Mental Health Practitioner

Department of Education VIC – Pakenham VIC
6 days ago, from Department of Education & Training Victoria
This position will be based at Chelsea but the successful applicant will work across other campuses of Oakwood School. We believe that all students should be able to thrive in mainstream school; however, we know that for a small percentage of students, this is not always possible.
Oakwood School provides opportunities for young people of secondary school age who have disengaged from school or where a mainstream school learning environment is seen to be inappropriate to meet the young person's needs.
The background of students at Oakwood School is diverse, but they have in common the experience of trauma in their lives through, for example, violence, family breakdown, and associated mental health issues.
Often, young people have not engaged in learning as a result of chronic anxiety or specific learning or language difficulties.
Young people seeking enrolment at Oakwood School will usually be connected with a range of mental health, child protection, or youth workers but have been disconnected for some time from schools and teachers.
Oakwood School provides a safe and supportive learning environment that enables young people to reconnect with teachers and learning as embodied in Oakwood's intent of "Learning, Respect, and Empowerment." We believe that all students would like to be attending school and learning.
We have a further strong belief that "students will give the best that they have got"; in other words, if they could do better at school, they would.
The intention of Oakwood School is to re-introduce students to learning to the extent that they are able to be successful and to build upon these successes to develop their learning potential and journey to a successful adult pathway.
The program is centred around a developmentally responsive personalised learning and pathway plan with a focus on the development of literacy, numeracy, social development, pursuing students' interests, and studies of Art and Physical Education.
Oakwood School has campuses in Caulfield Park, Noble Park, and Frankston, and campuses at community venues in Hastings, Rosebud, Pakenham, and Mornington.
Oakwood School also runs a Senior program at Longbeach Place in Chelsea.
This is a re-engagement program where students are enrolled in the Victorian Pathways Certificate.
Students also have the opportunity to participate in Vocational Education and Training (VET) through a local provider.
Delivery of the program is flexible to allow students to complete their certificate over several years, if required.
This unique program is delivered in a non-mainstream educational setting and provides students the opportunity to experience success with learning.
The program at the Caulfield Park Community campus of Oakwood School includes Music, Food Technology, Vocational Education and Training (VET), and the Victorian Pathways Certificate.
Prior to enrolment at Oakwood School, the student attends a series of meetings that enable Oakwood School staff to better understand the young person in a case-managed approach alongside parents, carers, and other professionals.
This gradual process also allows the student time to become accustomed to the school and teachers and to become aligned with the school values and processes.
This intake process is designed to ensure that when the young person starts at Oakwood School, they are prepared and ready to focus on learning.
The Oakwood School team comprises the educational leadership team of principal, campus principals, student wellbeing and teaching and learning leaders, teachers, and allied health professionals, such as psychologists, mental health nurses, youth workers, and administrative staff.
Oakwood School is continuing to develop across the South-East Victoria Region as a coordinated approach to engaging our most vulnerable young people with learning.
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 the 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.Education support class level 1 range 4.
The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision.
The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.
As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).
For more information on the responsibilities of an Education Support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022: pal/industrial-agreements/resources
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.Please note: Continued professional development is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
Who May Apply Required Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist, or counsellor of a prescribed class.
Specifically: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 of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA).Demonstrated direct counselling experience.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).EEO AND OHS Commitment Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction.
Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.
The Department of Education is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all.
We value 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 roles within the Department.
The Department recognises that the provision of family-friendly, supportive, safe, and harassment-free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity, and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.
It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for persons with a disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).
Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via ******.
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.
All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at: pal/child-safe-standards/policy
DE Values The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership, and Human Rights.
The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools.
Information on the department values is available at: pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview
Other Information 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.Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at .Please ensure that your application includes:
A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address, and contact numbers, business and home).A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section.Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees who are able to attest to the claims made in your application.Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name.
Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.
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.Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at . #J-18808-Ljbffr