Therapeutic Practitioner

**About the Opportunity**:
The Youth Housing Initiative (YHI) is an innovative five-year pilot program based predominantly in the Wyndham area that seeks to fill a specific gap by providing longer term housing and integrated support, for young people with medium to high needs. The program reflects MCM’s Core Values, which are, Together, Accountable, Courageous, Curious and Open. The service delivery is founded on the organisations Healing Oriented Framework (HOF) and places healing at the centre, understanding individuals within the context of their lives and the systems they live within and are impacted by.

There are three key elements that create the foundation of the program;
- Longer term housing, with a housing first approach, we are implementing a program that is evidenced based and understands that when a person has access to stable housing, they are able to improve their wellbeing, build their capacity and move towards their goals.
- Case management and coaching support which aims to provide young people with the necessary skills to increase their independence and develop robust and dynamic lasting connections to community that assist them with the transition to the next stage in their life.
- Therapeutic and Peer Support which aims to build capacity, relationships, create space for healing, and assist young people to connect to specialised mental health services.

The Therapeutic Practitioner is a maximum term contract role (4 years) within the Youth Housing Initiative program that is responsible for the provision of specialised therapeutic knowledge and skills in regard to young people who have experienced homelessness with mental ill health.

**About you**:
We are looking for someone who can:

- Design, evaluate and assist with the implementation of evidence-based intervention strategies.
- Provide secondary consult to Key Workers and other staff (when applicable) in relation to young people’s mental health plans.
- Develop successful working relationships with young people and work collaboratively with their care teams to assess their needs, support them to set goals, work out strategies to achieve those goals and help to develop the skills towards independence.
- Contribute to the development, implementation and monitoring of practice innovation within the portfolio.
- Contribute to an environment that will disrupt disadvantage for young people through utilising a healing orientated practice model that proactively responds to young people who have experienced adverse experiences.

**Benefits of working with MCM include**:

- Diverse and inclusive organisation
- Attractive Salary Packaging benefits
- Supportive learning and development environment
- Culture of continuous improvement

**Essential**:

- Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or recognised Degree in Social Work and eligibility for membership with AASW
- Demonstrated experience working within a case management framework with young people with complex support needs.
- Knowledge and understanding of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022
- Strong passion for working with people and ability to engage young people actively and assertively with complex needs.
- Experience in providing supportive counselling and case work for young people with complex needs including mental health and family violence issues.
- Understanding or experience working with young people at risk of experiencing homelessness, including knowledge of healing-oriented trauma informed approaches.
- Knowledge on the impact of abuse and trauma on development in order to meet clients’ needs in a developmental, individualised way.

**Screening Criteria**:

- National Police check
- Working with Children check
- Valid Victorian Drivers license
- Right to Work in Australia

**About MCM**:
MCM is an** inclusive and equal opportunity employer** with a strong commitment to **safety.** MCM embraces differences because we know that diversity and inclusion help us to attract, recruit, engage and retain talented people.
We are a leading not-for profit-for-purpose organisation that offer a broad range of services in Early Years, Disability, Homelessness, Palliative Care and Education.

**Our commitment to Diversity**:
At MCM, we embrace differences in gender, age, ethnicity, race, cultural background, disability, religion and sexual orientation. We know that diversity and inclusion helps us to attract, recruit, engage and retain a team of talented people.

**Our commitment to Safety**:
MCM is committed to the safety of its clients and employees, taking a zero-tolerance approach to violence within the workplace and abuse, including child abuse and abuse of people with disability. All employees are required to comply with the Child Safe Standards.