1. Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling for a range of mental health issues.
2. Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for clients with complex needs.
3. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and strategies relating to mental health and wellbeing.
4. Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
5. Ability to provide leadership and professional learning that informs and influences the work of others involved in the engagement and wellbeing of children and young people.
6. Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information. 

The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses.

Operating in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training's Area-based multi-disciplinary teams, this role will have the following functions:

provide direct counselling support and other early intervention services for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health needs;
coordinate supports for students with critical needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions and other health professionals to engage further support as required; and
enhance promotion and prevention activities in the school by contributing to whole school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to manage student health and wellbeing, and helping to embed mental health promotion and prevention programs and strategies in the school.

Education Support Class Level 1 Range 4

The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.

As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).

For more information on the responsibilities of an Education support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit:

https://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/rolesTS.aspx

1. Deliver professional support service/s in a school/s, including the direct counselling for students with a range of mental health issues, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.

2. Plan and implement evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate, and manage the associated risks.

3. Work collaboratively with the school to contribute to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.

4. Demonstrate leadership and provide professional learning to others, such as teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students’ learning and developmental outcomes.

5. Liaise with other Department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide support to students.

6. Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.

7. Meet relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information privacy.

Please note:
• The relevant enterprise agreement underpinning this position is the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2017.
• Continued professional learning is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Required

• Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse or occupational therapist. Specifically:
  • For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
  • For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
  • For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
  • For Occupational Therapists must hold full registration with AHPRA
• Have demonstrated direct counselling experience
• Have a current Working With Children Check

Desirable

• For Psychology applicants, specialisation in education and/or developmental psychology.
• For Mental Health Nurse applicants, hold a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian college of Mental Health Nurses.
• For Social Work applicants, hold membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.

The Mental Health Practitioner at Springside West Secondary College will work full time as a part of a team to support students. They will meet with students individually and in groups to provide first call counselling, and will outsource serious matters to support agencies. Well-being programs and policies will be developed across the school, and the MHP will be a central support and source of advice and guidance. All You Can Be, a school well-being and pathways program has been developed and the Student Well Being Coordinator will have a central role in providing input with regard to the content of this program. The MHP will work with the well being coordinator and they will meet regularly to assess trends with regard to well being concerns that are emerging at the school. The MHP coordinator will work closely with principal class officers, the heads of the sub schools and the sub school coordinators.

All applicants must have one of the following level of qualification to be eligible: a bachelors degree in social work, a bachelors degree in occupational therapy, an accredited bachelors degree in mental health nursing, an accredited bachelors degree in psychology, a five year sequence of accredited study in psychology, or full registration as a psychologist with AHPRA.

There is an online tour of the school for interested applicants at: http://www.swsc.vic.edu.au/  Please contact John Goodman Principal at John.Goodman@education.vic.gov.au if you wish to ask any further questions.

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx