Directions Health Services, an innovative non-profit organisation that has been providing specialist alcohol and other drug (AOD) and co-occurring services in the ACT and NSW for more than 40 years. Today we at Directions offer 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. 

Moruya Head to Health is a collaboration between Directions, Grand Pacific Health, Katungul Aboriginal Corporation and The Family Place. The Mental Health & AOD Clinician will work closely with these partners in delivering the service to the community.

Head to Health provides a safe and welcoming place for adults who may be in distress or need help finding the right mental health service. The service takes a holistic and collaborative approach to care with a focus on a broad range of social, physical, and emotional needs. Staffed by a multidisciplinary mental health team who provide immediate, short to medium-term support and service navigation.

About the position

This role can either be full-time or part-time. As the Mental Health & AOD Clinician at Moruya Head to Health you will provide high quality, evidence-based treatment, information, and support to people needing mental health and AOD support and for vulnerable and hard to reach communities. The service is open to people of any age who may be experiencing challenges managing their mental wellbeing or may be experiencing psychological distress.  Support is also available to the individuals’ families, carers, or natural supports.

Responsibilities

• Apply a ‘no wrong door’ philosophy and employ a whole of agency approach to service delivery
• Work within a multidisciplinary team to provide coordinated care to support people to achieve their goals, including organising and/or participating in multidisciplinary care reviews and reflections
• Work with clients, utilising a stepped model of care, to provide holistic assessment, counselling, opioid dependence support, intensive case management, referral, harm minimisation education, support and group facilitation for clients and family members impacted by mental health, drug and alcohol use and other co-occurring issues
• In collaboration with the client, identify goals and develop individual support plans
• Working with Directions colleagues and key stakeholders, support the provision of withdrawal services, and access to primary health care, mental health intervention and residential treatment, according to client needs and goals
• Develop and refine OPD in collaboration with Team Leaders and colleagues, to best address clients’ needs and meet required standards 
• Provide culturally responsive services to clients, families and communities impacted by substance use
• Build relationships with AOD, mental health services, primary health services and other health and community, emergency, and justice related services service providers, and work collaboratively to ensure effective coordination and continuity of care for clients
• Undertake routine outcomes measurement as per service protocols in collaboration with clients and ensure accurate and timely collection of all required data
• Ensure documentation is up to date and of an appropriate standard, including client case notes, reports, and other written communication, and ensure effective handover of information when required
• Seek to enhance or maintain skills and expertise through training and professional development (including exposure to groups and clinical practices and self-directed learning to enhance AOD treatment), line management, and performance reviews 
• Maintain professional standards in relation to service delivery and confidentiality
• Work in accordance with Directions’ health and safety guidelines and contribute and adhere to continuous quality improvement and safety initiatives and frameworks
• Participate in staff meetings, supervision and shared care meetings
• Maintain professional standards in relation to service provision, client files, support letters and reports
• Engage in evaluation of own performance, including supervision, line management and the Annual Performance Review process.
• Promote a culture of continuous quality improvement

What we offer

• A flexible and supportive work environment
• Community Service Employee Level 4 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

• Qualification in Counselling/Social Work/Psychology/Nursing/another relevant field 
• Cert IV in Alcohol and Other Drug Work and Mental Health, or willingness to obtain
• Experience in health and community services working with people with complex, co-occurring needs 
• Preferable: clinical registration with relevant peak body e.g. ASWA, APS, PACFA, ACA
• Well-developed understanding of the impact of mental health, alcohol and other drug use and the associated issues this client group may experience, including physical and mental health and other cooccurring needs
• Good working knowledge of contemporary mental health care and ability to adapt to meet the needs of people from diverse backgrounds
• Good working knowledge of evidence-based treatment for AOD and co-occurring issues, harm minimisation, case management and support strategies
• Demonstrated capacity to work with clients using a trauma-informed and person-centred approach within a recovery orientated framework
• Understanding of principles and impact of the social determinants of health on vulnerable peoples
• Excellent interpersonal skills with the ability to support people when presenting in distress
• Ability to use Client Information Management system and associated software
• Demonstrated ability to develop collaborative working relationships with other programs, partners, and external agencies
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and ability to work competently in a cross-cultural environment
• Well organised, self-motivated, and proactive
• 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 Position Description located at https://static.ethicaljobs.com.au/media/1701301811_9tqyk_.pdf (this is not a hyperlink, please copy and paste the url into the url bar on your browser). To have a discussion about this role contact Jacinta Ryan on [email protected] 

How to apply

Applications can be submitted through SEEK and include a current CV and cover letter outlining your suitability for the position.

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.