Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health Hiring for Graduate Occupational Therapist Job at Melbourne Full Time

• Multiple full time, fixed term 2 year Graduate Occupational Therapy positions
• Based across all Forensicare services: metropolitan prison locations, Thomas Embling Hospital and Community Forensic Mental Health Services.
• Investment in a career for life with a large, supportive and innovative occupational therapy team.
• Be part of a collaborative Allied Health Graduate and Psychology Registrar structured learning program.
• Applications for a mid year intake in approximately July 2022 will be considered

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, conduct research and advance in your profession. Together, we can contribute to a more connected, compassionate mental health and criminal justice system.

Job location

Forensicare is the statutory agency responsible for the provision of adult forensic mental health services across Victoria. We address the needs of people experiencing mental health issues, the mental health sector, the justice sector and the general community. These services are delivered through inpatient services at Thomas Embling Hospital, community services through the Community Forensic Mental Health Service and prison-based services at several locations.

The graduate occupational therapy positions will rotate across all Forensicare services, with the two year positions comprising of three 8 months rotations to provide the graduate with a diverse learning experience and enabling them to consolidate skills in a variety of practice areas.

About the Role:

Working within a dedicated program/unit and under the direct supervision of an experienced occupational therapistthe graduate occupational therapist will conduct occupational therapy specific assessments with consumers to identify their occupational needs, and address these needs collaboratively with consumers through provision of occupation focused intervention. Working within a multidisciplinary team, the occupational therapy graduate will also deliver occupational therapy focussed therapeutic groups and facilitate consumers engagement in meaningful occupations within the secure environment. Excitingly, the graduate occupational therapist will have the opportunity to learn about occupational formulation and to be an active participant of an associated service development and research project.

The graduate occupational therapist will receive dedicated occupational therapy supervision, onsite support from the occupational therapy educator team, opportunities to engage in disciipline specific education sessions, and support to commence career pathway planning. Additionally, the occupational therapy graduate will participate in the Allied Health Graduate and Psychology registrar program where they will have dedicated learning time to participate in self directed learning activities, structured education sessions and interdisciplinary reflective practice.

Duties:

• Conduct consumer centred, occupationally focussed and culturally safe assessments,develop collaborativeoccupationalformulations, and facilitate interventions in order toimprove occupational performance byworkingwith consumers on their identifiedindividual needsand goals.
• Focus clinical practice on the development of life roles and skills required by patients for community adaptation and integration, including vocational planning, development and maintenance of a responsible attitude to time use, drug use and other behaviours whichmay lead to re-offending in an occupationally focused manner.
• Contribute to the creation of a therapeutic environment where natural and legitimate decisionmaking, adaptive functional behaviour and independent living can be practised and reinforced.
• Encourage andfacilitate the involvement of patients in the planning of individual and unit basedprograms and supports for patient advocacy.

About You:

• Demonstrated commitment to mental health consumer recovery.
• Demonstrated commitment to the delivery of quality, recovery-focused mental health carecoupled with an awareness of the issues of care-delivery in forensic mental health.
• Ability to identify and utilize the appropriate occupational therapy models, methods and approachs to direct the process of assessment, intervention and evaluation demonstrating sound clinical reasoning and an understanding of evidence-based practice.

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.

This position is subject to a Police Check.

A culture where people matter.

• Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of managers and supervisors.
• Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
• 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.
• 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 support, peer support and critical incidence response programs, as needed.

For more information on employee benefits visit https://www.forensicare.vic.gov.au/careers/employee-benefits

Successful applicants will be required to provide evidence of COVID-19 Vaccination prior to commencing work at Forensicare.

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 of curiosity, purpose, strong ethics, compassion and fairness; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.