• Full time, Fixed-Term 12 month contract / OT3
• Based at Ravenhall Correctional Centre
• Diverse and supportive environments

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.

Job location

Forensicare is the statutory agency responsible for the provision of adult forensic mental health services across Victoria. Completed in 2017, Ravenhall Correctional Centre is a medium-security men's prison is located Melbourne's west, providing world-class forensic mental health services in Victoria in a purpose-built state of the art facility developed to international best practice standards.

About the Role:

Working within a supportive occupational therapy team at Ravenhall Correctional Centre, the Senior Occupational Therapist plans, implements, evaluates, and documents Occupational Therapy assessment and treatment on the Moroka unit. The multidisciplinary Moroka program provides psychologically-informed clinical forensic mental health assessment and intervention for prisoners with repetitive and entrenched complex and challenging behaviours related to mental illness, predominantly personality disorder. You can learn more about the program here. Program-specific training will be provided to the successful applicant.

In addition to unit-based work, the Senior OT will provide high level consultation and advice on complex matters for prisoners that meet Moroka criteria across the wider correctional system. The position will promote the benefits of participation and performance in meaningful occupations as essential to the whole of health with internal and external stakeholders as required.

Duties:

• Assess, interpret, and intervene with patients to improve occupational performance through assessing and identifying individual needs
• Participate in the treatment of patients through group work and individual treatment grounded in Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) principles
• Work with individuals to minimise the presence of occupational risk factors and the need for restrictive interventions
• Provide support and supervision to members of the occupational therapy team

About You:

• Demonstrated commitment to mental health consumer recovery
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Commitment to working in a manner consistent with the OT Australia – Australian Association of Occupational Therapists Code of Ethics
• Experience or interest in working with individuals with personality disorder and/or within a DBT framework

What you need:

• 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.

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.