• 2 Full Time Ongoing opportunities for Social Workers Grade 2
• Located at Erskine Unit, Ballert Yeram-boo-ee , Forensic Mental Health services Ravenhall Correctional Centre
• Investment in a career for life

A career in the forensic mental health sector is diverse, challenging and rewarding. A career at Forensicare will be like no other. If you’re passionate about supporting people in their mental health recovery, Forensicare is where you need to be. You will be a part of a caring and supportive team, making a real difference to people living with the dual stigma of mental illness and offending. We approach our work with curiosity and a commitment to understanding the unique needs of our consumers and carers. Working across community, hospital and prison settings, you can learn, apply your specialist skills and advance in your profession. Together, we can contribute to a more connected, compassionate mental health and criminal justice system.

Job location

Forensicare is the statutory agency responsible for the provision of adult forensic mental health services across Victoria. 

Position based at Ravenhall: Completed in 2017, the new medium-security men’s prison is located at Ravenhall Correctional Centre in Melbourne’s west, providing world-class forensic mental health services in Victoria in a purpose-built state of the art facility developed to international best practice standards.

About the Role:

• Social Workers are responsible for the ongoing development and planning of social work services to achieve and maintain a high standard of consumer care, recognising the needs of both individuals and families, within the boundaries set by professional standards, legislative requirements, organisational policies, practices and directives.
• Social Workers are equired to complete psychosocial assessments and interventions, as well as educate and consult with members of the multidisciplinary team regarding social and systemic issues, advocating for consumers’ rights and entitlements.
• Social Workers use evidence-based models to support family systems and bring about therapeutic change, applying strength-based and recovery-orientated approaches to fostering relationships with relevant agencies and team members.

Duties:

• Demonstrate highly developed skills when undertaking social work assessments of patients within a multi-disciplinary corrections setting.
• Formulate and document client focused care coordination plans, with emphasis on more complex management issues.
• Demonstrate skills in the appropriate assessment of patient discharge/release needs, and matching these with relevant services for the effective preparation and ongoing support of patients re-entering the community.
• Demonstrate an ability and commitment to negotiate and implement a care plan with patients and colleagues and to direct and complete appropriate social work services to a high quality in the various settings within Forensicare.
• Undertake structured family assessments, examining support structures and need for psycho or legal education and referral to specific community-based services.
• Demonstrate initiative in the delivery of social work services including an ability to plan psychosocial interventions, and an ability to operate independently in relation to routine and limited non-routine tasks.

About You:

• A demonstrated commitment to forensic mental health consumer recovery
• At least two years’ experience in direct social work practice and / or leadership positions
• Demonstrated ability to manage team dynamics within a complex work environment
• Experience or confidence in crisis management and in defusing difficult situations
• Ability to undertake comprehensive social work assessments and to plan, implement and evaluate social work interventions for mentally ill people within a complex service environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to advocacy and social justice within the provision of social work services.
• Well developed skills and abilities in individual, group and family work.
• Well developed written and verbal communication skills

What you need:

• Approved degree in Social Work and eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.

 This position is subject to a Police Check.

A culture where people matter.

• Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of managers and supervisors.
• Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
• A leading, multi-faceted approach to safety, with unparalleled strategic, practical, individualised and team-based supports to minimise risks and fear and maximise safety and security, underpinned by our workplace health and safety strategy.
• Access to an employee assistance program – an external, confidential, self-referral employee wellbeing program, for personal or work-related matters.
• A mental health and wellbeing program providing psychological support, peer support and critical incidence response programs, as needed.

For more information on employee benefits visit https://www.forensicare.vic.gov.au/careers/employee-benefits [link removed]  

COVID19 & Influenza Vaccination Evidence

Under the Victorian Public Health orders, all employees working within the Public Health system must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza and are required to provide acceptable evidence of their vaccination status. The current orders require evidence of three doses for COVID-19.
All applicants to positions with Forensicare will need to upload acceptable evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19 and Influenza as part of their job application. Acceptable evidence is a copy of your Immunisation History Statement which can be accessed via MyGov. For international candidates, acceptable evidence is documentation issued by the relevant government authority. Offers of employment will only be made to candidates who can provide evidence that they meet full vaccination status.

Current Forensicare employees should apply through eRecruit using an account which is linked to their Forensicare email address and should contact People and Culture if they are unable to access their Forensicare eRecruit account.

Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and developing a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTQI, people with a lived experience of disability, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Forensicare promotes our guiding principles of curiosity, purpose, strong ethics, compassion and fairness; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.