Director, Child Safety and Fraud Investigations
About the Department
The Department of Education (DE) leads the delivery of education and development services to children and students both directly through government schools and indirectly through the regulation and funding of early childhood services and non-government schools.
About the Division
The Conduct and Integrity Division provides expert advice and support to school principals and other people managers on managing employee conduct and performance including Child Safety concerns and Fraud and corruption.
There are four branches within the Division:
- Preliminary Investigations Branch
- Child Safety Investigations Branch
- Child Safety and Fraud Investigations Branch
- Child Safety and Integrity (Policy and Operations) Branch.
The Division leads critical functions with respect to both school and corporate employees and operations:
- Child Safety misconduct and reportable conduct investigations, including notifications to the Commission for Children and Young People (CCYP) under the Reportable Conduct Scheme in relation to departmental employees and others engaged in departmental workplaces and notifications to the Disability Worker Regulation Commission
- fraud and corruption investigations, including mandatory reporting to the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC) and public interest disclosures
- developing and maintaining the department's guidelines on managing complaints, misconduct and unsatisfactory performance for the teaching service and the public service
- providing expert advice and support to principals and people managers to manage allegations of misconduct, unsatisfactory performance and fitness for duty
- expert advice and management of fraud and corruption, conflict of interest, and integrity performance monitoring and reporting
- pre-employment screening, and expert advice on suitability for employment and management of the department's Employment Limitation policy
- managing relationships with oversight and integrity bodies (including the Victorian Institute of Teaching, CCYP, IBAC, Victorian Ombudsman and the Victorian Public Sector Commission)
- capability building and training activities aimed at increasing staff confidence to prevent, speak up, identify and respond to inappropriate behaviour, reportable conduct and misconduct
- strengthening avenues for staff to speak up about inappropriate behaviour and misconduct
- driving behavioural and system change to build a stronger culture of integrity in the department.
About the Role
Reporting to the Executive Director, Conduct and Integrity Division, the Director, Child Safety and Fraud Investigations is a critical leadership role in the division and is responsible for leading a high quality and professional investigations unit.
The role leads teams that conduct investigations in relation to complaints, allegations of misconduct, reportable conduct, fraud and corruption and uses data and investigation outcomes to drive detection and prevention activities.
The Director will set the strategic direction of the Child Safety and Fraud Investigations function by overseeing:
- investigations into complaints and allegations of misconduct by department employees and allegations of child abuse falling within the Reportable Conduct Scheme
- fraud and corruption investigations and liaison with IBAC and the Victorian Ombudsman including in relation to Protected Disclosure matters
- the management of the Department's Speak Up service
- reporting obligations to oversight bodies and senior stakeholders
How to apply
Applicants are required to submit a CV and cover letter (max 2 pages for cover letter) summarising their skills, relevant experience and suitability to the role in line with the duties, required capabilities and the Key Selection Criteria.
Further Information For more details regarding this position please see attached position description.For further information pertaining to the role, please contact Jonelle White, Director Investigations via *************@education.vic.gov.au or 03 7022 1***.The department values diversity and inclusion in all forms - gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply. For more information about our work, working for the Department, diversity and inclusion, and our employment conditions visit the Department website and our Diversity and Inclusion pageApplicants requiring adjustments can contact the nominated contact person.Information about the Department of Education's operations and employment conditions can be located at www.education.vic.gov.au.Preferred applicants may be required to have a Working with Children Check, a police check and other pre-employment checks. Information provided to the Department of Education will be treated in the strictest confidence.Please let us know via phone or email if you require any adjustments to ensure your full participation in the recruitment process or if you need the ad or any attachments in an accessible format (e.g large print) due to any viewing difficulties or other accessibility requirements.
Applications close 11:59pm on 7 July 2024.