Community Engagement Officer located at headspace Collingwood

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1 Position Description Community Engagement Officer Vision: Mission: Values: Position & location: YSAS vision is for vulnerable young people to achieve optimal health and well-being through community and Government action that ensures maximum social and economic participation. YSAS Mission is to engage, support and strengthen vulnerable young people affected by drug and alcohol use, mental illness and social disconnection in order to improve their health, wellbeing and participation in the community. At YSAS our values are enacted through our commitment to social justice and human rights, acceptance, integrity and authenticity, harm reduction, empowerment, learning and evolving. Community Engagement Officer located at headspace Collingwood Period: Full Time (1.0 EFT / 38 Hours per week), fixed term 3 months contract to 30 th June Remuneration: Responsible to: Direct reports: Key responsibilities: Position Objective: Salary $30.94 per hour (SCHADS Level 5.3) plus 9.5% super and attractive salary packaging Manager headspace Collingwood. Nil. This position will be responsible for coordinating and delivering community awareness raising activities in the local area. With a focus on promoting early help seeking, the role will provide mental health and service promotion, program development & evaluation, and the provision of time limited clinical care to young people whilst ensuring quality & compliance. Community engagement is an integral part of the headspace Collingwood service model. As a member of a multidisciplinary team, this role is critical in increasing mental health literacy among young people, facilitating access to services at headspace Collingwood, reducing stigma and discrimination associated with help seeking for mental health and alcohol and other drug problems and creating partnerships with local organisations, schools and other community members. 1

2 Organisational Overview/ Position context: The headspace Collingwood model brings together key organisations experienced in the delivery of primary care, mental health, alcohol and drug services, social welfare and vocational education for young people. The headspace Collingwood consortium comprises membership from Austin Health, Jesuit Social Services, The Melbourne Clinic, Inner East Melbourne Medicare Local, Inner North West Melbourne Medicare Local, Mental Illness Fellowship, Mind Australia, North Richmond Community Health and St Vincent s Hospital (Melbourne) Ltd. This strategic alliance has established a community of collaborative youth services improving access for young people aged years at risk of or suffering from mental health, alcohol and drug or other issues. headspace Collingwood is co-located with the YSAS Youth Support Service (early intervention police diversion program) and a range of other services and private practitioners (allied health professionals and GP s) as well as consortium members who provide in-reach sessions. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Service Development, Promotion & Evaluation Develop, implement, monitor and review a Community Awareness/ Health Promotion Plan that will allow headspace Collingwood to meet its strategic direction and workplan; Increase mental health literacy among young people, their friends and families and the broader community; Annual community awareness plan developed and endorsed by management and consortium. Community awareness plan routinely revised to meet the needs of the community; Increase awareness of headspace Collingwood among young people (12-25 years) by participating in a wide range of community engagement activities in the community; Develop and maintain positive, sustainable stakeholder relationships with external services to meet the needs of the cohort; Implement innovative group work and activities which promote early help seeking and/or facilitate engagement with the centre; Facilitate new and innovative processes with local communities and groups to build upon community strengths and assets. Identify priority community issues and develop whole of community responses to the priority issues identified within the headspace Collingwood strategic direction and workplan; Prepare grant submissions, organise events and conduct other fundraising strategies designed to generate additional funding streams and programs in line with the Facilitate opportunities for young people to be active, empowered participants in the headspace Collingwood, both in community awareness strategies and in service design and delivery including workshops, groups and events; Participation in key network and partnership meetings as determined by the workplan; Work within schools, with welfare teams and relevant teachers to develop and provide increased 2

3 headspace Collingwood philosophy; Reduce the stigma and discrimination associated with help seeking for mental health, alcohol or other drug problems or other issues by advocating on behalf of young people with other workers, schools and employers as required. Provide leadership & support to the headspace Collingwood Youth Advisory Committee in accordance to their Terms of Reference. support to students; Complete reports, group proposals and submissions for community grants relevant to community engagement; Facilitation of weekly group work including, demonstrating welldeveloped group work skills and demonstrated experience in training processes; Participate in fortnightly Community Engagement meetings to ensure cohesive responses to community demand; Assist and coordinate Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) meetings (monthly) and activities (as required). Direct Services Activities Provide support and information to young people about Mental Health which is consistent with an evidence based practice and best practice model; Where appropriate, delivery of brief intervention psycho-education packages for young people with high prevalence disorders; Knowledge of risk and resilience factors in relation to the mental health and emotional well-being of young people including social inclusion, transitions, bullying etc.; Understanding of and ability to make use of a variety of interventions with young people and their families in a variety of ways, e.g. behavioural programmes, anxiety management programmes, cognitive therapy; setting up and running parenting programmes; basic counselling skills; brief psychotherapy; solution focused approaches, etc Actively engage young people, in order to facilitate access to appropriate services (e.g. two-way communication, motivational work to keep them engaged); Develop knowledge of local agencies for young people what is provided and how, to access the services within a 3 month period; Actively monitor young people in partnership with key workers, providing follow up if nonattendance to scheduled appointments or to 3

