Ahp2/Ahp3 School Mental Health Practitioner

Why work with us:

Every child and young person deserves a great education.

We have a strategy that aims to unlock every child’s potential now and into the future, one that in partnership with learners, students, parents and the wider South Australian community will build a world-leading public education system. One that is equitable and prioritises learning and wellbeing.

Together we will make our education system the best it can be.

When our children and young people thrive, so do our communities and our state.

About Us:

The Department for Education has established a School Mental Health service to assist in the management of student Mental Health concerns. The new School Mental Health service will provide appropriately credentialed Mental Health Practitioners based in secondary schools with outreach to primary schools in some locations.

About the Role:

The School Mental Health Practitioner (SMHP) will be based in an allocated school and work collaboratively with students and families, school sites, other departmental staff, and external agencies to support young people to improve their Mental Health and emotional wellbeing.

The Service is designed to support young people who may be experiencing mild to moderate Mental Health problems and intervene early in the development of more serious Mental Health concerns within an education setting.

The SMHP will provide a stepped-up service from the wellbeing supports provided by Student wellbeing leaders, other school leaders and members of the school wellbeing team (e.g., youth workers). Student wellbeing leaders will continue to play an integral role in schools at the universal or whole-of-school level, including by referring students to the School Mental Health Service.

A Principal Mental Health Practitioner (PMHP) will be allocated to each SMHP and will provide supervision, oversee clinical review and escalation processes, and provide operational management. The Principal MH practitioner will take a lead in embedding the service into school site and assist the practitioner to develop collaborative relationships with site leadership.

SMHS provides services across 3 waves of intervention – proactive, targeted and intensive. This may involve working with individual and groups of children and young people, leaders, individuals or groups of educators or the whole school.

Qualifications:

Essential:

• A Bachelor qualification or specialist/post graduate qualification where applicable in social work, occupational therapy and/or Psychology
• Registration with the requisite professional body where applicable (i.e. AHPRA)
• Social Work applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers

Special Conditions:

The successful applicant is required to gain a Department for Human Services (DHS) working with children check (WWCC) prior to being employed which is required to be renewed every five years before expiry. The incumbent will be required to undertake RRHAN –EC (Responding to Risks of Harm, Abuse and Neglect - Education Care) Facilitator Lead (Masterclass) extended course or the online (Fundamentals) course which will be required to be updated every three years. 

For all other Special Conditions please refer to the attached Position Description.
Remuneration:

AHP2 $86,950 - $100,729 per annum (1.0 FTE), plus superannuation.

AHP3 $102,641 - $110,094 per annum (1.0 FTE), plus superannuation.

Enquiries:

You are encouraged to call the contact person if you have any questions or would like to discuss the role further. Please contact Katrina Waechter, Principal Mental Health Practitioner, via tel: 0474 659 *** or email: ***************@sa.gov.au.

Application Instructions:

Applications should be made through the IWorkForSA website.

Applicants are required to submit a CV, the Application Cover Sheet, Employment Declaration, preference form for regions and a cover letter. Ensure that your application cover letter demonstrates your capabilities against the relevant key competencies in the attached position description associated with the classification as your application will be considered against this.

On the cover letter please clearly indicate which classification you are applying against.

People of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent and/or those who have a disability are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional Notes:

• Multiple vacancies available at both 0.5 FTE and 1.0 FTE, initial 24-month term contract.
• Applicants are required to complete all attached forms including the Preference Form for Regions/FTE.

Flexibility Statement
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.