Mental Health Advice

Location: Melbourne

Job type: Not provided

Organisation: Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Health and Allied Health, Medical and Nursing, Nursing

Reference: 15579
- Part Time (2 Days P/W) Fixed-Term 12-month contract - Mental Health Clinician OT3/SW3/P3/RPN4
- Based at Magistrate Court of Victoria Venue/s
- Diverse and supportive environments

**Job location**

Forensicare is the statutory agency responsible for the provision of adult forensic mental health services across Victoria.

The Mental Health Advice and Response Service (MHARS) operates in eight metropolitan courts: Melbourne, Broadmeadows, Ringwood, Heidelberg, Dandenong, Frankston, Moorabbin and Sunshine. MHARS provides clinical mental health advice within the court to reduce delays in proceedings and remands, and to improve the appropriateness of mental health interventions and referrals for people appearing before the court. The program enables clinical services to intervene early in the criminal justice process by identifying where individuals charged with an offence and appearing before the court have a mental illness, and by providing timely advice and linkage with treatment providers. Where needed, immediate psychiatric intervention is provided and referral made to appropriate mental health services. Priority is given to providing immediate responses to those presenting to the court who are acutely mentally unwell.

**About the Role**:
The MHARS Clinician will be responsible for delivering the mental health services to individuals appearing before the Magistrates Court of Victoria (MCV). The position is Part Time (0.4 EFT - 2 Days P/W) Fixed-Term 12-month contract. As a MHARS mental health clinician you will be required to screen, assess and prepare psychiatric reports for the Court and Community Corrections as well as providing advice and consultation regarding mental health referral and treatment options for clients appearing before the court to inform decision making.

**Duties**:

- Provide mental state assessments and court reports to support informed judicial decisions to reduce delays in court proceedings and remands
- Provide advice on diverting clients from the judicial system (if possible) through mental health legislation
- Establish links to mental health providers for court users as required
- Refer people to appropriate services for further testing and treatment if necessary (as listed under the_ Mental Health Act_ 2014)

**About You**:

- A Tertiary Degree level qualification in appropriate Health Sciences; Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Psychiatric Nursing or Social Work.
- Demonstrated experience in mental health within complex service delivery environments including 5 years post registration experience in acute or community psychiatry.
- Demonstrated knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act 2014, The Sentencing Act 1991, and the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997.
- An understanding of the interface between mental illness and offending behaviour.

**What you need**:
Nursing
- Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Nursing or equivalent.
- Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency (AHPRA).**A culture where people matter.**
- Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of managers and supervisors.
- Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
- A leading, multi-faceted approach to safety, with unparalleled strategic, practical, individualised and team-based supports to minimise risks and fear and maximise safety and security, underpinned by our workplace health and safety strategy.
- Access to an employee assistance program - an external, confidential, self-referral employee wellbeing program, for personal or work-related matters.
- A mental health and wellbeing program providing psychological support, peer support and critical incidence response programs, as needed.

Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of COVID-19 Vaccination prior to commencing work at Forensicare.