• Extensive investment in facilities and people supporting our service expansion including Regional Victoria
• On-site Parking (subject to availability)
• A culture where people care

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

Based at Thomas Embling Hospital and working across all our disciplines, we have significant growth planned for the team to support our consumers. Our Lived experience team are an integral part of implementing recovery approaches for mental health consumers and carers. Lived experience workers bring expertise developed from their own mental health experiences.

About the Role:

The Family and Carer Consultant will promote service responsiveness to the needs of families and carers of consumers across Forensicare. The role will facilitate effective engagement of families and carers with Forensicare.

The Family and Carer Consultant focuses on identifying and addressing systemic issues that hinder families and carers from effective engagement with Forensicare and to promote excellence in carer and family engagement and support at Forensicare. The role works closely with carers, families and Family and Carer Peer Support Workers and in collaboration with other members of the Lived Experience Team. The role also liaises with internal and external services and stakeholders as required. The Family and Carer Consultant will make appropriate referrals and gather information that facilitates the provision of information and support to families/carers as an important stakeholder group at Forensicare.

The Family and Carer Consultant will advise management and staff about how aspects of the service may be experienced from the perspectives of carers and families. They will provide education and information on family and carer experiences, needs and support services to mental health staff, community groups and other relevant services as required.

Duties:

• Provide regular feedback to the Forensicare Executive on family and carer issues to the service either verbally or in writing. Keep all notes and working records secure.

• Contribute to the enhancement of Forensicare’s sensitivity to the needs of all consumers, carers/families/significant others, with particular emphasis on those from culturally and linguistically diverse groups.

• Contribute to and deliver staff training sessions on carer/family participation.

• Ensure that information about mental illness is clear and readily accessible to families, carers and significant others.

• Collate carer/family information resources and ensure these are distributed by staff to families and carers.

• Support the promotion of rights and responsibilities of carers/families/significant others to this service.

• Develop and maintain partnerships and linkages with relevant key external organisations.

• Provide input to committees such as Safety and Quality Improvement Committee, Best Care and other meetings as required.

About You:

• Understanding of the issues that families and carers may experience through involvement with the forensic mental health system

• Knowledge of relevant legislation, including the Mental Health Act 2014, Crimes Mental Impairment Act, and the Sentencing Act 1991

• Respect for individual diversity and an understanding of how to respond sensitively to issues of diversity (i.e. cultural, linguistic, gender, sexuality, age, etc.)

• Awareness of current issues and priorities in forensic and broader mental health

What you need:

• Direct personal experience as a family member or carer of a person with a mental illness

To access a detailed position description, please click Family and Carer Consultant.

Or for more information on Careers at Forensicare, visit https://www.forensicare.vic.gov.au/careers

*Please Note - Applications will be reviewed and interviewed as they are received. Advertising may close earlier than indicated.

A culture where people matter.

• Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of all our team members.
• Well defined career pathways existing across our Directorates with multi-disciplined Teams.
• Salary Packaging Options available – Mortgage, Rent, Car, Expenses
• 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.
• Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
• 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, peer support and critical incidence response programs.

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