ABOUT PANDA - PERINATAL ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION AUSTRALIA

We are a not for profit organisation who has spent 35 years supporting individuals and families affected by perinatal mental illness, including anxiety and depression, and postnatal psychosis through Australia’s only national Perinatal Mental Health Helpline.

PANDA grew from a small community-based organisation, founded by a group of women who had first-hand experience in what it was like to struggle with postnatal depression and wanted to assist other women with the same experience.

Our vision is society where perinatal mental health is valued and understood and where stigma and systemic barriers to seeking help no longer exist.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We are seeking a committed Lead Support Practitioners with a passion for meaningful work who can enable our Helpline team to provide the highest quality of support to our service users.

We offer the opportunity to join our inclusive, supportive and friendly team, working in a rich learning environment among experts, both peer and clinical, in the field of perinatal mental health.

There are two positions available across a total of 1FTE.

Hours per week to be negotiated. PANDA’s operating hours of 9am -7.30pm Monday to Friday, with the flexibility to work from home.

Hours of work may be varied temporarily or permanently due to operational requirements, funding agreements and or/or service delivery demands

Please refer to the position description for detailed information on the selection criteria, skills and experience required and responsibilities.

This position is paid at Level 6, pay point 3 of the SCHADS award.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Essential

• Own lived or living experience of mental illness with commitment to and understanding of the importance of lived experience/peer support working in partnership within perinatal mental health care.

Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

• Minimum Certificate IV in Mental Health, Community Services or Social Science and/or at least 2 years' experience in a designated lived experience role.
• Experience leading peer service delivery teams, ideally in a digital environment.
• Demonstrated understanding of data-driven performance and quality outcomes in planning, implementation and reporting.
• An understanding or experience of not-for-profit operations including complex funding streams and related structures.
• Sound understanding of practice governance and risk management and mitigation.
• A strong understanding of mental health terminologies, service systems, frameworks, legislation and practice standards.
• An understanding of, or experience in, mental health accreditation and meeting relevant standards and related accountabilities.

Skills

• Communication: Excellent written and oral communication skills. Able to present information clearly, consistently, and concisely and respectfully.
• Organisation, planning and decision making: The ability to gather information from a variety of sources; identify, define, and analyse situations and anticipate potential roadblocks. The ability to generate solutions to problems based on sound judgement and awareness of the potential implications of these solutions. Manages own time effectively and ensures the timely delivery of activities.
• Data and digital capability: strong computer skills with ability to learn and apply new systems quickly, including use of different databases, software and platforms in delivering care and capturing data. Strong administrative skills and computer literacy (particularly use of Excel and other MS Office products).
• Leadership: The ability to inspire and motivate the team. Able to delegate and lead with trust, promoting self-responsibility and autonomy. Enabling the team to develop and strengthen specific knowledge and skills. Ability to role model openness in receiving and providing positive and constructive feedback.
• Teamwork: The ability to collaborate and work effectively with colleagues, respecting diverse perspectives, skills, and background. Promotes collaborative work across teams.
• Interpersonal Relations: Strong ability to build and maintain stakeholder relationships. Ability to negotiate and manage conflict with fairness and respect as they arise.
• Person-centred: The ability to identify and effectively and efficiently respond to the needs of the community in service delivery and development. Commitment to supporting diversity and cultural awareness and competence in service provision with culturally and linguistically diverse, refugee and asylum seeker, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and LGBTQI+ communities. An understanding of clients’ rights and responsibilities, health promotion and community participation concepts and the ability to integrate these concepts into action

Desirable

• Experience with the National Standards for Mental Health Services 2010 (NSMHS)
• Experience in perinatal mental health care
• Experience with the Initial Assessment and Referral for mental healthcare and the associated Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST)
• Experience using cloud-based VoIP systems for the delivery of mental health care

A full copy of the Position Description can be found attached below.

WHY PANDA

• This position is paid in line with SCHADS Award, Level 6
• Generous Not-For-Profit Salary Packaging available
• 17.5% annual leave loading
• Flexible working arrangements
• Access to Professional Development and Supervision
• Access to Employee Assistance Program

EQUITY AND DIVERSITY

Equity and diversity are integral to PANDA and we are continually working towards attracting and retaining a diverse workforce that represents and supports the communities we serve.

We strongly encourage applications Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples, people of culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, dads, young parents, people from regional and rural communities, people with disabilities, and people who identify as LGBTIQA+.