South Australian Public Service
DEPARTMENT FOR CORRECTIONAL SERVICES
POSITION DESCRIPTION
1.
POSITION DETAILS
Position Title
Manager – Assessment and
Sentence Planning
Classification Code
AHP4
Position No
CS1674
Discipline
Psychology
Directorate
Offender Development
Branch/Unit
Sentence Management Unit (SMU)
Date Created
February 2010
Reports To
General Manager - SMU
Date Approved
2.
POSITION CONTEXT
Organisational
Overview
The Department for Correctional Services as part of the Justice Portfolio, has a central role in the criminal
justice process in South Australia, which is reflected in the Department’s purpose and aim to “contribute to
public safety, the reduction of crime, and the protection of victims through the effective, safe and humane
management of offenders under our supervision and the provision of opportunities for rehabilitation.” The
professional operation of prisons and Community Corrections is directed to achieving this vision.
The Offender Development Directorate develops, implements and monitors forensic assessments, programs
and psychological intervention based on best practice standards. The Directorate also develops and
implements policies and procedures designed to enable intervention with offenders to occur in a coordinated
manner which targets criminogenic needs and promotes community safety. The Directorate also utilises a
framework across the Department for providing supervision and maintaining the quality of assessments,
programs and intervention.
With a focus on assessment and intervention, the Directorate oversees the development of initial offender
assessments, case management plans, the delivery of group-based intervention in custodial and community
settings, as well as the targeting of services to assist offenders with their reintegration and transition into the
community. The implementation and monitoring of services through the Offender Development Directorate
occurs through procedures, policies, projects and frameworks developed in consultation with other
directorates within the Department.
The Directorate comprises the functional units of Offender Rehabilitation Services, Aboriginal Services,
Strategic Policies, Projects & Partnerships, and the Sentence Management Unit.
The Sentence Management Unit provides risk assessments and coordinates professional oversight of the
assessment and case planning functions across the Department. In addition, the Unit maintains records of
prisoner movements between institutions and release details.
Position Purpose
The Manager – Assessment and Sentence Planning is responsible for:
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Line Management
Responsibility
The management of the multi-disciplinary team comprising psychologists in prison intervention teams, as
well as psychologists and assessment clinicians in the SMU.
The management, quality control and coordination of all SMU risk/need and specialist psychological
assessments of prisoners and offenders, with a focus on offending behaviours, self harm and on needs
that contribute to criminal offending.
Providing expert advice and consultancy services to Executive and senior management on assessment,
treatment and management of prisoners/offenders assessed as being at high risk of re-offending and/or
at risk of suicide or self harm.
Providing clinical supervision to psychologists in prison intervention teams and psychologists and
assessment clinicians in the SMU. The supervision framework will encompass the provision of
comprehensive risk/needs assessments, specialist psychological assessments and specialist
psychological interventions.
Contributing to professional development for psychologists and assessment clinicians employed by the
SMU by ensuring staff have access to and utilise appropriate avenues and opportunities for continuing
professional development and training, consistent with identified service needs.
Ensuring that the special needs of Aboriginal Prisoners are met by contributing towards and organising
cultural competency training for psychologists and assessment clinicians in prison intervention teams and
the SMU.
Maintaining up to date knowledge of developments in therapeutic interventions, assessments and
management practices for prisoners\offenders
Developing and maintaining a partnership with South Australian Universities related to student
placements and research and ensuring appropriate student supervision.
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Encouraging and facilitating the involvement of university staff as appropriate in the planning and
development of psychological and assessment services in the Department.
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The Manager – Assessment and Sentence Planning manages staff which include psychologists and
assessment clinicians.
Manager – Sentence Management
March 2010
Key Interactions/
Relationships
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Special Notes
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Authority to Act /
Delegations
3.
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Executive Directors and Directors throughout the Department, General Managers of each Prison Institution
and Regional Directors in Community Corrections.
Professional staff including psychologists, social workers, clinicians and support staff.
Forensic mental health services, prison health and other key stakeholders.
Universities, Parole Board, Victim Services and other external representative groups.
The Department, pursuant to section 47 of the Public Sector Act 2009 may from time to time determine the
duties of a person as an employee of the agency and the place or places at which the duties are to be
performed.
Some work outside of normal hours may be required.
A current driver’s licence is essential.
The incumbent is required to satisfactory complete a National Criminal History Record Check prior to
employment.
Delegations as per Director, SMU instructions.
PRIMARY OUTCOMES AND ACCOUNTABILITIES
KEY RESULT AREA
KEY INDICATORS
Professional Practice
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Advise in the provision of high standard and specialised assessment and psychological services to
offenders.
