Initiatives Lead – RCVMHS

• Full time Fixed-Term 12 month RPN5, SW4, OT4, P4
• Based at Prisons Directorate – Derrimut
• A culture where people care

A career in the forensic mental health sector is diverse, challenging and rewarding. A career at Forensicare will be like no other. If you’re passionate about supporting people in their mental health recovery, Forensicare is where you need to be. You will be a part of a caring and supportive team, making a real difference to people living with the dual stigma of mental illness and offending. We approach our work with curiosity and a commitment to understanding the unique needs of our consumers and carers. Working across community, hospital and prison settings, you can learn, apply your specialist skills, conduct research and advance in your profession. Together, we can contribute to a more connected, compassionate mental health and criminal justice system. 

About the Role:

The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (RCVMHS) made recommendations directed at improving outcomes for people living with mental illness who are involved in the criminal justice system.

Justice Health is a business unit of the Department of Justice and Community Safety and is responsible for the delivery of health services for persons in Victoria’s prisons. The Justice Health team have directly engaged with Forensicare to develop initiatives to support two of the RCVMHS recommendations:

• Expansion of the Community Hospital Outreach Post-Suicide Engagement (HOPE) initiative into Prisons [Rec 3], and
• Transition support for those who require ongoing intensive mental health care from correctional settings back to mainstream mental health and wellbeing community services [Rec 37(3)].

Justice Health’s mental health reform team and Forensicare are engaging in a co-design process to design these programs with the goal to implement the first of these services on or before 1 July 2022.

Duties:

• This position will lead and support the development of the post-suicide engagement initiative and the transitional support initiative. 
• Work closely with the Forensicare and Justice Health project teams to lead the development of service models (including associated policies and procedures) for both initiatives.
• Consider the training and implementation planning for this initiative, including consultation, communication planning and service promotion.
•  These initiative will need to align with Forensicare’s Model of Care 2021-2026, Strategic Plan 2021-26 and RCVMHS Recommendations. Partnering and engaging with similar initiatives concurrently occurring with Community AMHS will be important.

About You:

• Demonstrated commitment to mental health consumer recovery.
• A sound understanding of the Prisons systems, Justice, public mental health and associated stakeholders and service delivery models
• Highly developed writing skills to document service design and implementation documents (policy, procedure, model of care)
• Capacity to engage with various stakeholders (including Justice Health, Corrections Victoria, primary mental health provides, Area Mental Health Services)
• Preferred experience in operational and/or project management
• Expertise in model of care for people experiencing suicidal ideation or behaviour

What you need:

Nursing

• Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Nursing or equivalent.
• Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency (AHPRA).
• The successful candidate will be required to register their qualifications on eCredential

Occupational Therapy

• Approved degree in Occupational Therapy recognised for membership of Occupational Therapy Australia – Australian Association of Occupational Therapists. 
• Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency (AHPRA).
• The successful candidate will be required to register their qualifications on eCredential.

Psychology

• Masters or Doctoral qualification in Clinical Psychology from an APAC accredited course or equivalent OR Doctoral qualification in Forensic Psychology from an APAC accredited course or equivalent
• Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency (AHPRA).
• The successful candidate will be required to register their qualifications on eCredential.

Social Work

• Approved degree in Social Work and eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

This position is subject to a Police Check.

A culture where people matter.

• Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of managers and supervisors.
• Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
• 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.
• 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 support, peer support and critical incidence response programs, as needed.

For more information on employee benefits visit https://www.forensicare.vic.gov.au/careers/employee-benefits  

Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of COVID-19 Vaccination prior to commencing work at Forensicare.

Current Forensicare employees should apply through eRecruit using an account which is linked to their Forensicare email address. Employees should contact People and Culture if they are unable to access their Forensicare eRecruit account.

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.