Mental Health Practitioner Es1-4

Hamlyn Views School is a Special Developmental School for students Foundation to Year 12 located in Hamlyn Heights, Geelong. It opened in 2018 and as a Public Private Partnership School will be maintained to a standard for 25 years. All students have a diagnosed moderate to severe intellectual disability, some with associated conditions, including a significant percentage on the autism spectrum.

Our vision is to be an outstanding provider of inclusive education that promotes individuality, fosters innovation and sets high expectations for all whilst our school values align with our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support expectations - Learning, Safety and Respect. Our motto Facing the Future depicts our desire to create effective partnerships with all community members to support improved learning, wellbeing and post-school pathways for our students. Our School Strategic Plan 2020-2024 guides whole school improvement, assisted by the implementation of Data Wise collaborative data inquiry by educators in Professional Learning Communities. We will undertake a School Review in term 2, 2024.

We want our students to have the best learning opportunities, support and care to ensure they reach their full potential and become valued, contributing members of their community. To achieve this our curriculum, assessment and pedagogical approaches are based on the latest evidence-informed research.

A multi-disciplinary team of Allied Health and Wellbeing professionals are employed to provide the necessary expertise and support that promotes student access to the curriculum and the successful attainment of the Individual Education Plan goals.

Through our commitment to Respectful Relationships, Safe Schools and zero tolerance for any form of child abuse, racism or discrimination, we aim to build a culture of respect for diversity, gender equality and safety.

We are seeking a highly motivated and capable Mental Health Practitioner keen to be part of our professional and collaborative learning community, committed to excellence and equity for all, and eager to be part of the exciting educational journey of a growing school.

SC1 Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling for a range of Mental Health issues.

SC2 Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for clients with complex needs.

SC3 Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and strategies relating to Mental Health and wellbeing.

SC4 Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.

SC5 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.

SC6 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'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. Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students’ wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.
2. Delivering professional support services in a school, including Mental Health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of Mental Health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
3. Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectlively manage risk.
4. Working collaboratively with the school to enhance Mental Health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
5. Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
6. Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
7. Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.

Please note: Continued professional development 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 Department of Education and Training is committed to the principles of equal opportunity, and diversity and inclusion for all. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms – gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQ+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department.  The Department recognises that the provision of family friendly, supportive, safe and harassment free workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work, diversity and safety across all schools and Department workplaces.

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the Department’s exemplar available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/health/protect/Pages/childsafestandards.aspx

The Department’s employees commit to upholding DET’s Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. DET’s Values complement each school’s own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the DET values is available at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/workm/Pages/Public-Sector-Values.aspx

Please ensure that your application includes:

• A resume including relevant experience as well as personal details (name, address and contact numbers, business and home)
• A section addressing the selection criteria and the requirements for application under the Who May Apply section
• Responses to selection criteria to be limited to one page per criteria.
• Names and contact numbers (telephone and email if possible) of two referees
• Work hours negotiable.
• Please note that the selection panel may seek additional referees beyond those you name. Consistent with policy, we shall advise you if we will take this action.

This vacancy is to replace an employee on parental absence and is for a period of seven years or until the employee absent on leave returns to duty at the school.