Dietitian - Transition to Mental Health Program

Dietitian - Transition to Mental Health Practice

Are you a Dietitian who is looking for an opportunity to learn and build on their existing skills in a new clinical practice area?

Do you have at least 2 years’ experience working as a Dietitian?

Are you interested in a career in mental health, supporting the connection between physical health and mental wellbeing?

We have grade 2 opportunities available in the Eastern Health catchment.

Join a permanent full-time role incorporating a 12 month supported learning program to transition to mental health practice.

Be part of the significant reform and growth of the mental health system and implementation of the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

Eastern Health

Eastern Health is one of Melbourne’s largest public health services. We provide a range of emergency, surgical, medical and general healthcare services, including maternity, palliative care, mental health, drug and alcohol, residential care, community health and state-wide specialist services to people and communities that are diverse in culture, age, socio-economic status, population and healthcare needs.

About the role

Eastern Health is offering you the opportunity to undertake a twelve month allied health transition to mental health practice learning program. This is an excellent opportunity to contribute to enhanced mental health services for Adults & Older Adults with serious mental health issues & their families. In combination with the twelve-month program, this opportunity will be well-supported clinically and professionally through clinical supervision with a Grade 4 Dietetics Mental Health Clinical Educator.

The learning and teaching directorate and the mental health program will work in partnership to deliver this highly-regarded transition to practice program based on the best available evidence and sector wide consultation for allied health mental health learning programs.

**Benefits of the program include**:
Placement in a supportive team within the Adult & Older Adult Mental Health Program.

Support from another Dietitian in the same setting and a discipline specific educator to facilitate your learning and development.

Permanent employment at Eastern Health in the Mental Health Program on completion of the 12-month transition program.

**The structured learning program incorporates**:
A focus on utilising the knowledge, skills and abilities that you bring from your existing experience in other areas of Dietetics

A structured learning framework including a comprehensive learning plan, key competencies to work towards, protected learning time and professional development targeted to allied health clinicians transitioning to mental health practice

Exposure to diverse areas of mental health practice via discovery days in other parts of the mental health program.

10 days of professional development leave plus individual and group supervision

About you

To be successful in this role you should possess the following:

- Recognised tertiary qualification in Dietetics
- Eligible for membership of Dietitians Australia and the Accredited Practicing Dietitian Program.
- Participation in Accredited Practising Dietitian program of DA or ability to demonstrate that equivalence to APD requirements are maintained on an annual basis.

And
- Relevant theoretical knowledge, experience and skills in the provision of evidence based dietetics assessment, intervention and treatment.
- Understanding of, and or experience in delivering, recovery oriented mental health practice.
- Demonstrated experience in managing a complex caseload and comprehensive discharge planning using a client-centred approach.
- Knowledge of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation, policies, plans and strategic directions of public mental health services
- Demonstrated ability to skilfully engage consumers in the development and implementation of individualised plans designed to promote, foster and sustain personal recovery.
- A commitment to working with consumers from a wide range of cultural and social backgrounds and to providing services that are family and gender sensitive.
- Knowledge of the mental health sector, including roles and workings of mental health teams and relevant community resources and services to support people with mental illness.
- Proven ability and commitment to work collaboratively with consumers, carers, the multidisciplinary team and external agencies.
- Commitment to supervised and reflective practice, lifelong learning and further development.
- Computer literacy and embracing of health technologies and informatics.
- High level of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
- Demonstrated high level inter personal skills with consumers, their families and all health care professionals including effective conflict resolution and negotiation.

Please refer to the attached position description for further details of the role.

Vaccina