Mental Health Occupational Therapist Gra ...

Western Health is seeking a highly motivated and dynamic Grade 2 Occupational Therapist to join our Allied Health team at Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre on a full-time basis (part time applicants will be considered).

The Sunshine Mental Health & Wellbeing Centre (SMH&WC) is a purpose-built facility with two 26 bed units opening in October 2023. The senior occupational therapy role will lead and support the existing Grade 1 and Grade 2 Occupational Therapy workforce, work directly with consumers and their family, carers and supporters to provide evidence-based discipline specific assessment and interventions and contribute to the multi-disciplinary team to ensure excellent care and support of consumers. This role will be part of the leadership teams and will contribute to quality improvement projects and processes for occupational therapy and the wider teams. This role works closely with the peer workforce and other disciplines in supporting the activity and participation needs of consumers on the units, including both group and individual intervention approaches.

To be Successful in this Role you:

• Build a therapeutic alliance with the consumer and family/carers and maximise participation in collaborative recovery and wellness planning
• Work collaboratively with other members of the multidisciplinary team, to provide high quality, evidence-based interventions that support consumers with complex mental health needs in the acute setting.
• Provide Occupational Assessments inclusive of Functional Capacity assessments to identify occupational performance issues and Sensory modulation preferences.
• Organise and plan the group roster.

About Us

Our workforce of over 11,000 employees are driven by our values of ‘Compassion, Accountability, Respect, Excellence and Safety’ (CARES). We value our people and provide them the opportunity to grow and develop.  Our teams are friendly and supportive, ensuring we deliver a safe, person-centred and connected patient experience.
Western Health is in a period of rapid growth. Our services comprise of four acute public hospitals: Footscray Hospital, Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner Women's and Children's), Williamstown Hospital and Bacchus Marsh & Melton Hospital. We also operate Sunbury Day Hospital, Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care, as well as community health centres in Melton, Caroline Springs and Bacchus Marsh and a range of mental health and community-based services. We care for a diverse community of more than 1 million people with complex care needs ranging from Neonates to Geriatrics.

Our employees enjoy a wide range of benefits such as:

• Professional development support
• Career advancement opportunities
• Salary packaging including novated vehicle leasing
• Work-life balance

Western Health is an equal opportunity employer committed to attracting and retaining diversity in our workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Western Health is committed to providing a safe environment for the children and young people who are involved in our services, sites and operations. We follow and abide by all legislative requirements to keep children and young people safe.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Police Record Check, an Immunisation status clearance (including evidence of COVID 19 vaccination) and (if applicable) a Working with Children’s Check.

Western Health do not accept unsolicited resumes/applications from Recruitment Agencies.

Essential: Registration under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation National Law Act (2009) with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia.
Essential: An approved Degree from a recognised school of Occupational Therapy or other qualifications approved for eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Occupational Therapy (Vic)
Essential: • Demonstrated understanding of working with mental health consumers, including appropriate supports, therapeutic engagement, assessment and evidence-based interventions
Essential: • Proven ability to plan, implement and evaluate groups for consumers in the acute phase of mental illness.
Essential: • Demonstrated ability to provide specialist occupational therapy assessments and interventions including sensory modulation, functional capacity assessments to identify occupational performance issues and activity and participation interventions.
Essential: • Commitment to ongoing professional development for self and team members
Essential: • Commitment to developing an understanding of the principles and practices of co-design
Essential: • Familiarity with a range of computer software packages eg. Email, Word, Excel
Essential: • Well-developed skills in writing and ability to promptly prepare appropriate documentation for assessments, interventions and other forms of documentation.
Essential: • Demonstrated understanding of de-escalation principles when working with people who are distressed or experiencing mental illness
Essential: • Knowledge of recovery-oriented care and trauma informed care frameworks
Essential: • Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to work with, communicate and engage consumers, families and carers from diverse backgrounds
Essential: • An understanding of the policies and procedures associated with the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation.
Essential: • Demonstrated ability to record accurate and concise documentation within a consumer’s medical record
Essential: • Demonstrated understanding of confidentiality and privacy relating to consumer care
Essential: • Commitment to Western Health values.