Occupational Therapist (Mental Health Practitioner)

Warracknabeal Special Developmental School's vision is to provide a safe and supportive community of lifelong learners where respect, diversity and success are valued and where students and staff are encouraged to reach their full potential both within the school community and beyond.

At the Warracknabeal Special Developmental School, we affirm the values of our society, which promote the dignity of the individual and foster relationships based on Respect, Equity and Honesty. These values underpin how all members of the school community work together, interact and support each other.

Warracknabeal Special Developmental School (SDS) is a dual-model special education setting located in the North Wimmera, approximately 340 kilometres from the Melbourne Central Business District, serving students with disabilities from Warracknabeal and the surrounding district of the Yarriambiack and parts of the Buloke Shires.

The school provides education programs for 5-18-year-old students with mild, moderate and profound intellectual disabilities associated with physical, social, emotional, behavioural, multiple and sensory impairments. The school provides a specialised and challenging curriculum, utilising elements of TEACCH structured teaching to build a supportive environment that promotes personal independence and a valued lifestyle.

Selection Criteria:

• Ability to implement a range of small group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing.
• Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention.
• Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs.
• Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate.
• Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
• Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.

Role:

• Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans.
• Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk.
• Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school.

Responsibilities:

• Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff.
• Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities.
• Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs.
• Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school.
• Liaising with other department areas and external service providers.
• Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development.

Who May Apply:

• Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class.
• Demonstrated direct counselling experience.
• A current Working With Children Check.

Diversity and Inclusion:

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.

Child Safe Standards:

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students.

Conditions of Employment:

All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements. Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.