Mental Health Aod Support Worker

• Assist consumers through their journey as their primary support from intake to discharge
• Collaborate with a multi-disciplinary team to coordinate comprehensive assessments and care plans
• FT and PT roles available. SCHADS Level 4 ($41.52-44.68/hr)

About the Service
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System has challenged us to think beyond incremental improvement to deliver a Mental Health system that helps all Victorians live their best lives. In a region characterised by fragmentation, complexity, and access barriers, implementing the Geelong - Queenscliff Mental Health and Wellbeing Local (GGQ Local) is a key step in realising this goal.
The GGQ Local is delivered by a consortium of equal partners: Barwon Health, Watharoung Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd, Wellways Australia and ermha365. 
The GGQ Local is underpinned by positivity, hope and inclusion. No matter whether a consumer, carer or provider enters or seeks assistance via digital platforms, contact centre, or physical locations, the first engagement will always start with a simple question: “Welcome, how can we help?” Drawing on established services, networks, and pathways, the GGQ Local provides seamless integration between local, area and wellbeing services for the benefit of consumers, carers, and providers. This is supported through standardised assessment tools, treatment and support processes, care plans and care coordination, colocation of services and regional navigational pathways.
The three core elements of our service are people, purpose, and place and we are seeking Mental Health professionals ready to be part of a central and accessible service that understands the needs of their community.

About You
Passionate about Mental Health, AOD and seeing people reach their potential. You will have relevant skills, experience and qualifications and be looking for an opportunity to improve the way the sector operates. In detail, you will possess:

• Proven customer service in developing & delivering solutions to consumers, carers and families
• Knowledgeable in accessing a range of relevant community resources, particularly in the areas of health, drugs and alcohol, legal, income support, employment and recreation
• An understanding of approaches to crisis management and risk management within the context of supporting individuals with complex needs
• An aptitude for team work that is matched with excellent people skills, with effective interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to contribute positively within a team, influence and negotiate with others
• Relevant degree with relevant experience with substantial experience (e.g. psychology, case management, social work, Mental Health, or AOD) or less formal qualifications with specialized skills sufficient to perform at this level

About the Role
The vision of the GGQ Local is a unified, Mental Health and wellbeing system that is underpinned by the approach of “How can we help?’
The role of the Mental Health & AOD Support Worker will entail the following:

• Conduct the Initial Assessment and Referral (IAR) with consumers to determine the recommended level of care
• Facilitate the reviewing and recording of participant outcomes and coordinate navigation, linkage, care and discharge planning of consumers
• Remain with a consumer throughout their journey at the GGQ Local, providing Mental Health and alcohol and other drug education and intervention within a dual diagnosis framework
• Draw upon own experiences of Mental Health and alcohol and other drug (where relevant) to support consumers to understand their experience and aid recovery and self-management
• Ensure the delivery of recovery focused support is matched to participant need, including the facilitation and co-facilitation of groups

The service currently operates from Monday to Friday, 9am-5pm. However, expansion of the service will soon see increased hours to 8am-10pm, Monday to Sunday. Successful applicants must be willing to move to a rotating roster of AM and PM shifts, including weekends and public holidays.

It is a requirement of this position to meet all compliance requirements concerning NDIS Work Screening, Working with Children Check, work rights and possess a current & valid driver’s licence.

We take appropriate actions to ensure that our staff and the people we support are as safe as possible. You will be expected to adhere to all OHS standards, requirements and processes, including (but not limited to) wearing appropriate PPE and regular hygiene and cleanliness practices.

What we can offer you
ermha365 is an agile and innovative non-profit with a growth agenda across Australia. As an employee you will be offered: 

• Opportunity to have a career that changes lives
• Industry-leading induction and on-the-job training provided, with access to free and continuous online learning modules at your own pace
• Staff benefits program with discounts to over 250 retailers, wellbeing hub and Employee Assistance Program
• A supportive team environment that is engaging and inspiring
• A competitive total package – SCHADS level 4 with the ability to salary package

Diversity and Inclusion
The GGQ Local Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is committed to reconciliation, lived experience and inclusivity. We strongly encourage and warmly welcome people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with a lived experience of Mental Health and disability and people who identify as LGBTIQA+ to apply. Even if you only meet some of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you. If we can assist you with any reasonable adjustments in order to submit your application for this role, please contact the Talent Acquisition team via email at *******@ermha.org noting your preferred method of communication and contact details and a member of the team will be in touch.

About ermha365
ermha365 exists to ensure that people experiencing mental illness and cognitive disability, and their carers, can thrive in and become part of the community. We choose to work with people experiencing mental illness and cognitive disability who have fallen through the gaps in the system and where there is no obvious support. We are often considered the provider of last resort.
ermha365 is committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of all children. Further information at https://www.ermha.org/child-safe-statement/

Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and people from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds are encouraged.

We are excited to partner with Barwon Health, the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative and Wellways to create the GGQ Local Service.