Job Description

• Location: Geelong High School
• Classification: Ed Support Level 1-Range 4
• Job Title: Mental Health Practitioner
• Begin Date: 23 August 2021
• End Date: 10 July 2022
• Regular/Temporary: Fixed Term
• Hours: 0.8 FTE – 30.4 hrs per week
• Job Reference ID#: 1232452

School Profile

Geelong High School is a positive and creative learning community that embraces its history and prepares students for life.

We are committed to:

• Developing caring and respectful relationships;
• Empowering people to realise their potential through effort, responsibility and teamwork;
• Building healthy, resilient and productive global citizens.

Our core value is: RESPECT - Responsibility, Effort, Service, Positivity, Excellence, Creativity, Teamwork.

Geelong High School is a Year 7 - 12 co-educational school located near the centre of Geelong "The City by the Bay", and adjacent to a significant parkland area. Established in 1910, Geelong High School is one of the oldest secondary schools in the region. It has a proud history, celebrating its centenary in 2010, and is held in high regard by the Geelong community.

Current enrolment is approximately 975 students, drawn mainly from the nearby areas of East and South Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and across Geelong.

Role

The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses.

Operating in collaboration with the Department of Education and Training's Area-based multi-disciplinary teams, this role will have the following functions:

• provide direct counselling support and other early intervention services for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health needs;
• coordinate supports for students with critical needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions and other health professionals to engage further support as required; and
• enhance promotion and prevention activities in the school by contributing to whole school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to manage student health and wellbeing, and helping to embed mental health promotion and prevention programs and strategies in the school.

Education Support Class Level 1 Range 4

The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.

As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).

For more information on the responsibilities of an Education support class level 1 range 4 employee, please click here.

Attendance requirement for this position is 30.4 hrs per week, and is in line with normal school terms.

The position reports to the Assistant Principal – Student Wellbeing & Engagement, and the Business Manager.

Responsibilities

1. Deliver professional support service/s in a school/s, including the direct counselling for students with a range of mental health issues, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
2. Plan and implement evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate, and manage the associated risks.
3. Work collaboratively with the school to contribute to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
4. Provide leadership and professional learning to others, such as teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students’ learning and developmental outcomes.
5. Liaise with other Department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide support to students.
6. Maintain professional competence and continued professional learning, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
7. Meet relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information privacy.

Please note:

• The relevant enterprise agreement underpinning this position is the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2017.
• Continued professional learning is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Who May Apply

Required

Applicants must:

• hold a Bachelor qualification or specialist/post graduate qualification where applicable in:
  • Social Work
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Nursing with a mental health specialisation
  • Psychology.

• have demonstrated direct counselling experience.
• have a current Working With Children Check.

For Mental Health Nurse, Psychologist and Occupational Therapists, applicants must hold full registration with the requisite professional body.

For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Desirable

• For Social Work applicants, hold membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
• For Mental Health Nurse applicants, hold a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses
• For Occupational Therapist applicants, hold a Better Access to Mental Health endorsement.
• For Psychology applicants, specialisation in education and/or developmental psychology.

Other Information

All applicants must create a personal profile in Recruitment Online https://schooljobs.eduweb.vic.gov.au and ensure that it is up to date including Working With Children Check information. Applications should also be lodged on Recruitment Online to ensure that notification of outcomes is delivered to a current email address - Click on the Apply Now button and enter the Job ID into the search field.

Applications must include:

1. A specific response to each of the key selection criteria and position details. It is suggested that applicants limit their response to no more than 6 pages.
2. A Resume with a summary of experience and qualifications.
3. The names and contact details of up to three referees who can provide information regarding the applicant in relation to the key selection criteria.

Selection Criteria

SC1 - Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling for a range of mental health issues.

SC2 - Demonstrated experience in planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for clients with complex needs.

SC3 - Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of policies and strategies relating to mental health and wellbeing.

SC4 - Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.

SC5 - Ability to provide leadership and professional learning that informs and influences the work of others involved in the engagement and wellbeing of children and young people.

SC6 - Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.

Contact Name: Anna Rossetto
Phone: 03 5225 4100

School Website: www.geelonghigh.vic.edu.au