Experience

• 

  Department of justice and community safety, victoria

  May 2013 - now

  • Lead the Offender Case Management team to support OMDB to effectively deliver its business objectives and achieve high standards of performance, fostering an environment of continuous improvement and cultural change.• Monitor and manage the performance of case management across CCS, including the development and oversight of practice mechanisms, systems, options for performance measurement, data collection and reporting.• Initiate the identification and analysis of emerging issues and trends relevant to case management including liaison with external experts in the field of case management and other correctional jurisdictions and provide relevant advice to senior management about how to respond to those issues, including implications and risk management strategies.• Identify opportunities for improvement by streamlining and integrating case management processes that conform to evidence-based practice, are integrated with clinical services and are responsive to cohort specific needs.to manage case management specific training and advanced skill workshops.• Develop and maintain CCS operational standards and practice guidance on the application of case management to ensure ongoing consistency with these standards. • Provide a leadership role in the strategic direction of case management across CCS, and work with colleagues and partners across Corrections and Justice Services (CJS) to influence broader case management practice across CJS. Show less • Act as a change agent to lead and coordinate operational aspects of the planning, development, implementation and monitoring of offender assessment, management processes and initiatives, within Corrections Victoria.• Develop and provide competency-based training to Offender Management Supervisors, and other relevant staff to enable them to perform effectively and integrate new processes.• Develop and quality-manage the skills and processes that Offender Management Supervisors require in supervision, training, mentoring and support to deliver their offender management role. Plan, coordinate and chair the Offender Management Supervisor forums.• Initiate system improvements and coordinate piloting of new initiatives to ensure that prisoner assessment processes and offender management practices reflect best practice and are conducted in a timely and effective manner.• Develop and implement strategies to ensure that prisoners, staff and other stakeholders understand the offender management system. Liaise with, and provide support as required to, prison General Managers, Operational Managers, and other staff as required.• Prepare complex reports, Ministerial briefings, general correspondence, and other matters as directed. Show less The Judy Lazarus Transition Centre (JLTC) is a targeted intervention designed to reduce re-offending. It offers motivated male prisoners nearing the end of their sentence the opportunity to access the community on a daily basis to pursue their transitional goals. Residents are assisted to develop knowledge, strengths, skills, supports, relationships and resources needed to aid effective reintegration back into the community.Practically, JLTC assists prisoners with accessing education/training, employment, stable accommodation, counselling and establishing or improving community and family ties. The program is individualised to the specific needs, strengths and goals of each resident. Expectations, activities and levels of support are matched to individual capabilities and needs. Show less • Contribute to the delivery of the Principal Practitioners and Specialist Case Manager professional development. • Provide leadership and guidance to a team of staff (who manage offenders on post sentence orders) positioned across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria, in close collaboration with the Manager, Case Management (Parole). • Provide training, mentoring, role modelling, authoritative advice and supervision of staff in relation to the case management of offenders on post-sentence orders. • Monitor the performance of Justice Services Network teams and individuals to optimise outcomes consistent with business plans through completion of audits and validations of regional audits. • Promote and demonstrate a continuous improvement philosophy by modelling case management practices on best practice literature and research, developing and implementing effective quality assurance practices and procedures. • Prepare and co-ordinate high quality reports to stakeholders including complex correspondence and briefings to the Minister, the Secretary, the Commissioner, Criminal Justice Agencies and Corrections Victoria staff.• Exercise delegated responsibilities under limited direction from the Managers of the Post Sentence Branch. • Contribute to the development of operating procedures, identify emerging issues and trends and provide advice on sensitive issues around the management of offenders, reporting to the Post Sentence Branch as required. • Attend, participate in and represent Corrections Victoria in a range of internal, inter-departmental and external agency committees, forums and case conferences.• Contribute to Corrections Victoria achieving its mission to deliver safe and secure corrections systems. Show less • Prepare high quality reports and documentation to stakeholder such as the Adult Parole Board, Post Sentence Authority and Courts. • Monitor the dynamic changes in the parole management, aligning this with best practice and in accordance to Corrections Victoria’s Offender Management Framework.