Role Title: Senior Social Worker – ICU
Role Type: Permanent full-time
Role Grade: Social Work Level 3
Department and Location: Social Work, St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst
Salary: $112,396 - $116,038 p.a + Super + Salary packaging
Better and fairer care. Always.
We are St Vincent’s Health Australia, Australia’s largest not-for-profit provider of health and aged care services.
Founded by The Sisters of Charity in 1857, our +30,000 healthcare superheroes operate public and private hospitals, residential aged care, community and virtual care, and outreach programs.
About the Role:
Senior Social Worker Level 3 within the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) Social Work team, providing advanced, patient-centred psychosocial care within a high-acuity environment. Delivers specialist intervention to critically unwell patients, families and carers.
Conduct comprehensive psychosocial and risk assessments to inform clinical decision-making, determine capacity and support needs, and guide tailored care planning. Identify risk factors affecting patient safety, family functioning, decision-making, and discharge readiness, and implement targeted interventions.
Deliver counselling, crisis intervention, psychoeducation, and end-of-life support to patients and families during critical illness, deterioration or complex care decisions. Facilitate shared understanding, emotional regulation and preparedness during emotionally charged or ethically complex events.
Coordinate complex discharge planning and care transitions by liaising with internal teams (e.g., medical, nursing, allied health) and external stakeholders (e.g., NCAT/Guardianship, NDIS, aged care providers, community services), ensuring safe, well-supported and sustainable discharge outcomes for vulnerable and high-needs patients.
Provide culturally responsive and inclusive care using trauma-informed and respectful communication practices. Engage collaboratively with interpreters, Aboriginal Health Workers, spiritual care and other supports to ensure interventions honour cultural, psychosocial and spiritual needs throughout the ICU journey.
Provide clinical supervision, mentorship and education to Level 1/2 Social Workers and students, share ICU-specific expertise, and contribute to departmental initiatives through quality improvement, service development, and research. Participate in the 7-day ICU roster and the after-hours on-call social work crisis service as part of a comprehensive hospital-wide service.
About You:
Degree in Social Work and eligible for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), evidence of at least 3 years clinical experience in a hospital, community mental health or health-related field as a practising Social Worker.
Demonstrated leadership in the delivery of high-quality care while working in critical care settings as a member of diverse multidisciplinary teams in a high-demand environment with competing demands.
Developed knowledge, skills and/or social work experience in mental health, drug and alcohol, domestic violence, child protection, victims of crimes, trauma, homelessness, sudden death and the coronial process.
Developed knowledge, skills and/or experience in crisis intervention, short-term solution-focused intervention, grief and loss, trauma-informed approaches, as well as complex mental health/psychosocial assessment and discharge planning in an acute health or community mental health setting.
Expert interpersonal, communication, time management, liaison, negotiation, computer, written and verbal communication skills.
Ability to participate in a seven-day service and an on-call Social Work service (from 5pm-8am).
Why Work at St Vincent’s?
Join us on our mission to provide care to all, including the most at-risk people in our community
Discounted access to many gyms for you and your family with Fitness Passport
Access to discounted private health insurance with Medibank
Access to a government salary sacrifice program to make a proportion of your salary tax-free
Financial support for educational development, scholarship programs, paid study leave
About the Hospital:
In this role, you will be based at St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst.
A busy inner-city hospital in a beautiful location
Surrounded by great cafes, galleries, and theatres, parks, nightlife, and nearby glorious beaches
A place of expert clinical care for at-risk people
Closely partnered with universities & affiliated research institutes, many of which are located on-campus
Centres of excellence include heart & lung transplantation, bone marrow transplantation, cardiology, cancer care, AIDS/HIV, respiratory medicine, mental health, homeless health, drug & alcohol services, and correctional health
Pre-employment Checks:
Your employment is conditional upon the completion of all role-required pre-employment checks, including relevant immunisations.
Equal Opportunity:
We celebrate diversity & inclusion and are committed to equal employment opportunity for everyone.
As part of our commitment to reconciliation we encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to apply and join us in delivering care that heals body, mind, spirit and community.
How to Apply:
The closing date for applications is 14 November 2025
Please submit your resume and a brief cover letter highlighting how your interest, skills, and experience align with the role and address each of the criteria.
Further information please contact TalentHealthNSW@svha.org.au.
Respectfully, this role is not open to recruitment agencies.
At St Vincent's we acknowledge the importance of creating a work environment that is welcoming, safe, equitable and inclusive for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Employees. As part of our Commitment to Reconciliation and Closing the Gap in employment related outcomes, we encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.
For further information, visit https://www.svha.org.au/about-us/reconciliation or get in contact at indigenouscareers@svha.org.au
View Reconciliation Action Plan