POSITION: REPORTS TO: LOCATED: Senior Clinician Early Intervention Youth Psychosis Senior Manager Melbourne CBD DATE: May 2017 ORGANISATIONAL ENVIRONMENT Melbourne City Mission is a leader and innovator in the provision of services to the community. Established in 1854, Melbourne City Mission is a non-denominational organisation that provides assistance to thousands of Victorian people and communities experiencing disadvantage. As a service provider Melbourne City Mission s work is focussed on providing a hand up not a hand out, supporting people to take charge of their own lives and participate fully in community life. Melbourne City Mission s service profile includes: Children, Youth, Adult and Family; Disability; Employment, Education and Training; Homelessness; Justice; and Palliative Care. As a social change agent Melbourne City Mission advocates for social policy change and works across all sectors in seeking to achieve sustainable outcomes for communities experiencing disadvantage. JOB CONTEXT The Homelessness and Justice Division consists of 3 conceptual domains: Intensive Youth Support Supported Accommodation and Justice Youth and Family Frontyard Integrated Youth Services is a specialist youth service, within the Homelessness and Justice Division, providing a range of multidisciplinary programs to meet the holistic needs of young people at risk or experiencing homelessness. Frontyard aims to support young people to meet their physical, emotional and social needs and to develop pathways out of homelessness. Frontyard s integrated services include early intervention, crisis support, health and wellbeing, legal assistance, income support and education, employment and training programs. The Frontyard early intervention youth psychosis model provides recovery-oriented mental health triage and assessment, therapeutic intervention, case management, and support to young people who display psychological distress and may present with challenging, at risk, and suicidal behaviours. The team provides services to young people experiencing homelessness who are aged between 12 up to 25 years, who do not currently meet criteria for specialist mental health services but are identified to be at high risk of experiencing psychosis, concurrent with the ongoing experience of multiple and intersecting adverse life events. The service is designed to be responsive to the mental health needs of young people experiencing homelessness and is flexible, assertive and holistic in its approach. The service supports young people via a trauma informed and a trauma focused approach, reflective of the biopsychosocial
impacts of homelessness on a young person s mental health and wellbeing. Partnerships with other community organisations including Frontyard co located services are central to the approach. The Frontyard Early Intervention Youth Psychosis team is a specialist, multidisciplinary group of Youth Mental Health clinicians operating from Frontyard Youth Services, providing assertive outreach and centre based care throughout the week, including afterhours and weekends. JOB PURPOSE To supervise a team of clinicians and provide recovery-oriented mental health triage and assessment, therapeutic intervention, case management, and support to young people who display psychological distress and may present with challenging, at risk, and suicidal behaviours. The role is responsible for care in four phases: 1. Triage and supported rapid referral to Specialist Mental Health Service 2. Brief Intervention and coordinated referral to specialist Mental Health service 3. Assertive outreach & support medium, therapeutic focus 4. Assertive outreach & support extended, therapeutic focus JOB OBJECTIVES Duties of this role may include but are not limited to the following: Provide a clinical service that is youth-focused, developmentally informed, recovery oriented and collaborative in its approach to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of young people experiencing homelessness. Undertake comprehensive assessment and intensive assertive outreach services to young people who are homeless and identified as ultra-high risk and high risk of experiencing psychosis. Provide advocacy and active, trauma informed service navigation and support to access specialist mental health services for young people identified to be in the early stages of a first episode psychosis or emerging psychosis. Provide mental health interventions for up to 12 months for young people using a phase specific, youth led model of care with an emphasis on assertively supporting the young person through the recovery process. Provide individual and group interventions for young people, their families and/or communities to enhance recovery. Where appropriate, practices should align with family and community inclusive practices, trauma informed practices, and culturally responsive, diversity informed practice. Complete, in a prompt, timely manner, all clinical documentation, screening and assessment tools, and all data collection requirements of the service. Provide education consultation to employees co-located at Frontyard on early psychosis and youth related mental health issues within the context of homelessness. Build and maintain strong relationships with service providers who work with young people in Melbourne and across Victoria. Work in consultation with the Operations Manager to achieve consistency and collaboration in Frontyard operations.
Participate in, and facilitate, meetings, debriefing, supervision, training, and forums. Provide leadership, employee development, and management. Complete regular reporting, information and data collection. Actively participate and initiate quality activities and special projects as required. Ensure services are delivered within the framework of MCM s policies, procedures, and legislative requirements and meet the relevant service standards. Other duties, as directed by the Senior Manager or delegate. Selection criteria KEY RELATIONSHIPS Accountability The position is accountable to the Senior Manager. Internal Relationships The position may have relationships with employees from a range of Melbourne City Mission program areas, dependant on the needs of the people they are supporting. Some examples may include: Staff from the Homelessness and Justice Division Staff from Staff Learning and Development Staff from Human Resources Staff from Properties and Facilities External Relationships The Senior Clinician will actively liaise and network with a number of external service providers, organisations and stakeholders within the community, with the view to providing the most appropriate and effective services and supports to the people we support. KEY SELECTION CRITERIA Essential: You will be an energetic, forward thinking leader who has: Tertiary qualification in an allied health discipline, including social work, psychology (clinical, counselling), mental health nursing, and occupational therapy, with membership with the appropriate professional body. Advanced knowledge and experience in the early identification, assessment, treatment, and delivering a range of psychotherapeutic mental health interventions for young people at significant risk of, or experiencing, a first episode of psychosis. Demonstrate a thorough understanding of principles and application of: o trauma informed practice; o family and community inclusive practice; o early psychosis intervention; o dual diagnosis (or a willingness to undergo specialised training)
o o stress-vulnerability frameworks regarding wellbeing within a social model of health; and, advanced clinical skills in engaging young people (12 up to 25 years) who have experienced adverse life events, including homelessness. Experience working within an acute/crisis intervention model of care, with the demonstrated ability to deliver a range of crisis interventions and management strategies to young people experiencing social and emotional disturbance. Sound, current knowledge of the Mental Health Act, relevant legislation, and current strategic directions of public mental health and primary health care services. Demonstrate excellent interpersonal, communication and negotiation skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in high demand environments. A demonstrated ability to lead, guide, supervise and support employees and students. Ability to use relevant information technology, electronic recording systems and data management tools. Satisfactory completion of safety screening including a current Working with Children s Check, National Police Check, International Police Check (if required), a current Driver Licence and the right to work in Australia. Ability to work flexible hours including weekends and afterhours. An internet enabled mobile phone, for time and attendance if working offsite. Desirable A post graduate qualification in an area relevant to youth homelessness, mental health and/or first episode psychosis. MELBOURNE CITY MISSION CAPABILITIES In addition to the Key Selection Criteria, applicants should be able to demonstrate the following attributes: Quality, safety and risk management are paramount Play by the rules you make no compromises when it comes to quality, safety and risk management. Clients are at the centre of everything you do You help clients reach their goals and get the best possible outcomes by working in partnership. You re always on the lookout for opportunities for improvement. You help make Melbourne City Mission a great place to work You build and maintain relationships with all your colleagues and clients. You re a team player; you actively participate in an encouraging and supportive work environment. You achieve results You re focused on what you need to do and you deliver.
You raise the bar You embrace a culture of learning, growth and development. Communication is key You re clear, know your audience and use a variety of methods to share information. TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF EMPLOYMENT Appointment to this position is subject to the satisfactory completion of a Police Check, International Police Check (if applicable), Working with Children Check, current Victorian Driver s License and the right to work in Australia.