ABOUT THE ROLE:

Mercy Mental Health (MMH) is excited to be able to implement a new Transition to Mental Health Practice Program for Occupational Therapists. This has been made possible by funding received from the Department of Health in response to recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System.

This Transition Program is a 12-month program (with ample opportunities to become permanent) targeted towards Occupational Therapists who already have at least 2 years of experience from another field and are interested in moving into mental health. The transition positions give experienced clinicians the opportunity to enter the mental health workforce with structured learning support to build mental health capability. The positions will be supported by clinical educators. The transition positions will be supported by the Learning and Development Team.

The transition program will support transition clinicians to make the transition to clinical mental health within a supportive and welcoming environment, offering:

• An intensive orientation
• Supernumerary days at the beginning of each new rotation
• Structured paid professional study days to cover core knowledge and skill areas
• Individual clinical supervision
• Group supervision/reflective practice
• On-site preceptor/buddy
• Regular one-on-one meetings with a Clinical Educator to review progress

Upon successful completion of the program, clinicians may be entitled to Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) towards a postgraduate course in mental health.

The transition programs will comprise:

• Paid professional study days
• MHPOD pre-reading and assessment tasks (MHPOD is an evidence-based online learning resource for people working in mental health with over 100 hours of material across 68 topics. The content of MHPOD is linked to the National Practice Standards for the Mental Health Workforce)
• Structured Clinical Skill Assessments
• Short supernumerary Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) and Emergency Mental Health (EMH) rotations for exposure to acute community/crisis work

The transition clinicians will be supported by:

• Clinical Nurse Educators
• Social Work Educators
• Occupational Therapy Educators
• Allocated clinical supervisors
• Allocation preceptors/buddies
• Access to interdisciplinary group supervision/reflective practice

We have multiple positions available for Occupational Therapists and Social Workers at:

• Wyndham Clinic (Hoppers Crossing)
• Saltwater Clinic (Footscray)

Both Wyndham Clinic and Saltwater Clinic are community mental health services working with people who experience mental illness and mental health issues, who live within the local government areas of Maribyrnong, Hobson’s Bay and Wyndham. We work within a recovery-based framework providing case management and other evidence based interventions within a supportive team.

• Full-time fixed term 1-year contract (with ample opportunities to become permanent)
• Rapidly growing service with multiple career opportunities

 ABOUT YOU:

• Occupational Therapist: an approved degree in Occupational Therapy and current registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia. Have at least 2 years of experience in any field.
• You have a keen interest in supporting clients with mental health issues
• Current Victorian Driver’s Licence

ABOUT US:

Mercy Mental Health (South West Area Mental Health Service) is a public mental health service supporting people in south west metropolitan Melbourne with severe and complex mental illnesses by providing acute and community-based care. Services are available to adults through acute inpatient programs, residential rehabilitation programs and crisis and community recovery-focused treatment programs. We also deliver inpatient and community specialist perinatal mental health services to women and infants in western Victoria.

Mercy Health is a Catholic organisation grounded in a 2,000-year tradition of caring for others. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, Mercy Health is made up of more than 9,500 people who provide acute and subacute hospital care, aged care, mental health programs, maternity and specialist women's health services, early parenting services, home care services and health worker training and development.

Mercy Health is proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the WGEA.

WHAT WE OFFER:

Mercy Health recognises that people are searching for meaning in their work life and finding a workplace that connects with their values is a key motivation when choosing an employer. As a not-for-profit healthcare provider, Mercy Health has a strong mission and clear values that guide us in everything we do. We pride ourselves on:

• caring for our people and those important to them with generous employee assistance available for employees and their families
• encouraging applications from people of all ages, abilities and cultural backgrounds including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples, and supporting all staff to be their authentic selves at work through our network group for LGBTIQ+ staff and allies
• protecting children and vulnerable people in all our services, by listening to them and having zero tolerance of any form of abuse and neglect
• taking a stand against climate change, which is one of the biggest threats to the health of the world and all humanity, and committing to action that will help make our world fairer and more sustainable

• offering benefits such as generous salary packaging, purchased leave, career progression and development opportunities, access to health and wellbeing programs and a range of discounts across a diverse portfolio of financial, healthcare, travel and other services.

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:

• Candidates are required to meet the position and qualification requirements.
• Provide a current Police Record Check and Working with Children Check (Mercy Health may conduct additional background checks subject to current legislation).
• Proof of vaccination status consistent with public health orders and with Mercy Health’s policy (includes but is not limited to COVID-19 and seasonal influenza vaccination compliance requirement).

If you have any questions or require any adjustments to ensure a fair and equitable interview and selection process please contact us on the details below.

CONTACT DETAILS:

• Adham Hammoud, Allied Health Educator
• Email: [email protected] using the subject line: Occupational Therapist enquiry via EthicalJobs
• Phone: 03 9928 7444
• Yoges Annavee, Clinical Nurse Consultant
• 03 9928 7444