• Undertake file audits as required of location case load, regarding best practice and the suitability of interventions. • Provide direct supervision and leadership to a team of one Specialist Case Manager, two Senior Parole Officers, and one Parole officer. This includes abiding by the Supervision Framework and providing fortnightly formal supervision and day to day support. • Be cognisant of any risk escalation in the cohort of offenders and provide advice to staff regarding best practice case management, with a focus on risk and incident management to maintain community safety. • Provide advice regarding high risk and complex individuals to the Region Director and General Manager as required. • Facilitate training and group supervision sessions for the location and for the region more widely, regarding best practice initiatives and with regard to new processes. • Be a leader in the change management processes throughout the Harper Reform, supporting the Regional Change Adviser with regard to maintaining the implementation timelines. • Attend and engage in regional management meetings to support the region across all streams in best practice leadership. • Be a state wide risk assessment and best practice training facilitator for the Offender Management and Development Branch. Show less • Analysis trends with state-wide audit results and present recommendations to stakeholders including complex correspondence and briefings to the Minister, the Secretary, the Commissioner, Criminal Justice Agencies and Corrections Victoria staff.• Facilitate training within the Practice Stream and to other operational staff. of the Practice Stream training, recruitment and selection strategy and process.• Provide training, mentoring, role modelling, authoritative advice, authorization and supervision of the Practice Stream in relation to the case management offenders. • Monitor the performance of the Practice Stream case management staff through audits. • Facilitate quarterly Practice Stream forums, and co-ordinate and deliver Practice Stream training.• Prepare and co-ordinate high quality reports regarding the Practice Stream and quality assurance within the Court stream to stakeholders.• Contribute to the development of operating procedures, identify emerging issues and trends and provide advice on sensitive issues around the management of sex and violent offenders. • Attend, participate in and represent Corrections Victoria in a range of internal, inter-departmental and external agency committees, forums and case conferences. Show less • Assist with the development of strategic, responsive and targeted regional workforce development initiatives to enhance regional performance outcomes and contribute to service development.• Monitor the department’s service delivery activities, procedural compliance and operational frameworks, identify emerging issues and provide advice on potential strategic solutions.• Provide consultancy for internal staff members and external stakeholders regarding CCS delivery models. • Conduct practice workshops and shared learning activities and through these, identify and facilitate further, targeted learning and development opportunities that result in beneficial and measurable outcomes. • Drive and embed a strong culture of critical thinking and reflective case practice within the case management. • Undertake quality audits of files across court and parole streams of case practice and interventions and provide expert advice and guidance to the Regional Director and General Manager on the risk and case management practices. • Keep accurate and complete records of work activities in accordance with legislative requirements and the department's records and requirements. • Undertook a 5 month secondment as Manager, Professional Practice, working on a strategic level within the North East Metropolitan region Leadership Team. Show less • Monitor and supervise a client caseload; supervising a Senior Parole Officer caseload, including Serious Violent Offenders on parole. Facilitate referrals to specialist services, for example drug and alcohol counselling. • Ensure client compliance with mandated programs, including community work and treatment programs. • Liaising with treatment providers to ensure compliance and manage risks to client base and greater community. • Complete reports to the Adult Parole Board as requested regarding client’s progress and with regard to escalations of risk to the community. • Undertake prosecution for clients who fail to comply with order conditions. • Undertake Parole Suitability Assessments and providing such to the Adult Parole Board, as requested. • Mentor less experienced staff within the case management framework. Show less • Monitor and supervise an offender caseload, which will include complex and high profile offenders; establish objectives and goals within the supervision process and monitor level of offender compliance with community-based dispositions.• Assess and refer offenders with complex needs to appropriate programs and specialist services (such as drug and alcohol counselling, employment or education programs) Direct offenders to attend various programs which may include, educational, community work, assessment and treatment programs.• Provide advice to assist the judiciary in the sentencing process or to facilitate variation of an order in cases of varying complexity, involving offender assessment at court and court appearance.• Undertake complex prosecutions of offenders failing to comply with orders, giving evidence in court if required. • Participate in the development and provision of new community corrections programs and initiatives as required.• Role model, mentor and provide advice to less experienced staff on the application of Corrections policies and guidelines. Some participation in the training and induction of new staff may be required at times. Show less

  • Manager, Offender Case Management

    Jan 2023 - now

  • Manager, Prison Case Management

    May 2022 - Dec 2022

  • General Manager - Judy Lazarus Transition Centre

    Sept 2022 - Oct 2022

  • Manager, Specialist Case Management (Post Sentence Stream

    Feb 2020 - May 2022

  • Principal Practitioner

    Aug 2018 - Feb 2020

  • Manager, Court Case Management

    Jul 2018 - Aug 2018

  • Professional Practice Advisor

    Nov 2016 - Jul 2018

  • Senior Parole Officer

    Dec 2014 - Nov 2016

  • Community Correction Officer

    May 2013 - Dec 2014