As a Mental Health Practitioner, you will play a vital role in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students, staff, and community. The school is committed to enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities.
Key Responsibilities:
- Implement group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities to improve student mental health and wellbeing.
- Develop and implement processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion, and early intervention.
- Assess, conceptualise, and analyse wellbeing issues, providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs.
- Coordinate supports for young people with complex needs, including referrals to specialist services as appropriate.
- Utilise highly developed communication, networking, and interpersonal skills to liaise effectively with a wide range of people, including families, other professionals, and agencies.
Role Overview:
The Mental Health Practitioners initiative aims to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. This role requires a suitably qualified mental health professional to contribute to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, build capability of teaching staff, and develop and deliver programs and strategies in the school.
- Enhance mental health prevention and promotion activities through collaboration with Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch.
- Provide early intervention services, including short-term counselling, for individual students and groups identified as at-risk.
Requirements:
- Be an experienced professional who can carry out duties and responsibilities with high autonomy and minimal reliance on professional supervision.
- Have strong guidance and support skills to assist other professional staff in developing and implementing professional support programs.
This role supports educational services provided to students but does not include teaching duties defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).
Professional Requirements:
- Provide advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and school wellbeing staff, to improve student wellbeing, learning, and developmental outcomes.
- Plan and implement evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs.
- Work collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion, contributing to policies and operational practices that guide the work of others.
- Liaise with department areas and external service providers to provide appropriate support to students.
- Maintain professional competence and continued professional development throughout the year.