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 provides specialist forensic mental health services across 12 of Victoria’s 14 prisons with expansion underway to include Western Plains in the Barwon region. This position based at Ravenhall Correctional Centre in Melbourne's west, provides 75 prison-based custodial mental health beds as well as assessments and outpatient services provided in maximum-security forensic mental health complex within the medium-security prison.

About the Role:

The Occupational Therapist plays an active role in facilitating and evaluating a range of therapeutic interventions for the patients of the forensic mental health service. The Occupational Therapist promotes the benefits of participation and performance in meaningful occupations through group facilitation and individual work along with collaboration and consultation with key stakeholders and external service providers.

Duties:

• Facilitation of both group and individual assessment and interventions.

• Focus on the development of age-appropriate life roles and skills required by patients, including a responsible attitude about health care and personal wellbeing with a particular focus on health promotion, early intervention and prevention.

• Participate in the assessment and treatment of patients through group work and individual sessions, making a strong discipline-specific contribution to the clinical team’s understanding of the patient and their situation.

• Assess, interpret and intervene to improve occupational performance through identifying individual needs based on functional deficits and strengths, and through promoting occupational choices.

• Work with individuals to enhance their understanding of mental health issues and promote engagement in meaningful occuaptions and personal skill development in order to support them in managing their mental health needs.

About You:

• Understanding and commitment to working within the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia’s Australian Occupational Therapy competency standards (2018) and Code of Ethics,

• Conceptual understanding of the theories of occupational performance and a committment to understanding and improving patient functioning through assessment and treatment using occupational models of intervention.

• Ability to motivate others and to promote learning and creative problem solving.

• Demonstrated skills in the mental health field, knowledge and understanding of the current occupational therapy approaches in working with mentally ill people.

• Awareness of the issues of care delivery in forensic mental health within both prison and hospital environments.

What you need:

Approved degree in Occupational Therapy recognised for membership of Occupational Therapy Australia – Australian Association of Occupational Therapists.

Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency (AHPRA).

The successful candidate will be required to register their qualifications on eCredential.

*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.

Eligibility

• Influenza and Immunisation Evidence
• This position is subject to a Police Check

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 ofRESPONSIVENESS, INTEGRITY, IMPARTIALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RIGHTS; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.