Step into the Principal Quality and Safeguarding Officer role within the Quality and Safeguarding Directorate in Adelaide, and influence how child protection services are delivered across South Australia. You will bring expert clinical judgement to high profile safeguarding issues, guide executive and ministerial briefings, and lead improvements that strengthen safety and accountability. From practice audits to significant incident reporting, your work will set clear expectations, identify risk early, and help regions embed a contemporary quality culture that supports better outcomes for children and families.

Make your qualifications go further

Same degree, more reward. At DCP, social workers receive the highest pay in the SA Government, supported by an exclusive 4% allowance permanently secured in the Enterprise Agreement. Combined with strong professional development support, clear pathways for advancement and the opportunity to make a lasting impact in child protection, your qualification goes further here than anywhere else.

Why work with DCP

At the Department for Child Protection, you will build a career where your skills are valued, your impact is meaningful and your work helps keep children, young people and families safe, strong and connected across South Australia.

Why you’ll love it here, DCP benefits that matter

We know a great career is about more than the work you do. It is also about feeling supported, valued, and able to thrive. At DCP, you will enjoy:

• A collaborative team environment, working alongside people committed to best practice and meaningful impact
• Flexible work options, tailored arrangements to help you balance work and life
• Recognition and growth, celebrating achievements and supporting development opportunities across DCP
• Generous leave, including leave loading to help you rest and recharge
• Paid parental and partner leave, providing additional paid time to support you and your family
• Health and fitness perks, including discounted Fitness Passport memberships and free flu vaccinations
• Wellbeing support, confidential Employee Assistance Program services for you and your family

Income & Benefits

• AHP4: $118,887 to $129,427 per annum plus 12% superannuation
• Exclusive Allowance: Extra 4% for child protection social workers, permanently enshrined in the Enterprise Agreement, making DCP the highest paying government employer in SA
• Professional Development: A $1,000 annual professional development allowance, plus reimbursement of approved professional development expenses up to $1,500
• Additional Qualifications Allowance
• Support: free counselling and wellbeing services for you and your family.
• Recognition: annual DCP Recognition Awards celebrating staff excellence.

In this role, you will

• Lead quality assurance and governance systems that strengthen safeguarding outcomes
• Drive practice audit programs and ensure findings translate into practical improvement
• Oversee significant incident reporting approaches that support learning and accountability
• Provide expert clinical advice and briefings to executives and key stakeholders

To be successful

You bring strong practice leadership and a track record of delivering quality and safeguarding outcomes in sensitive environments, with a focus on what makes services safer for children and young people. You can bring others on the journey through clear direction and respectful influence.

You have deep knowledge of child protection practice, risk identification, and relevant legislation, and you can apply evidence to shape quality systems and improvement projects. You are skilled in developing reports, briefings, and advice that stand up to scrutiny and meet executive requirements, including tight timeframes.

You communicate with clarity, influence with respect, and support others to lift capability. You thrive in high profile work where priorities shift, and you stay solutions focused while working as part of a committed team. If this sounds like you, we encourage you to apply.

Essential: A degree level qualification in Social Work which gives eligibility for full membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Persons of Australian Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent, who have the appropriate background and skills but do not have the essential qualification, may apply for and be engaged/assigned to the role of Social Worker and will be entitled to apply for any Allied Health Professional roles requiring a qualification in Social Work within the Department for Child Protection (DCP)

To find out more about this role, including the key selection criteria and special conditions, please click on the attached role description.

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The Department for Child Protection (DCP) plays a key role in the protection of children, young people and their families within South Australia. The department provides support to vulnerable children and young people to be safe, strong and connected.