Address
Form of work
SalaryEmployment Type: Permanent Full Time
Position Classification: Health Education Officer Non Grad, Health Education Officer Grad
Location: Nepean Hospital
Remuneration: Dependent on Qualification
Hours Per Week: 38
Requisition ID: REQ357698
Applications Close: 11/12/2022
This position is dependent on Qualifications:
Health Education Officer Non Grad - $56,871 - $83,802 per annum
Health Education Officer Grad - $65,548 - $106,824 per annum
With CORE Values of Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment,
working with us will ensure your professional life is provided every opportunity to succeed and develop in your chosen career role.
What we can offer you (for eligible employees):
- Accrued Day Off (ADO) (for full time employees)
- Opportunity for extra tax savings through Salary Packaging
- Novated Leasing
- Great education opportunities through Education Training Service which offers over 110 courses each year
- Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members
- Fitness Passport
This is an exciting opportunity for an Aboriginal Peer Worker to work as part of a collaborative partnership between Neami National and Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District aiming to provide more connected and cohesive suicide prevention and mental health support for the people of the district. The Safe Haven is integrated within the Penrith Head to Health Centre operated by Neami National, allowing the Peer Worker to work as part of the Head to Health team providing high quality mental health and suicide prevention support across the centre. The service will operate both within business hours and after hours. Regular evening and weekend work will be a requirement of the role and will attract penalty rates in line with the relevant award.
The Peer Worker Role
- Work in the Penrith Head to Health Centre with a focus on Safe Haven. May also work within other parts of the Mental Health Service as needed or desired including Suicide Prevention Outreach Team.
- Adopt a “no wrong door” approach to all consumers who present, facilitating referrals and access to other services as needed.
- Offers hope to consumers who present in suicidal crisis and psychological distress
- Provide culturally responsive support that respects differing world views and understandings of mental health and wellbeing
- Facilitate contact with people who have a personal lived experience of recovery and firsthand experience in wellbeing management
- Provide recovery-oriented and trauma-informed peer support for consumers experiencing acute distress
- Work within a Step Up / Step Down framework: make referrals to a range of community-based services for ongoing therapy and support if required (Step Down), or escalating concerns over consumer wellbeing to clinical staff/management for more intensive follow up to support hospital avoidance (Step Up). Where this is not enough to meet a consumer’s needs it might be necessary make referrals for clinical assessment with a view to inpatient admission.
This service will provide rapid, compassionate care in a welcoming and supportive non-clinical environment to consumers who present in acute psychological distress and suicidal crisis. This is an alternative to presenting to an Emergency Department. Peer workers and clinicians will actively work to minimise distress by providing compassionate, safe & recovery-orientated care.
Suicide Prevention Outreach Team
This team comprises peer workers and clinicians who respond in peer/clinician pairs to support people in acute psychological distress or suicidal crisis. They engage with people in their homes or in preferred community locations. The clinician and peer worker work as equal partners, each bringing their own expertise. Early contact will focus on psychosocial reasons for distress, stabilisation, safety planning and distress recognition. There will also be a focus on linkage with outpatient and community services.
This is an Identified Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander Position. Applicants for this position must be of Aboriginal descent through parentage, identify as an Aboriginal person and be accepted in the community as such. Exemption is claimed under Section 14(d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW).
An eligibility list may be created for future vacancies.
About us:
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) is a wonderful place to expand your career and grow your skills and knowledge. As a recognised leader in the healthcare industry, we provide a range of public health services to the Nepean and Blue Mountains and Lithgow Region.
NBMLHD: Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District will drive innovation and excellence in health service delivery that provides safe, equitable, high quality, accessible, timely and efficient services that are responsive to the needs of patients and the community.
Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District is an Equal Opportunity Employer and actively encourages diversity and inclusion within our workforce. In the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District Mental Health Service, we value and strive for a diverse and inclusive workplace. We aim to enrich our working environment and deliver excellent care to all consumers, their families and carers, no matter their background or needs. We encourage and welcome applications from people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders; people living with disability; people from a Cultural and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) background; people who identify as LGBTQI+, people with a lived experience of mental health concerns and people of mature age.
All NSW Health workers are now required to have received 3 doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine or have an approved medical contraindication certificate. You will be required to provide a record of your COVID-19 vaccination status if successful.
Selection Criteria to be Addressed: * Must be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent. An applicant's race is a genuine occupational qualification and is authorised by Section 14 (d) of the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, NSW, and have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and have established links with their local Aboriginal community. In addition should hold a Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (Consumer), or commit to successful completion of Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (Consumer) within 18 months of commencing position.
- Personal lived experience of suicidal crisis, mental distress and recovery, and ability to meaningfully and purposefully use lived experience to provide peer support to consumers.
- Demonstrated experience using recovery-oriented and trauma-informed principles in providing support to consumers, and a broad understanding of recovery-oriented service provision and consumer involvement in service design, implementation and evaluation.
- Understanding of the suicide prevention sector and ability to utilise appropriate suicide prevention supports such as safety planning, managing risk (including promoting dignity of risk). Knowledge of legislation and standards relevant to mental health services.
- Demonstrated knowledge of and ability to plan, implement and evaluate individul and group peer support.
- Ability to work effectively across community, inpatient, emergency department and related settings. This includes experience in working collaboratively with individuals and groups including consumers, carers, the multidisciplinary team and other stakeholders.
- Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision; effective interpersonal and communication skills including the ability to provide quality written documentation through the use of proficient IT skills.
- Current Driver's Licence and willingness to use for work purpose travel.
1) Click here for the
2) Find out more about for this position
For role related queries or questions contact Adam Vance on
