Description:
Employment Type: permanent full time
Hours: 76 hours a fortnight
Salary: as per Victorian EBA
Location: Mercy Hospital Werribee, Mental Health and Wellbeing services
Upload with Application: Resume, cover letter, and all relevant qualifications
Contact: Dr Kirthi Kumar, kkumar@mercy.com.au
Where there’s life, there’s Mercy.
Where there’s care, there’s You.
Through the battles and the breakthroughs, we're there. Where will you be?
For over a century, our incredible teams have provided care for people when they need it most. Our people feel great pride in this, and they value the security and stability we offer. But it also means so much opportunity - to build on all that’s gone before, to grow your impact and gain experience that’s hard to find elsewhere.
As a for-purpose organisation with over 10,000 dedicated, compassionate people, we continue to offer more services and deeper care than ever before. With Mercy, you’ll have the chance to make an impact and gain experience that’s hard to find elsewhere.
At Mercy Health, it’s all about taking what we have and making it better.
To do that, we need you.
Join us as at Mercy Health, and help our teams deliver even greater outcomes.
About the opportunity
Job Description: Consultant Psychiatrist in Public Mental Health Services - Acute Crisis Intervention Services.
Position Overview: The Consultant Psychiatrist in a Crisis Setting is a senior clinical role within public mental health services, responsible for providing expert psychiatric assessment, diagnosis, and treatment to individuals experiencing acute mental health crises within the community. This position involves working closely with multidisciplinary teams to deliver immediate, high-quality care in community settings, ensuring the effective management of psychiatric emergencies and complex cases. The role also includes providing leadership, supervision, and consultation to junior staff, as well as participating in service development and mental health advocacy in the community.
Key Responsibilities:
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Clinical Assessment and Care:
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Conduct comprehensive psychiatric assessments of individuals in crisis, including those with severe mental illness or substance use issues, to determine the appropriate level of intervention.
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Develop and implement individualized treatment plans based on clinical needs and risks, utilizing evidence-based approaches.
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Prescribe and manage pharmacological treatments, adjusting medications as necessary based on patient responses and treatment progress.
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Provide crisis intervention, offering short-term intensive treatment and stabilization in the community or crisis centers.
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Leadership and Supervision:
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Provide clinical leadership and guidance to multidisciplinary team members, including social workers, psychologists, nurses, and mental health workers.
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Supervise and mentor psychiatry registrars, residents, and medical students, ensuring high standards of psychiatric practice and professional development.
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Collaboration and Coordination:
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Work closely with other mental health professionals, primary care providers, emergency services, and community organizations to ensure coordinated care and appropriate referrals.
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Liaise with hospitals, police, and social services to facilitate the transition of care for patients needing further treatment or admission.
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Crisis Management:
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Take a lead role in managing acute psychiatric crises, including high-risk situations.
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Provide expert advice on managing complex cases and challenging behaviors within the community setting.
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Documentation and Reporting:
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Ensure comprehensive, accurate, and timely documentation of patient assessments, care plans, and progress.
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Comply with relevant legal and ethical guidelines related to mental health practice, including involuntary treatment and crisis care protocols.
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Training and Education:
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Provide ongoing education and training to the community mental health team on best practices in crisis intervention and management of psychiatric emergencies.
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Support public mental health initiatives through community education and awareness programs.
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Qualifications and Experience:
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Medical degree and specialization in psychiatry FRANZCP or equivalent.
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registration with AHPRA
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Expertise in the management of severe psychiatric disorders, including mood disorders, psychosis, and substance use disorders.
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Experience working in multidisciplinary, community-based mental health teams.
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Strong crisis intervention and de-escalation skills.
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Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively under pressure.
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Commitment to ongoing professional development and contributing to the growth of mental health services.
Desirable Skills and Attributes:
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Knowledge of local mental health resources, community services, and the social determinants of health.
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Experience with risk assessment and management, particularly in community crisis settings.
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Ability to navigate complex legal and ethical issues in mental health care.
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Leadership experience in the mental health field.
What you’ll bring
You’re resilient, compassionate and have a whole lot of heart. Most importantly, you are committed to delivering exceptional patient-centred care.
To thrive in this role, you will have:
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Excellent clinical, time management, organisational and communication skills, with the ability to adapt and problem solve.
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A compassionate, flexible and positive approach to effective patient care and management.
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The ability to nurture friendly, respectful relationships and contribute to a collaborative team environment.
You will also be required to provide evidence of, or in the process of obtaining:
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A current Police Record Check and Working with Children Check.
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Proof of current influenza vaccination and other vaccination status consistent with public health orders.
Ready to help us shape the future of healthcare?
Join us and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives - and your career.
Are you ready to apply for this role? Click Apply now
Please contact us if you would like to find out more or communicate any requirements to ensure we provide you with a fair and equitable interview and selection process.
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples, traditional Custodians of the Land in which our Head Office is based, on traditional lands of the Kulin Nation and recognise their deep connections to the land, sea, and culture.
We extend this acknowledgment to the many Traditional Lands that we operate across Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
The team at Mercy Health is as wonderfully diverse as the patients, residents, clients and communities we support. We’re proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). Mercy Health strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of all ages, sexualities, genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds.
Ready to help us shape the future of healthcare?
Join us and make a meaningful difference in people’s lives - and your career.
Are you ready to apply for this role? Click Apply
Please contact us if you would like to find out more or communicate any requirements to ensure we provide you with a fair and equitable interview and selection process.
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples, traditional Custodians of the Land in which our Head Office is based, on traditional lands of the Kulin Nation and recognise their deep connections to the land, sea, and culture.
We extend this acknowledgment to the many Traditional Lands that we operate across Australia and pay our respects to Elders past and present.
The team at Mercy Health is as wonderfully diverse as the patients, residents, clients and communities we support. We’re proud to be recognised as an Employer of Choice for Gender Equality by the Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA). Mercy Health strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people of all ages, sexualities, genders, abilities and cultural backgrounds.