Mental Health Advice and Response Service
Grade: RPN4/SW3/P3/OT3 | Multiple roles available due to service growth
Location: Wyndham Magistrates Court (backfill to other courts as required)
Full time - Hybrid onsite WFH model (75% onsite work or WFH 1 day per week)
Salary $101,597 - $123,916 (dependant on qualifications) + Super + Benefits
Mental health advice and response service
The Mental health advice and response service (MHARS) responds to the over representation of people living with mental illness in the criminal justice system. The service aims to intervene early in the criminal justice process by identifying individuals with a mental health disorder at the post charge, pre-sentence stage. It also provides timely advice to courts and links consumers with treatment providers. The service
offers specialist mental health assessment and advice to Magistrates and facilitates early intervention for people who are in police custody.
The individuals supported by this service are typically those who are charged with offences and present with a mental illness including:
- those currently linked with treatment services
- those who have disengaged from treatment
- those who are experiencing mental illness and have yet to come into contact with treatment providers.
MHARS plays a crucial role in facilitating the pathway for incarcerated people back into mainstream psychiatric services. MHARS clinicians regularly conduct inpatient assessment orders under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 for individuals with mental health disorders who are in the process of applying for bail.
MHARS operates in nine metropolitan courts: Melbourne, Broadmeadows, Ringwood, Heidelberg, Dandenong, Frankston, Moorabbin, Sunshine, and Wyndham.
Position objective
The MHARS Clinician provides specialist clinical mental health advice to Magistrates, Community Correctional Services (CCS) and court users to ensure the appropriateness of mental health interventions and referrals for people appearing before the Court. The clinician provides a clinical mental health service including a responsive recovery oriented approach for Magistrates’ Court users including screening, assessment, provision of reports, advice, consultation and referral.
Qualifications, knowledge, experience:
- This is a multidisciplinary role that requires a relevant tertiary qualification and registration or membership with the appropriate Board or Association as a Registered Nurse, Psychologist, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist.
- The qualifications required for each discipline are:
Registered Nurse RPN4:
- Must have current unrestricted registration with AHPRA and a post-graduate qualification in mental health nursing or equivalent.
Psychologist Grade 3:
- General registration with AHPRA
- Masters or Doctorate qualifications (Clinical, Forensic or Neuropsychology)
- Eligibility for (or enrolled in) an Area of Practice Endorsement in clinical psychology, clinical neuropsychology, and/or forensic psychology.
Social Worker Grade 3:
- Tertiary qualifications in Social Work coupled with eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Occupational Therapist Grade 3:
- Current Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner’s Regulations Agency (AHPRA).
- Approved degree in Occupational Therapy and recognised for membership of OT Australia – Australian Association of Occupational Therapists.
- Understanding and commitment to working within the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia’s Australian Occupational Therapy competency standards (2018) and Code of Ethics.
To access a copy of the position description, please click here
A culture where people matter.
- Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of all our team members.
- Well defined career pathways existing across our Directorates with multi-disciplined Teams.
- Salary Packaging Options available – Mortgage, Rent, Car, Expenses
- A leading, multi-faceted approach to safety, with unparalleled strategic, practical, individualised and team-based supports to minimise risks and fear and maximise safety and security, underpinned by our workplace health and safety strategy.
- Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
- Access to an employee assistance program – an external, confidential, self-referral employee wellbeing program, for personal or work-related matters.
- A mental health and wellbeing program providing psychological, peer support and critical incidence response programs.
Eligibility
- COVID19 & Influenza Vaccination Evidence
- This position is subject to a Police Check
Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and developing a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTQI, people with a lived experience of disability, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Forensicare promotes our guiding principles of curiosity, purpose, strong ethics, compassion and fairness; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.
