Social Worker – Mental Health Accredited (Grade 2)
Essendon Private Clinic is a fully accredited 32-bed private psychiatric hospital delivering evidence-based mental health care in Melbourne's Inner North-West. We take a neurodiversity-affirming, whole-person approach, integrating psychiatric, psychological, therapeutic, and lifestyle medicine support for consumers with depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, personality disorders, and co-occurring conditions.
The Role
Join our Allied Health team as a Social Worker, delivering clinical interventions across inpatient and outpatient programs. You'll support adults experiencing complex mental health issues through psychosocial assessment, counselling, discharge planning, and community linkage, working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver individual therapy sessions and facilitate inpatient and outpatient group programs independently
- Conduct psychosocial assessments and provide recovery-oriented counselling and planning
- Work with families and carers, including family conferencing and support
- Play a key role in discharge planning, ensuring safe, coordinated transitions from inpatient to community care
- Develop and maintain strong referral pathways to community services and external supports
- Actively participate in multidisciplinary team meetings and clinical handovers
- Work collaboratively with nursing, psychiatry, and allied health teams while maintaining professional autonomy
- Contribute to best practice implementation, service development, and quality improvement initiatives
- Maintain accurate clinical documentation in accordance with hospital policies
What You'll Need
- Degree in Social Work and eligibility for AASW membership
- Minimum 1+ year experience as a Social Worker in healthcare or mental health settings
- Sound knowledge of the mental health system and private hospital-based or rehabilitation models of care
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams
- Strong therapeutic and counselling skills, including demonstrated competencies in one or more therapeutic frameworks such as CBT, DBT, ACT, or Compassion Focused Therapy
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Intermediate computer literacy and clinical documentation skills
- Current Working With Children Check; willingness to undergo National Police Check
- Full Australian working rights
- Mental Health Accreditation with the AASW
- Private hospital or rehabilitation setting experience
- Experience managing complex family dynamics, including family violence and familiarity with the MARAM framework
- Knowledge of NDIS, TAC, or WorkCover processes
- Familiarity with trauma-informed care and strengths-based practices
Why Join Us
- Supportive, collaborative allied health environment
- Opportunity to work across inpatient and outpatient programs
- Meaningful clinical work in high-quality private mental health care
- Monthly external supervision (EPC-funded on pro-rata basis)
- Opportunity to support whole-person recovery aligned with our model of care
Social Worker – Mental Health Accredited (Grade 2) employer: Essendon Private Clinic
Essendon Private Clinic is an exceptional employer, offering a supportive and friendly work environment for Registered Psychiatric Nurses. With a focus on employee growth and development, staff can thrive in a dynamic service that prioritises patient-centred care. Located in a pleasant area with free parking, EPC fosters a collaborative culture where every team member contributes to the positive patient experience.
