About Access Health and Community

With a history of 150 years and caring at our centre, our mission and commitment is to build healthier lives within our communities and to deliver excellent health and community services for all.  We have a dedicated and experienced team of over 400 employees and 200 volunteers operating across 18 locations. Our people are the centre of everything we do, making a contribution to the wellbeing of the community every day through our work, making a difference every day to those that need it most.

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to join our thriving community health care organisation and work within a truly supportive value based culture and engaged workforce at Access Health and Community. We are seeking a passionate and suitably qualified Mental Health, Alcohol, and Other Drug Intake Clinician to join our enthusiastic and motivated highly skilled Mental Health, Alcohol, and Other Drug Intake team and work with clients to provide assessment, short term counselling and care and recovery.

The Mental Health and AOD Intake Clinician is an important role within the Mental Health and AOD service, providing the first point of contact, engagement and triage for clients seeking to access mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services, including the ‘Steps’ Mental Health Stepped Care service. The Mental Health and AOD Intake Clinician will triage, assess and support clients to access a variety of mental health and/or AOD services within AccessHC, and make external referrals where required. This includes, through a combination of phone, telehealth and face-to-face contacts, assessing their needs and appropriately triaging and actioning the referral. This may include completing an initial needs assessment, conducting risk assessments, providing single sessions /brief interventions, booking an appointment, providing clients with relevant information and referral pathways, or making a referral to another service.

What you will be doing

• Register and triage all mental health and AOD referrals, including Medication Support and Recovery Service (MSRS), Stepped Care/ Head to health, forensic/youth/adult/family AOD referrals, community health counselling, NDIS, My Aged Care and fee-for-service referrals
• Conduct clinical intake with clients (face-to-face or phone) to determine their mental health & AOD needs and appropriate referral pathways using intake and screening tools as required (this may include use of the AUDIT, DUDIT, K10, IAR tool and others)
• Conduct comprehensive clinical assessments with clients which includes assessment of presenting issue, mental state examination, family/relationships, physical health, substance use, mental health, psychosocial support/functioning and goals for treatment
• Provide single sessions and/or brief interventions (either over the phone or face-to-face) with clients presenting with short-term or mild mental health/AOD concerns
• Book appointments with appropriate mental health & AOD clinicians
• Answer the Duty phone when rostered on
• Conduct clinical risk assessments (including suicide risk assessments) and implement risk management plans where appropriate
• Inform clients, families and others of both internal and external referral pathways to support clients and key stakeholders

What you will bring

Key Selection Criteria

Relevant mental health qualifications (such as social work, counselling, alcohol and other drugs, nursing or similar field) and equivalent work experience with a minimum 2 years’ experience working with clients in mental health, AOD or related fields

• Excellent understanding of mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services and referral pathways, with particular focus on the Eastern Region
• Experience and/or training in conducting clinical risk assessments and implementing risk management plans with clients
• The ability to produce and maintain high level clinical documents, reports
• Proficiency with electronic health record systems (such as TrakCare,) and Microsoft Office programs (Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint and databases

Attributes

• Possess a warm, empathic and professional therapeutic style
• Ability to work independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team
• Ability to work autonomously, make decisions, organize workload, set priorities and meet   deadlines
• Willingness to expand your current skillset to meet the needs of the service
• The ability to work respectfully and creatively with diverse populations, including Indigenous Australians, LGBTIQ and CALD communities
• Demonstrated behaviours consistent with AccessHC values

Access Health and Community Culture & Benefits

At Access Health and Community, we offer more than just a fulfilling career: – we provide an environment where you can thrive in a culture of collaboration and support. Our team members share a common commitment and passion to make a positive impact, and we believe that this shared ethos creates a range of benefits for all who work with us. From opportunities for personal and professional growth to a sense of purpose and belonging, our culture promotes an environment of success and fulfilment. Come join us and experience the rewards of a career where you truly make a difference.

The position encompasses an extensive range of benefits that are on offer:

• A truly supportive and valued based culture and engaged workforce
• A culture of trust and empowerment for people to grow and thrive
• Commitment to a work-life balance with flexible working conditions
• An authentic focus on staff wellbeing and health- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• A commitment to ongoing professional Development and career growth
• Paid parental leave and opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Annual leave Loading
• A truly supportive and valued based culture and engaged workforce
• A culture of trust and empowerment for people to grow and thrive
• Commitment to a work-life balance with flexible working conditions
• Generous salary packaging opportunities(up to $15,990 per annum + $2,650 meals/entertainment expenses)
• A commitment to ongoing professional development and career growth

Read about our culture and benefits: https://accesshc.org.au/culture-and-benefits

Apply Now

If this position resonates with you and you are passionate about working alongside a collaborative and supportive team, please forward your resume and a cover letter addressing the key selection criteria.  Please refer to the position description on our website for the key selection criteria information: https://accesshc.org.au/careers/

Please reach out to for further information and/or the opportunity to discuss this role. Please contact Manager, Mental Health & AOD Intake, Anna Hutchison: [email protected]

Apply now so you do not miss this opportunity, as we will be assessing applications as they are submitted and may appointment prior to end of application date.

Applications close date:  9th October, 2023

Access Health and Community is a Child Safe Organisation that values inclusivity and diversity. We encourage applications form people with disabilities, those with mental health and/or AOD recovery experience, and those with diverse genders and sexualities.

At AccessHC, our vision for reconciliation is an Australia where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience equitable health and social outcomes. Our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) will contribute to achieving reconciliation. We will seek an understanding of and acknowledging histories and injustices, support the active expression of culture, build strong, trusting relationships, and apply culturally appropriate practices within our work.

We will work in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to create a welcoming and safe place for everyone at our services. Access Health and Community acknowledges the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung people, who are the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work and we pay our respects to Wurundjeri Elders past, present, and future, and extend that respect to other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We acknowledge that sovereignty was never ceded.

As a vaccine positive organisation, we encourage COVID-19 vaccinations and offer disability services, requiring successful applicants to undergo a NDIS Workers Screening Check, Working With Children Check, Police Check and potentially an International Check.