0.4 MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER / 0.6 STUDENT WELLBEING OFFICER

VISION
Together at Laverton P-12 College we nurture our students through learning and encourage our students to actively participate in and contribute to an ever changing and diverse community with respect, responsibility and fairness

MISSION
Laverton P-12 College's mission is to to provide students with the best possible foundation in life through a well-rounded education.

VALUES
Our school values of Learning, Belonging, and Succeeding underpin all that we do at Laverton P-12 College. 
We continually connect these values to the teaching and learning programs and they are relevant across all stages of the learning continuum. Our values underpin a cohesive coordinated structure that enhances the well-being and learning opportunities for every student.

COLLEGE SUB SCHOOL STRUCTURE
At Laverton P-12 College, we're committed to a culture of success and growth. We hold ourselves to high standards, seeing learning challenges as opportunities for personal and academic development. We empower students to take charge of their learning, fostering resilience and future-focused thinking. As educators, we're curious about our impact on student learning and the world around us, engaging in ongoing evaluation and seeking ways to contribute positively to our community. Together, we create an environment where every student can thrive and reach
their full potential.

WORKFORCE
The College staffing profile consists of approximately 120 staff members; including 5 Principal class, 11 Leading Teachers, 3 Learning Specialists, 57 teachers, 32 Education Support Staff and 2 Paraprofessionals.The College has invested heavily in building the professional knowledge of our staff and working collaboratively in teams to support the needs of our students.

ENROLMENT
The College has an enrolment of over 700 students across Foundation to Year 12. The community comprises of diverse family backgrounds, with 48% of students speaking languages other than English at home and a high proportion of students coming from the Karen, Pacific Islander and Middle Eastern communities.

FACILITIES
Our College facilities and resources ensure that students are provided with an optimal learning environment and include a Performing Arts Centre, a fully equipped VET Hospitality centre, an Engineering workshop, Gymnasium, landscaped gardens, primary and secondary ovals, multiple netball and basketball courts, an undercover synthetic area for play and a beach volleyball area. Each classroom has TV technology and our students can access notebooks and iPads.

LOCATION
Laverton P-12 College resides within the western suburbs of Melbourne in the local area of Hobson's Bay.

SIZE AND STRUCTURE
The school is comprised of seven permanent buildings and two relocatable buildings, providing a range of specialised learning spaces, including a gymnasium, performing arts centre, instrumental music rooms, a state of the art food technology kitchen and cafe, practical science rooms, technology and engineering spaces, and a well-resourced College library.

1. Ability to implement a range of small group and whole-school mental health prevention and promotion activities aimed at improving student mental health and wellbeing, including the delivery of capability building and awareness raising activities for staff and/or students on key mental health and wellbeing issues affecting the school’s student population.
2. Demonstrated ability to input into the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and strategies aimed at enhancing mental health and wellbeing prevention, promotion and early intervention.
3. Demonstrated experience in assessing, conceptualising and analysing wellbeing issues, and providing evidence-based direct counselling support to clients with a range of mental health needs.
4. Demonstrated experience in coordinating supports for young people with complex needs including referrals to a range of specialist services as appropriate.
5. Highly developed communication, networking and interpersonal skills including the ability to liaise effectively with a wide range of people.
6. Clear understanding of legislative requirements regarding privacy of health information.

The Mental Health Practitioners (MHP) initiative was announced by the Minister for Education in late 2018 to expand mental health and wellbeing support in government schools. The initiative provides for a suitably qualified mental health professional in all government secondary school campuses and specialist school (with secondary-aged enrolments) settings.

Operating in collaboration with the relevant Department of Education Regional Mental Health Branch, this role has the following functions:

• Enhancing mental health prevention and promotion activities in the school by contributing to whole-school health and wellbeing plans, building the capability of teaching staff and school leadership to address matters relating to student mental health and wellbeing, and helping to develop and deliver appropriate programs and strategies in the school according to specified school priorities
• Providing early intervention services (including short-term counselling) for individual students and groups identified as at-risk and/or experiencing or demonstrating mild to moderate mental health concerns; and
• Coordinating supports for students with complex needs both within and external to the school, including proactively working with regions, local mental health service providers and other health professionals to engage further support as required.

Education support class level 1 range 4

The successful applicant will be an experienced professional who will carry out their duties and responsibilities, relative to their professional discipline, with a high level of autonomy and with minimal reliance on professional supervision. The successful applicant will be responsible for the development and implementation of professional support programs within an educational environment, including guidance to other professional staff.

