Mental Health Worker

**Work with us**:
Our organisation is a busy health hub in the middle of Richmond. North Richmond Community Health, which includes the Centre for Culture Ethnicity and Health, is a great place to work. You’ll find an environment where staff are inspired through meaningful work and supported by colleagues and management. We prioritise an inclusive and positive working atmosphere at North Richmond Community Health. With flexible working arrangements, we help ensure that people of all circumstances are well-represented in our staff.

As an employee, there are a number of benefits available:

- flexible working arrangements, including purchased leave
- wellbeing policy, with on-site subsidised fitness classes including pilates and personal training, work health checks and social events
- comprehensive and competitive salary packaging options.

We enjoy rich cultural diversity in our workforce. Approximately 55% of our staff were born overseas and over 75% identify with an ethnicity other than Australian. Over 65% of our staff speak languages other than English. We would like to hear from you if you have:

- superior skills in delivering culturally-responsive services in your given field
- keen ability to contribute to a respectful collegiate environment
- can contribute to innovation and service improvement
- effective relationship building skills to foster a harmonious workplace.

Outreach and Engagement Service

This seven day a week service provides trauma informed outreach to individuals within the North Richmond Precinct and associated boundaries including People Who Use Drugs (PWUD), people experiencing homelessness, people experiencing mental health challenges, as well as people with complex health and social support needs. The outreach program includes case management, complex care coordination, peer support programs, therapeutic interventions and delivering comprehensive, holistic interventions that support long term client and community engagement. The program will also deliver community engagement, providing a proactive, community-wide outreach response and responding positively to health-based issues raised by community members. The Outreach Program has clear objectives as detailed in the funding and service agreement.

**_ Mental Health Worker_**

The Mental Health Worker is responsible for providing support and assistance to individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Working closely with a multidisciplinary team to promote the well-being and recovery of clients. The primary objective of this role is to provide therapeutic interventions.

The position will be a valued member of the Outreach Service providing daily community and client engagement to provide mental health assessments, interventions, support and referrals to services both internally and externally to meet clients identified needs. This will include identification of acute mental health episodes that requires timely support and referral to the Crisis Assessment Treatment Team (CATT) or facilitated admission to Emergency Department Services.

**Roles and responsibilities include, but are not limited to**:

- Conduct assessments: Perform initial and ongoing assessments to identify clients’ mental health needs, strengths, and goals.
- Develop treatment plans: Collaborate with clients to develop individualized treatment plans that address their specific needs and goals.
- Crisis intervention: Respond to crisis situations promptly and effectively, ensuring the safety and well-being of clients.
- Provide education and support: Educate clients and their families about mental health conditions, coping strategies, and available resources.
- Implement strategies to help reduce the stigma of people accessing mental health services and experiencing poor mental health.

**Key Selection Criteria**:
**Essential qualifications, attributes and skills include, but are not limited to**:

- Recognised qualification in a social/human services area or other relevant tertiary qualification or Diploma of Community Services (Mental Health)
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience in outreach, harm reduction, mental health or in the AOD field
- Demonstrated knowledge of co-occurring drug use and mental health issues, harm reduction in the context of illicit & other drugs and risks associated with the use of these.
- Working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team to ensure appropriate assessment, support and referral for clients

Please note it is a requirement for all employees of North Richmond Community Health to demonstrate evidence of mandatory immunisations/vaccinations prior to commencement of employment, based on the Immunisation Category their position falls under.