- Full time position
- First Nations People, LGBTIQ+ people, people with
disability, people of colour, public housing residents or people with a lived
experience are encouraged to apply - DSS is committed to child safety and strictly adheres to the
Reportable Conduct Scheme for organisations. The safeguarding and wellbeing of
our clients is our core focus. All staff must undergo thorough recruitment
process including screening and providing evidence of current Working With
Children Check and National Police Check.
About the role
Drummond Street Services (DS) is working in partnership with
Neami National and Uniting to establish a Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
(MH&WS) in the Latrobe region. The Service is an innovative solution to
deliver on the compelling vision outlined through the recommendations of the
Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. Offering a ‘no wrong
door’ approach, the service will support members of the community to be
connected to the right support, providing a holistic approach to care,
addressing a range of social, physical, and emotional needs. The service will
have a strong focus on lived experience and will support a high engagement,
multi-disciplinary team model.
Peer Support Workers deliver high quality services to
consumers experiencing mental health challenges presenting to the Local Mental
Health & Wellbeing Service. Peer Support workers draw on their lived
experience of recovery from mental illness, mental health crisis or caring for
someone living with a mental illness to instill confidence and hope in others about
the journey of recovery. You must identify as LGBTIQA+ and have a lived
experience of your own mental illness/caring role, and a rich understanding of the
processes of recovery.
You must be willing to purposefully use your own story to
help others further their own understanding of recovery and work alongside a
multi-disciplinary team. Peer Support
Workers will support a high engagement model of care, through actively greeting
and supporting consumers throughout their time at the Local Mental Health &
Wellbeing Service. Peer Support Workers are an important element of the team
approach and bring the wisdom of experience to many aspects of service delivery
including intake interviews, service promotion, partnership work and case reviews.
Your responsibilities
- Engage LGBTIQA+ consumers and develop trusting and
professional relationships that respect worker/consumer boundaries - Seek to learn about the consumers’ interests, their connections
with family and friends, and work with the consumer in building their capacity
to be part of their community - Provide emotional support to consumers by constructively applying
lessons learnt through your own lived experience - Provide support through a range of means, including the provision
of outreach and centre-based activities. - Draw upon your understanding and belief in strength based, recovery
orientated models of service - Provide opportunities to discuss problem solving strategies,
reflecting on helpful and unhelpful behaviours - Provide social validation support by giving consumers feedback
about their social interaction - Actively contribute as a team member to the delivery of an
integrated mental health service delivery with the aim to more effectively
support consumers and promote the recovery model.
About you
- A lived experience and understanding of the impact of mental
health issues on health and wellbeing - Demonstrated capacity to work creatively, show initiative,
contribute ideas and be active in a supportive team environment in an agency
working to support individual and family relationships - Cultural and diversity humility
- Identify as belonging to LGBTIQA+ communities, as well as
other communities with whom DS assertively engages
Selection Criteria, all of the following must be addressed in your application
to be considered.
Essential
- Mental Health Qualification such as Certificate IV level or
above, or commitment to complete such a qualification within 2 years of your
commencement of employment. Support may be provided to complete this qualification. - A strong personal/professional support network that promotes
resilience - Involved and actively participating in the local community
- A commitment to and/or experience in working with people
from LGBTIQ+ communities - An interest in or demonstrated experience in running group
programs - Demonstrated understanding of the needs, issues and
sensitivities of people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal, LGBTIQ
and culturally and linguistically diverse people and communities - Victorian driver’s license
Application process
- Applications close at midnight on Sunday 27th November 2022
- All applications will be directed to our careers portal – LGBTIQA+
Mental Health & Wellbeing Peer Support Worker – Latrobe - All applicants must include a resume with a cover letter
addressing all the key selection criteria for the position
Please contact Paula Fernandez Arias on 03 9663 6733 or [email protected] to discuss
your application.