Description:
Position
Team Leader, Mental Health
Team
SHINE and Connect
Role Classification
SCHADS Award Level 7
Employment Type/Hours
Full time, Permanent .
Location
Dandenong office (Bunurong Land), Remote working and outreach as required.
Reports To
Team Leader, Shine and Connect
Effective Date
March 2025
Overview of Program
The SHINE Program is an initiative to improve mental health for children, youth and their families by delivering innovative integrated services of Support, Help, Information Networks and Education. The program provides early intervention support to children from birth to 18 years, with individual behavioural needs or who may be experiencing challenges, posing a risk for continuing mental health problems. The focus of the program is to reduce risk, strengthen protective factors and link to appropriate services for coping with mental illness in families.
Connect is a low intensity peer support mental health program which was guided by the evidence that peer support is a valuable mode of service to community members who need short-term, low intensity interventions. The Connect team works collaboratively with clients, support staff and the community to assist and mentor clients to manage and sustain their wellbeing. Connect supports participants to develop a greater understanding of their symptoms, enhance their skills in self-management strategies; decrease psychological distress, increase connections to their community, reduce stigma and importantly, increase understanding of the broader health care system.
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Position Objective
The Mental Health Team Leader, SHINE & Connect provides effective leadership to the SHINE & Connect teams ensuring the delivery of high-quality services to clients, in line with relevant legislative and contractual requirements. The position requires deep, specialist knowledge and clinical mental health experience to be able to lead the team to identify, assess and respond to mental health presentations. This role leads continuous professional development, with a focus on enhancing mental health expertise and promoting best practice in mental health service delivery.
Key Responsibilities
The key responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Leading and supervising a team, using a clinical approach in the provision of case consultation and guidance on mental health interventions and strategies, including but not limited to, case management and counselling as well as community development, group work, parenting support and other service delivery initiatives.
- Leadership of culture and line management of the SHINE & Connect team, including managing team-based and individual performance and development planning.
- Overseeing inbound referrals, assessing suitability and coordinating their allocation to practitioners across various program areas.
- Applying a clinical focus in supporting the team to conduct risk assessments and develop appropriate case plans.
- Developing and reporting on a Team work Plan to deliver delegated and allocated team responsibilities, ensuring that services are tailored to meet the mental needs of individuals and families.
- Leading quality assurance processes and developing responses to best practice guidelines including innovation of current processes to better respond to organisational requirements and community needs.
- Representing the organisation in appropriate service networking and service development forums to build, develop and maintain stakeholder relationships.
- Leading initiatives that support mental health practice development and innovation.
Key Selection Criteria
- Bachelor qualification in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling, Family Therapy or a related discipline.
- Previous experience leading a mental health team and applying a clinical lens to leadership, while also having a sound understanding of early intervention programs.
- Knowledge and a solid understanding of infant, child and adolescent mental health as well as adult mental health and the impact this has on parenting capacity.
- Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to engage effectively and partner with stakeholders across various levels of the organisation.
- Excellent communication skills, encouraging open dialogue and collaboration through an inclusive approach.
- Experience working with diverse teams, adapting communication and engagement strategies to different cultural backgrounds.
- Significant experience in working with families where there are risk and protective concerns and complex needs.
- Comprehensive knowledge and application of mental health risk assessment.
- Knowledge of child and adolescent development, integrated and holistic approaches in the current literature. Including coherent knowledge of the theory that informs practice. In particular systems theory, trauma informed practice and strengths-based practice.
- Experience working with children and their families using a family inclusive and community-based approach.
- Demonstrated knowledge of compliance standards and regulations ensuring that all service delivery practices adhere to mental health practices.