4 Advocate on behalf of young people as needed; Provide one to one support in various settings (school, & other agencies) to young people who are at risk of developing mental health problems. provide follow up to support implementation of care plan goals and objectives as required; Assessment of risk and resilience in young people as required; Identify and engage young people from vulnerable groups, ensuring the promotion of social inclusion in accordance with headspace Collingwood workplan. Quality & Compliance Commit to ongoing personal and professional development through active participation in supervision and professional development plans; Commit to ensuring a healthy and respectful workplace and team culture; Willingness to continue to develop own clinical knowledge, skills and understanding; Work within the bounds of relevant legislation/regulations (e.g. Privacy, Fair Work, OHS, etc.) and relevant professional codes; Adhere to all headspace Collingwood and YSAS policies and procedures including the Code of Conduct, Confidentiality Agreement, EEO policy and Clinical practice guidelines; Assist in maintaining contemporary practice standards, systems and processes; Actively participate in our ongoing quality improvement activities and assist in maintaining contemporary practice standards, systems and processes; Work within the headspace framework of early intervention, destigmatisation, diversity, inclusion, and non-discrimination. Prepare for and actively participate in fortnightly supervision with the Community Engagement Lead; Attend fortnightly team meetings and professional development opportunities; Assist others within the team where indicated including covering aspects of other roles i.e. reception; Identify knowledge gaps and work with supervisor to develop professional development plan within 3 months; Ensure understanding of relevant policies and procedures within a 3 month period and as need arises throughout contract; Ensure timely and accurate documentation in accordance with headspace Collingwood/ YSAS 4

5 policy and procedures; At all times represent YSAS & headspace Collingwood with professionalism. Direct Services Activities Provide support and information to young people about Mental Health which is consistent with an evidence based, best practice model and in accordance with the young person s goals Develop, organize and participate in activity-based recreational and therapeutic group programs with young people; Develop group and individual brief intervention psych education packages for young people with high prevalence disorders Advocate on behalf of young people as needed; Participate in the headspace Collingwood duty system Provide one to one support in various settings (school, & other agencies) to young people who are at risk of developing mental health problems Develop and deliver 40 psych education packages per annum; Develop individualized care plans for young people in accordance with Assessment of risk and resilience; Communicate knowledge of local agencies / services for young people within the team; Creatively engage young people from vulnerable groups, ensuring the promotion of social inclusion; Evaluate the effectiveness of interventions within the care plan with young people including group work interventions. Qualifications and Experience Approved tertiary qualifications in a relevant discipline (such as Psychology, Social work, Occupational Therapy or other health related disciplines). Experience in youth mental health and/or community work in a mental health context. 5

6 Well-developed written and verbal communication skills. High level of computer literacy skills. Current Victorian Driver s Licence. A current First Aid (Level 2) certificate is desirable. The successful applicant will be required to undergo a Police check and a Working With Children Check. Prospective employees are advised that they must have their Employee Working With Children Check as a condition of employment. Key Selection Criteria Demonstrated experience in health promotion, group facilitation and community development, preferably at a local level; Demonstrated experience and understanding of mental health, drug and alcohol and other health issues facing young people; Passion, energy and determination to make a difference with young people and demonstrated ability to be innovative in program design and implementation; Demonstrated ability to achieve outcomes in partnership and alliance with the community, government and non-government agencies; Ability to work both independently and co-operatively in a team environment which works towards reaching a common goal; Understanding of youth participation theory and frameworks and experience in providing leadership to youth led groups. I accept the PD as acknowledged above and understand that the PD will be reviewed by the year. I also understand that the PD may need to be amended occasionally due to variations in responsibilities and organisational requirements. Changes to the PD will be consistent with the purpose for which the position was established. SIGNED Manager headspace Collingwood Date: Community Engagement Officer Date: 6