Mental Health Practitioner 0.4FTE Cranbourne campus in Melbourne

Thank you for your interest in the Mental Health Practitioner position at Noble Park English Language School. Our school is a multi-campus school which provides an intensive English language course for newly arrived migrants and refugees from non-English speaking backgrounds in the southeast Victoria region. The students are introduced to the Victorian education system and assisted with settlement in Victoria. The basis of the curriculum is the study of the English language; however, the curriculum aims to prepare students for life in Australia. Many students have been displaced by war, economic hardship, or political persecution. The school is committed to assisting students to regain trust in people and systems and to develop the self-esteem and confidence required to face the challenges of a new country. At any given time, over 50 different language groups are represented. The school provides a secure and caring learning environment where staff and students respect and tolerate differences between cultures and religions and caters for individual differences in language acquisition.

Since 2009, the school has expanded to four campuses due to changing settlement patterns in the region. The main campus is at Noble Park and caters for both primary and secondary students. Casey campus is located at Hampton Park and caters for primary and secondary students. Cranbourne campus is located at Cranbourne and caters for primary and secondary students. Our Springvale campus and Stonnington (Glen Huntly) campuses are for primary students.

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, including the delivery of capability building and awareness raising activities for staff and/or students on key mental health and wellbeing issues affecting the school's student population.
• 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

The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings.

Operating in collaboration with the relevant Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:

• Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student mental health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities.
• Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health concerns.
• Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local mental health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required.

Responsibilities

• Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students' wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.
• Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
• Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.
• Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
• Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
• Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
• Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.

Who May Apply

Required

• Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class.
• For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA.
• For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health.
• For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers.
• For Occupational Therapists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA.
• For Counsellors, applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member (Level 2, 3 or 4) of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).
• Demonstrated direct counselling experience.
• Evidence of registration with AHPRA, AASW (where applicable), or with ACA or PACFA (where applicable), and a copy of a testamur, certificate or transcript as evidence of appropriate qualification.
• A current Working With Children Check.

Desirable

• For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.
• For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
• For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
• For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.
• For Counselling applicants, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA).

Diversity and Inclusion

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces.

Child Safe Standards

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards.

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. A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.