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Mental Health Advice & Response Service Clinician - Magistrates Court

Forensicare
  • Senior Mental Health Clinician RPN4, SW3, OT3, P3
  • Court Based Mental Health Service
  • Full time Fixed-Term 10 month Opportunity
  • Based - Combination of onsite Magistrates Court of Victoria venue/s, & remote work from home
  • Great salary packaging conditions and leave entitlements

Forensicare is the statutory agency responsible for the provision of adult forensic mental health services across Victoria. The Mental Health Advice and Response Service (MHARS) operates in eight metropolitan courts: Melbourne, Broadmeadows, Ringwood, Heidelberg, Dandenong, Frankston, Moorabbin and Sunshine. MHARS provides clinical mental health advice within the court to reduce delays in proceedings and remands, and to improve the appropriateness of mental health interventions and referrals for people appearing before the court. The program enables clinical services to intervene early in the criminal justice process by identifying where individuals charged with an offence and appearing before the court have a mental illness, and by providing timely advice and linkage with treatment providers. Where needed, immediate psychiatric intervention is provided and referral made to appropriate mental health services. Priority is given to providing immediate responses to those presenting to the court who are acutely mentally unwell.

Specialist clinical mental health advice is provided to Magistrates, Community Correctional Services (CCS) and court users to ensure effective assessment, treatment and management, and that court processes are applied, while accounting for community safety and the mental health needs of the individual. Advice is provided:

The program also supports the court to understand mental health. It does this through consultation and education to CCS, Magistrates and users of the court on mental health services and mental health issues

About the role:

The MHARS Clinician will be responsible for delivering the mental health services to individuals appearing before the Magistrates Court of Victoria (MCV). The position is full time Monday-Friday.

As a MHARS senior mental health clinician you will be required to screen, assess and prepare psychiatric reports for the Court and Community Corrections as well as providing advice and consultation regarding mental health referral and treatment options for clients appearing before the court to inform decision making.

Functions

  • Provide mental state assessments and court reports to support informed judicial decisions to reduce delays in court proceedings and remands
  • Provide advice on diverting clients from the judicial system (if possible) through mental health legislation
  • Establish links to mental health providers for court users as required
  • Refer people to appropriate services for further testing and treatment if necessary (as listed under the Mental Health Act 2014)
  • Liaise with public and private service providers, facilitating streamlined inter-agency collaboration
  • Screen and assess people being considered for a community-based order who may not have a documented or self-reported mental illness

We can also provide education and training on mental illness and the mental health system—as well as related legislation—for court users and staff.

About you:

  • A Tertiary Degree level qualification in appropriate Health Sciences; Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Psychiatric Nursing or Social Work.
  • Demonstrated experience in mental health within complex service delivery environments including 5 years post registration experience in acute or community psychiatry.
  • Demonstrated knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act 2014, The Sentencing Act 1991, and the Crimes (Mental Impairment and Unfitness to be Tried) Act 1997.
  • An understanding of the interface between mental illness and offending behaviour.

Mandatory qualifications & registrations:

Nursing

  • Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Nursing or equivalent
  • Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency (AHPRA)

Psychology

  • Masters or Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from an APS accredited course or equivalent, OR Doctorate degree in Forensic Psychology from an APS accredited course or equivalent.
  • Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency (AHPRA)
  • The successful candidate will be required to register their qualifications on eCredential

Occupational Therapy

  • Approved degree in Occupational Therapy recognised for membership of OT 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

Social Work

  • Approved degree in Social Work and eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

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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