Senior Peer Worker, Towards Zero Suicide Initiatives - Bega - Incentives Offered

Senior Health Education Officer (Non Grad): $90,603 to $94,025 per annum

This position qualifies for the NSW Health Rural Incentive scheme with a value of up to $10,000

Southern NSW Local Health District covers a large area of the southern half of NSW. Surrounding the ACT on three sides and all the way down to the Victorian border, it extends from the pristine beaches of the NSW South Coast, the farmlands of the Southern Tablelands, across the picturesque Great Dividing Range and the spectacular Snowy Mountains. We have 18 facilities and our hospitals take care of more than 200,000 people. As we are a major local employer, our staff are a part of our local communities. To find out more on what it is like to live and work in Southern NSW LHD click here – We are Southern.

What we offer
•    Salary Packaging – up to $9k for living expenses + $2.6k meal & entertainment + Novated leasing
•    Corporate Health and Fitness program
•    11% Superannuation on top of your gross income
•    Annual Leave Loading

Where you'll be working
There is an abundance of lifestyle benefits available to you in country NSW and you will be amazed at what you will have access to.  It all comes without the queues and crowds of a big city. Bega the rural heartland of the Sapphire Coast a short drive to beautiful sandy beaches and national park wilderness.  The perfect climate to the outdoors all year round, including whale watching between June and November. The pretty valley is a beautiful base for exploring gorgeous beaches and tranquil waterways. Situated between Melbourne and Sydney and just 3 hours to Canberra. Imagine Rural

What you'll be doing

This position provides support to consumers as a part of the Redirection from Emergency Departments (Safe Haven) and Suicide Prevention Outreach Teams (SPOT). 
You will use your personal lived experience of suicidal crisis or caring for someone experiencing suicidal crisis to provide appropriate responsive care in a warm, welcoming, non-medical environment, working with other professionals to support and link guests with appropriate services. 

Selection Criteria

1. Minimum Qualification Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work (consumer or carer), including completion of CHCCCS003: Increase the safety of individuals at risk of suicide or willingness to complete it within 18 months of commencing and willingness to complete other essential Towards Zero Suicide training modules as soon as practical; and 3 or more years’ experience in a mental health Peer Worker role within public mental health or alcohol and other drugs service or the non-government sector.
2. Personal lived experience of a suicidal crisis, mental distress and recovery, and ability to meaningfully and purposefully use lived experience to provide peer support to people at risk of suicide; and demonstrated ability to provide mentoring, supervision and leadership to peer co-workers.
3. Good communication skills with the ability to communicate empathically and supportively with mental health service consumers & effectively with mental health service providers and other services; and demonstrated effective negotiation, time management, and written and verbal communication skills through varied platforms (email, virtual/telehealth, medical records).
4. 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).
5. Understanding of the nature of mental health service delivery, including knowledge of State and national policies and directions for mental health services; in particular, the Towards Zero Suicide initiatives. Demonstrated experience using recovery-oriented and trauma-informed principles in providing support to consumers.
6. Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively with individuals and groups including consumers, carers, the multidisciplinary team and other stakeholders. An ability to provide "tailored" assertive support and care to consumers consenting to peer support in the community.
7. Demonstrated Experience working in community outreach and/or providing community support in people’s home environments and/or drop in centres.
8. Evidence of a current unrestricted drivers’ licence and the ability to maintain. Ability and willingness to drive/travel as the role requires. This may involve driving long distances and overnight stays.

  1) Click here for the Position Description
  2) Find out more about applying for this position
For role related queries or questions contact Kira Van Klink on *************@health.nsw.gov.au or phone: 02 6455 3***.

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