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Family & Carer Peer Worker

Forensicare
  • Part time ongoing
  • Based in Prisons
  • Great salary packaging conditions and leave entitlements
  • Free onsite parking

Ravenhall Correctional Centre

Forensicare is the statutory agency responsible for the provision of adult forensic mental health services across Victoria. Completed in 2017, the new medium-security men's prison is located in Ravenhall Correctional Centre in 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.

Port Phillip Prison

Forensicare is the statutory agency responsible for the provision of adult forensic mental health services across Victoria, including specialist Forensic Mental Health (FMH) Services at Port Phillip Prison in St Paul's Unit. St Paul’s Unit is a 30-bed psychosocial rehabilitation service that provides specialist, voluntary mental health care, treatment and therapeutic programs to prisoners with a diagnosed mental illness. Participants selected for the program require psychosocial rehabilitation to minimise risk of relapse and enhance their social functioning in preparation for returning to general prison environment or release to community.

About the role:

The Family & Carer Peer Worker draws upon their lived experience to encourage an environment of sharing and support founded on the principles of respect, shared responsibility and mutual agreement of what is helpful to identify and meet the needs of each family/carer.

The position will provide education and information on family/carer experiences, needs and support to mental health staff, community groups and other relevant services as required and upholds the dignity and rights of families, carers and consumers while respecting privacy and confidentiality at all times.

Duties:

  • Use lived experience to advocate on an individual and systemic basis, as required.
  • Assist families, carers and significant others to emphasise and maximise their options and choices.
  • Develop and maintain relationships with relevant external stakeholders and service providers. Gather information that facilitates the provision of information and support to families/carers and make referrals where appropriate.
  • Inform family and significant others about support groups, family and friends psychoeducation sessions, counselling services, carer respite services, carer support brokerage funds and education programs as appropriate.
  • Contribute to the enhancement of Forensicare’s sensitivity to the needs of all consumers, carers/families/significant others, with particular emphasis on those from culturally and linguistically diverse groups.
  • Work collaboratively with staff to develop a coordinated approach to the needs of carers and families.

Skills and experience:

  • Direct personal experience as a family member or carer of a person with a mental illness.
  • Broad understanding of the differing perspectives of the impact of mental illness on families/carers and the consumer.
  • Good knowledge of the mental health service system and issues that family and other carers face.
  • An understanding of the diversity of the cultural and linguistic backgrounds of our community, and the impact this has on consumers' and carers' experiences of mental illness.

This position is subject to a Police Check.

Benefits:

We value our staff and provide a range of employee benefits including:

  • Great salary packaging conditions.
  • Excellent leave entitlements.
  • Post-graduate scholarship programs.
  • Ongoing training and full orientation.
  • Comprehensive Health and Wellbeing Programs including Employee Assistance Programs.

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 the following values: responsiveness, integrity, impartiality, accountability, respect and leadership; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.

How to apply

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