Principal Social Worker - Forensic Mental Health

• Northern Adelaide Local Health Network – Forensic Mental Health – Oakden 
• Salary: $123,048 - $133,957 p.a. (pro rata) plus Superannuation and Salary Sacrifice benefits – AHP4
• Ongoing Full-Time 

The Principal Social Worker, Forensic Mental Health Services (FMHS) is accountable to the Allied Health Director, FMHS for:

• Professional and operational governance of the Social Work services within Inpatient Services in the FMHS.
• Providing professional governance for Social Work services across all services within FMHS.
• Facilitating the ongoing development, provision and management of high quality, efficient and integrated Social Work Services for the FMHS.
• Actively contributing to Allied Health service planning and management strategies in partnership with other disciplines.
• Providing effective, professional leadership, clinical guidance and oversight of service standards, staff development and policy direction to the Social Work team across FMHS.
• Developing and supporting ongoing quality improvement through the continued growth of clinical education and research opportunities.

To be eligible for this position, you must have an Appropriate Degree or equivalent qualification which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

In this role you will have high level clinical and leadership skills and experience that will enable you to provide effective clinical oversight, leadership and guidance for Social Work services across the Division. You will have strong interpersonal and communication skills which will enable you to successfully support and lead teams, promote ongoing staff learning and development, and building and maintaining professional relationships with a range of stakeholders. Skills and experience in effectively managing multiple, diverse and competing priorities and demonstrated resilience within a fast paced and complex environment is essential to this role. 

This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute to a passionate, dedicated, values driven and progressive team. 

The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) is a leading provider of public healthcare services in South Australia, and one of the largest employers in northern Adelaide.  

NALHN serves over 400,000 people in northern Adelaide with a comprehensive range of high-quality healthcare services, including emergency, surgical, obstetric, neonatal, paediatric, oncology, geriatric, palliative care and rehabilitation, and mental health care, as well as primary health care services with a focus on community health promotion and chronic disease management.  

With a commitment for ongoing upgrades to our facilities and the introduction of new services, our priority is delivering exceptional health and wellbeing services that enhance the quality of life for our community.  

Our 300-plus Allied Health professionals play an integral role in multidisciplinary teams delivering outstanding care to patients across our acute, subacute and hospital avoidance services. 

At NALHN Everyone Has a Story, Everyone Matters, Everyone Contributes and Everyone Grows. 

At NALHN, we have a strong commitment to providing a clinically interesting professional experience, with structured and supportive education and professional development, and career progression pathways. 

Some feedback from current employees about working as Allied Health Professionals in NALHN includes: 

“My favourite part about working in NALHN is the close working relationships we have across Allied Health to optimise patient care.” 

“I feel like I’m part of a growing and developing service.” 

“I love the great team dynamic and the culture of learning and support.” 

NALHN provides a range of hospital (inpatient), outpatient, community and home-based services across multiple sites in Adelaide’s north and north-eastern suburbs, including Aboriginal health, mental health, and GP services.  

Lyell McEwin Hospital – the major hospital in northern Adelaide for emergency care, complex and multi-day surgery, medicine, obstetric, paediatrics and outpatient services.  

Modbury Hospital – a general hospital with emergency care, elective surgery, medicine, outpatient and sub-acute services, rehabilitation, geriatric and palliative care.  

Mental Health Services – adult and older persons mental health services and statewide forensic mental health services, across hospital and community settings.  

Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Primary Health Care Services – provides culturally responsive primary healthcare services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in-hospital and across four community sites.  

Primary Health Care Services – including GP Plus sites at Elizabeth, Modbury and Gilles Plains.

• DHS Working With Children Check (WWCC) 

• National Police Check (National Police Certificate) for vulnerable person-related employment screening – apply to any of the accredited bodies approved to offer a service direct to the public. Accreditation is provided by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. See our National Police Certificate accredited bodies page for links to lodge screening requests. 

SA Health Services are required to implement the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy in the workplace. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. Job Ref: 930452

Skye Lang

Allied Health Director

Phone: (08)8266 9610 

E-mail:  Skye.Lang@sa.gov.au

9 October 2026 – 11.55PM 

 930452 - Principal Social Worker - AHP4 - Forensic Mental Health - Role Description.pdf

* Refer to the SA Health Career Website – How to apply for further information. 

Advertised: 11 Sep 2026 Cen. Australia Standard Time
Applications close: 09 Oct 2026 Cen. Australia Daylight Time

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