Clinical Program Manager

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (formerly VVCS) is Australia’s leading provider of high quality mental health assessment and clinician counselling services for Australian veterans and their families. Open Arms are focused on meeting client needs through a combination of proven clinical practices and emerging evidence-based approaches. 

The Clinical Program Manager (CPM) supports the Assistant Director (AD) by contributing to improvements in the quality, safety and distribution of clinical services across Open Arms. The primary role of the CPM is to provide clinical advice, professional development of clinical staff, and support the clinical leadership team. The CPM is responsible for daily management of clinical teams in the absence of the AD. The CPM assists the AD with client allocations, client assessments, case reviews and operational support to the clinical teams. The CPM is a senior clinician within the team.

• Assist the AD with the hiring of new clinical staff including on-boarding and off-boarding. Provide mentoring of new staff and underperforming staff and advise the AD on issues impacting staff performance, health and wellbeing
• Apply independent professional judgement, based on valid and reliable evidence, to complex cases and contribute to the development and maintenance of best practice in mental health services. Provide advice to the AD and regional leadership team on the management of complex client issues
• Conduct auditing and risk assessments and facilitate both individual and group case reviews 
• Train staff in the implementation of new policies, procedures, and standards within the region. Contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of clinical services to promote continuous improvement
• Develop professional relationships with both internal and external stakeholders and participate in meetings as directed
• Apply expert clinical knowledge to inform team training and professional development
• Offer clinical supervision as required
• Carry a clinical caseload
• Act as the Assistant Director as required
• Apply the principles of cooperative and safe work practices consistent with APS Values and the Department’s mission, vision, approach and values. 

• Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS). 
• Any successful candidate external to DVA offered employment will be required to undergo a pre-engagement screening check, even if they have a security clearance. The screening check is conducted in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework requirements.
• Any successful candidate will also be required to obtain and/or maintain, a baseline Vetting (AGSVA) security clearance as a minimum. 

Mandatory Requirements

• Qualifications as a registered Psychologist / Mental Health Occupational Therapist / Mental Health Registered Nurse with full AHPRA registration, OR 
• Qualification as a Social Worker eligible for membership of the Australian Association Social Workers (AASW) and eligible to apply for Mental Health accreditation, OR 
• A Masters-level counselling qualification and registration with PACFA as a Registered Clinical Counsellor or with ACA at Level 3 or Level 4.

This recruitment process may be used to fill ongoing and/or non-ongoing position/s. For more information about the role, please see the Candidate Information Pack.

A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.

Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.

We welcome people with diverse skills, experiences and perspectives. DVA is committed to building a workforce that reflects the community we serve and encourages applications from:

• Veterans and former Australian Defence Force members, whose skills and experience are highly valued across the APS 
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• People with disability
• People who identify as LGBTQIA+
• People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

We are a Veteran Employer of Choice! This means you benefit from a workplace actively supporting veterans and families of veterans – one that understands and values military experience. You’re joining an organisation publicly recognised for its commitment to fostering veteran-friendly employment pathways and long-term career success.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) exists to fulfil the nation’s duty to support our serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force members and their families. We do this through programs of care, compensation, commemoration, income and Defence support services. Our aim is to enhance self-sufficiency, quality of life, financial wellbeing and community recognition for those we support. DVA is both a policy and service delivery agency. We have strong relationships with Australian ex-service organisations, Federal and State Government agencies and the veteran community. DVA’s vision is to honour veterans, and empower them and their families to continue life after service, within a society that understands and values their military service and their ongoing contribution to the community.