Position Description – Specialist Mental Health Worker

POSITION: Mental Health Worker

SALARY: SCHCADS Award Level 6 + Salary Sacrifice available

HOURS: Full-time; 38 hours per week (job-share considered)

LOCATION: Maroochydore office (occasional travel to other Laurel Place offices may be required).

CONTRACT PERIOD: Until 29.12.2028 (may be ongoing subject to funding)

 

Organisational Environment

Laurel Place Inc. is funded by The Department of Families, Seniors, Disability Services, and Child Safety. Laurel Place is governed by a Board drawn from the local community. The service employs almost 60 staff across a number of programs and four office locations in Maroochydore, Gympie, Moreton Bay and Murgon. The service provides a range of options to women, men, children, young people, families and the community that work towards reducing the impact and incidence of sexual violence. Laurel Place also operates Women’s Space from the Maroochydore location which provides support to women who have experienced all forms of gendered violence.

The service also focuses on providing education, information and resources to other professionals and the wider community.

 

Position Description

The primary purpose of this position is to provide trauma-informed, culturally responsive mental health support to individuals recovering from experiences of domestic, family and sexual violence, and other forms of gender-based violence. The position will involve a combination of intake and assessment, direct service delivery to clients, as well as providing specialist advice to other Laurel Place counsellors and informing Laurel Place practice guidelines.

 

Primary Duties & Responsibilities

• Provide direct therapeutic counselling and support to individuals, primarily women and young women who have been impacted by domestic, family, sexual, or other gender-based violence, who are experiencing mental health concerns.
• Conduct thorough intakes and assessments for victim-survivors of domestic, family, and sexual violence who are experiencing mental health concerns and seeking support from Laurel Place.
• Support the First Response Team in responding to in-person or phone crisis presentations where mental health concerns may be indicated.
• Facilitate an integrated mental health support response through effective referral coordination, collaborative care and wrap around support.
• Provide expert advice and consultation to counselling team members on how to most effectively support clients with their unique mental health and psychosocial support needs.
• Support Laurel Place to offer mental health support to victim-survivors of domestic, family, and/or sexual violence consistent with current evidence-based practice and contribute to Laurel Place practice guidelines.
• Remain up to date with the latest sector needs, legislation, policy and practice guidelines in relation to the intersection of gender-based violence and mental health.
• Liaise with community and sector networks and develop appropriate collaborative partnerships with relevant services and agencies.
• Provide relevant information and resources to service users and other stakeholders as required.
• Timely collection of statistical data and preparation of (deidentified) case studies for reporting purposes.
• Participate in training, case planning and team meetings for service staff.

All Service Staff Duties

• Work within and towards the organisational vision, mission, and values
• Ensure the maintenance of client confidentiality including keeping confidential client records;
• Participate in annual staff appraisals/assessments;
• Participate in ongoing professional development and training;
• Participate in annual and other planning sessions to develop a strategic response to Domestic, Family and Gender based violence;
• Support a culture of transparency and accountability within the service, and contribute to a positive, collaborative, and supportive workplace culture and environment;
• Contribute to overall tidiness and cleanliness of shared office spaces;
• Perform any other reasonable tasks at the request of the leadership team.

Primary Delegations and Accountabilities / Reporting Relationships

• Due to the diverse nature of the Mental Health Worker roles, which will offer support across teams, these positions will report directly to the Executive Director of Laurel Place Inc.
• Work as part of a team (Board of Management, Executive Director, Director of Counselling Services, Team Leaders, Counsellors, Support Worker for First Nations Clients, Centre Support and Business Support Officers).

 

Selection Criteria

1. Minimum Bachelor degree in Psychology or Social Work (eligibility for Psychologist registration or accreditation as Mental Health Social Worker highly desirable).
2. Experience providing assessment, support, and intervention to clients presenting with a wide range of mental health issues.
3. Demonstrated experience providing trauma informed therapeutic interventions and support to adults and young people who have been impacted by domestic, family, and/or sexual violence.
4. Demonstrated understanding of the gendered nature of sexual violence and its impact at both an individual and societal level.
5. Demonstrated experience in supporting clinical staff with complex case presentations.
6. Demonstrated capacity to work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders.
7. Demonstrated ability to establish relationships and respond to the needs of people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse backgrounds; as well as people who have a disability.
8. Highly developed verbal and written communication skills, in particular well-developed skills in relating and responding to clients and others contacting the service.

 

Essential

• Must possess (or be eligible for) a working with children check – Positive Notice Blue Card
• Current Open Qld Driver’s Licence
• Eligibility to work in Australia
• Relevant tertiary education