Directions Health Services is an innovative non-profit organisation that has provided specialist alcohol and other drug (AOD) services in the ACT and NSW for more than 40 years. Alongside is one of Directions’ Canberra based programs. Alongside provides non-clinical psychosocial support to clients experiencing co-occurring mental illness, substance use and other comorbidities, who do not have access to NDIS or other capacity building supports.

Directions offers a comprehensive suite of holistic AOD, mental health and primary health services that aim to reduce harms experienced by individuals, families and communities and improve overall health and wellbeing. Our Directions’ team includes Counsellors, Social Workers, a Psychologist, Chemists, GPs, Registered Nurses, and a Psychiatrist. Our capacity to implement innovative services developed in collaboration with our clients, partners, and other stakeholders, enables us to effectively respond to the changing needs of the communities we serve.

At Directions we pride ourselves on our supportive, inclusive, employee and client-centred culture. Our excellent culture has led to our very high staff retention rates and great reputation within the Mental Health and AOD sectors.

About the position

As a Psychosocial Mental Health/Psychosocial Peer Support Worker within our Alongside program, you will provide capacity building, planning, coordination, and liaison services that support clients to achieve their recovery goals. To do this you will work closely with Directions' multidisciplinary teams and external agencies, ensuring clients receive integrated and coordinated care.

This is a full-time fixed term contract position, however part-time hours may be negotiated for the right applicant.

Responsibilities

• Apply a person centred, trauma-informed, recovery-oriented approach to engaging with clients, respecting their right to privacy, independence, and self-determination.
• Work with clients, carers/supports, and other stakeholders to identify their goals and aspirations and create holistic and strength-based individual support plans.

• Provide brief therapeutic and harm minimisation interventions to clients and refer clients to suitable services

• Support clients and their carers/supports to access and maintain engagement with our multi-disciplinary team, including clinical supports, to achieve their individual recovery goals.
• Support clients to establish and maintain meaningful personal and community connections.
• Facilitate self-help and support groups and contribute to the development of our group programs.
• Maintain timely, complete, and appropriate documentation and data collection including assessments, case notes, treatment outcome measures and reports, and the effective handover of information when required.
• Maintain professional standards in relation to service delivery and confidentiality.
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision, and shared care meetings.
• Draw on lived experience, engage clients and provide peer support including guidance, empowerment and coaching to clients to assist heir recovery. (Peer support position)

What we offer

• A flexible and supportive work environment
• Community Service Employee Level 3 role, commensurate with qualifications, skills, and experience
• Generous salary packaging benefits
• 17½% leave loading
• Generous professional development and training opportunities

What we would like you to have

• Cert IV in both Mental Health and AOD
• A qualification or currently studying towards a qualification, in Counselling / Social Work / Psychology / Nursing / another relevant field and experience in AOD or Mental Health service settings is desirable

• An ability to compassionately connect with people from diverse backgrounds with mental health, AOD and other co-occurring issues, and adapt to meet their needs.
• Knowledge about the impact of psychosocial and substance use issues on clients and family members/friends

• Good working knowledge of effective treatment and support options and harm minimisation strategies as well as a willingness to learn about the Stepped Model of Care and Recovery Orientated Approach

• Capacity to work collaboratively.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and proficiency in using Microsoft Windows and client information management systems (CIMS).
• A well organised, self-motivated, and proactive approach to work.
• Thorough understanding of the importance of personal and professional boundaries, ethical behaviour, policies, and procedures.

All appointments will be conditional upon having a Working with Children Check, current First Aid and CPR certification and a satisfactory National Police Check.

For further information about this position please refer to the attached Position Descriptions or contact our HR Team at [email protected] using the subject line: Psychosocial Mental Health Support Worker - Alongside enquiry via EthicalJobs.

A position description is attached.

Directions is passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and we greatly value diversity in our organisation. We actively encourage applicants from all background and cultures. Research shows that women and other marginalised individuals tend to only apply for jobs when they meet 100% of the requirements. If you think you may be a good fit for this position, but don't necessarily meet every requirement, please get in touch. We would love to have a chat and see if you could be a great fit.