving, research, analytical, decision-making and conflict resolution skills, including the ability to think creatively and laterally. Understanding of, and ability to manage, the spirit and principles of the Premier’s Safety Commitment and the legislative requirements of the Work Health & Safety Act, Regulations and associated Codes of Practice, utilising AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 Risk Management.
8.2 Desirable Criteria Demonstrated experience in dealing with enquiries from the Minister, the Ombudsman, prisoners/offenders and the public. Demonstrated knowledge of the health related issues and needs of a prison population and the social, environmental and economic impacts on prisoner health. Demonstrated skills in working within a Correctional or other institutional environment. Knowledge and understanding of the Correctional Services Act, its Regulations and Departmental Standard Operating Procedures relating to community corrections. General knowledge of Correctional Services Department organisational structure and the South Australian Justice portfolio. General knowledge of personnel management principles under the Public Sector Act, Work Health & Safety Act, and the Equal Opportunity Act. General knowledge of DCS organisational structure and the South Australian Justice portfolio Understanding of the responsibilities of Government employees in relation to the State Records Act. Principal Advisor Offender Services AHP4 Apr 16