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Assist in structuring psychological services across the Department by planning, directing,
coordinating and monitoring best practice standards and continuously seeking to improve service
policies and practices.
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Assist in the development of the objectives and priorities of assessment and psychological services
consistent with the Department’s strategic directions.
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Lead and encourage development of processes and the identification of appropriate instruments for
assessing offenders.
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Provide for internal quality assurance monitoring and auditing of assessments and services within the
SMU to heighten effectiveness.
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Participate in the evaluation of the Department’s services and programs.
Risk Assessments
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Provide services to offenders throughout the State by establishing a trained and effective workforce
to conduct specialised risk assessments and exercise professional oversight of the assessment and
intervention functions across prisoners/offenders whole of sentence.
Sentence Management
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Facilitate the creation of offender individual development plans, including release plans and
recommendations for the setting of parole conditions, and the provision of advice on offender progress.
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Assist in the provision of comprehensive reports to the Parole Board of SA and relevant internal
committees.
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Maintain professional practice knowledge by reading and researching professional material, and
identifying, developing and documenting usable concepts and practices for discussion within the
Department.
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Assist in the recruitment processes for the selection and employment of psychologists in prison
intervention teams and psychologists and assessment clinicians attached to the SMU.
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Actively encourage ongoing professional development for psychology and other professional staff and
facilitate access to appropriate avenues and opportunities for exposure to and training in the discipline
consistent with identified service needs.
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Enable and support the provision and maintenance of placements and research opportunities for clinical
and forensic psychology students.
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Take a lead role in the Department’s Research Management Committee.
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Assist with responses to Ministerial inquiries relating to the provision of psychological services and
assessments provided by the SMU.
Quality Assurance
Professional
Development
Administration
4.
PERSON CAPABILITY PROFILE
OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES
Essential Qualifications
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Registered with the Psychology Board of Australia pursuant to the Health Practitioner Regulation
National Law (2009) and a Master's Degree in Clinical or Forensic Psychology.
Relating and
Communicating
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Develops feedback mechanisms to facilitate communication between Executive and managers,
as well as supporting open discussion within the team.
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Builds multidisciplinary teams that utilise expertise and experience, and maximise performance
and output.
Manager – Sentence Management
March 2010
Client Focus
Achieving Objectives
Personal Drive and
Professionalism
Continuous
Improvement
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Analyses of offender service trends, strategies and standards, and evaluates their impact on
the current service model.
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Develops and implements procedures and policies that result in the delivery of high quality
assessments and services.
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Monitors trends and progress and adapts strategies, procedures and policies to deliver the
highest levels of service to a culturally diverse offender population.
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Analyses current/potential resources and optimal courses of action and recognises the risks
and benefits of actions to achieve results.
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Establishes links between organisational and team objectives and identifies common goals
across the SMU and broader Department to deliver optimal use of resources.
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Motivates and inspires employees to achieve outcomes recognising high performers and those
who exceed expected outcomes.
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Investigates new trends, connections and both intra and inter departmental issues and
translates these into goals and priorities for the Department.
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Role models the vision and values of the Department and inspires commitment amongst staff
and stakeholders.
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Provides influential leadership and advice when faced with difficult and/or high pressure
situations.
Assists the Director, SMU in:
Developing and driving change initiatives, environmental sustainability goals and gaining
commitment from all levels.
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Identifying areas of expertise required by the Department and developing and pursuing learning
plans accordingly
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Monitoring progress across the Department and identifying strengths and limitations that
require adapting resources and increase capability
JOB SPECIFIC CAPABILITIES
1
Building Teams – identify complementary skill sets and capability of team members and provide team guidance and direction
2
Change Management – plan, manage and implement changes in professional focus and effectiveness to improve the provision
of psychological and assessment services to the SMU.
3
Coaching and Developing Others – provide advice, support mentoring, and disseminate agency knowledge and experience
across the multi-disciplinary team
4
Developing interventions – apply knowledge and experience to plan, develop, implement and evaluate interventions and
assessments aimed at meeting the needs of prisoners/offenders
5
Developing Policy and Procedures – anticipate the need for the development of new policies and procedures; provide
direction and professional advice on changes to existing policy/procedures
6
Researching and Analysing – gather information from a variety of sources, validate it thoroughly, and develop solutions to
solve issues, where necessary generating alternate courses of action.
7
Strategic leadership – identify strategic goals and, in conjunction with the General Manager, SMU provide direction and
influential leadership to others to achieve outcomes.
5.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Line Manager
Director, SMU
Signature
Date
Employee Name
Manager – Assessment and
Sentence Planning
Signature
Date
Manager – Sentence Management
March 2010