As an education support class position, this role supports the educational services being provided to students, but will not include duties of teaching as defined in clause 2.6.1 of the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).

For more information on the responsibilities of an Education Support class level 1 range 4 employee, please visit the Victorian Government Schools Agreement 2022: https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/industrial-agreements/resources

1. Providing advice and professional learning to others, including teachers and other school wellbeing staff, to build the capacity of schools to improve students wellbeing, learning and developmental outcomes.
2. Delivering professional support services in a school, including mental health prevention and promotion activities and early intervention activities (including short-term counselling) for students with a range of mental health needs, applying sound theoretical knowledge and practical expertise.
3. Planning and implementing evidence-based intervention strategies for students with complex needs including collaborating with families, other professionals and agencies when appropriate to effectively manage risk.
4. Working collaboratively with the school to enhance mental health prevention and promotion across the school by contributing to policies and operational practices that will guide the work of others, including other school wellbeing staff and teachers.
5. Liaising with other department areas (including secondary school nurses and Student Support Services staff) and external service providers where necessary to provide appropriate support to students.
6. Maintaining professional competence and continued professional development, including attending professional development activities throughout the year.
7. Meeting relevant policies and legislative requirements in relation to student health information, privacy and consent.

Please note: Continued professional development is a registration requirement under the National Law, which governs the operations of the National Boards and Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). 

Required

• Applicants must be qualified as a psychologist, social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist or counsellor of a prescribed class. Specifically:
  • For Psychologists, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
  • For Mental Health Nurses, applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA and hold a postgraduate qualification in mental health
  • For Social Workers, applicants must be eligible for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers
  • For Occupational Therapists applicants must hold full registration with AHPRA
  • For Counsellors applicants must have completed a Bachelor or Master of Counselling and be a practising member of either the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA)
• Demonstrated direct counselling experience
• A current Working With Children Check.

Desirable

• For Psychology applicants, specialisation in educational and/or developmental psychology.
• For Mental Health Nurse applicants, holding a Mental Health Nurse Credential and membership with the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses.
• For Social Work applicants, membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and an Accredited Social Worker Trade Mark.
• For Occupational Therapy applicants, a Better Access to Mental Health Endorsement.
• For Counselling applicants, Level 3-4 registration (ACA) or a Registered Clinical Counsellor endorsement (PACFA).

The department is committed to diversity and inclusion and developing a workforce that is representative of the community we service. We value diversity and inclusion in all forms - culture, gender, religion, ethnicity, LGBTIQA+, disability and neurodiversity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for roles within the Department. The Department recognises that the provision of safe, respectful and inclusive workplaces is essential to high performance and promotes flexible work and diversity across all schools and Department workplaces. It is our policy to provide reasonable adjustments for staff with disability (see Workplace adjustment guidelines).

Additional support and advice on the recruitment process is available to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander candidates from the Koorie Outcomes Division (KOD) via *******@education.vic.gov.au

Applicants seeking part-time employment are encouraged to apply for any teaching service position and, if they are the successful candidate, request a reduced time fraction. Such requests will be negotiated on a case-by-case basis and will be subject to the operational requirements of the school.

Victorian government schools are child safe environments. Our schools actively promote the safety and wellbeing of all students, and all school staff are committed to protecting students from abuse or harm in the school environment, in accordance with their legal obligations including child safe standards. All schools have a Child Safety Code of Conduct consistent with the department's exemplar available at:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/child-safe-standards/policy

The department's employees commit to upholding the department's Values: Responsiveness, Integrity, Impartiality, Accountability, Respect, Leadership and Human Rights. The department's Values complement each school's own values and underpin the behaviours the community expects of Victorian public sector employees, including those who work in Victorian Government Schools. Information on the department values is available at:

 https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/values-department-vps-school-employees/overview

This role comprises 0.4 Mental Health Practitioner, and 0.6 Student Wellbeing Officer.

OTHER INFORMATION FOR EDUCATION SUPPORTAll applicants must have a personal profile on Recruitment Online and ensure that it is up to date including WWC registration status.  Applications should also be lodged on Recruitment Online to ensure that notification of outcomes is delivered to a current email address.  To commence work at Laverton P-12 College the successful applicant must have current registration with WWC.Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspxA probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided. Applications must include:A specific response to each of the key selection criteria and position details. It is suggested that applicants limit their response to no more than 6 pages.A CV with a summary of experience and qualifications.The names and contact details of up to three professional referees who can provide information regarding the applicant in relation to the key selection criteria.If the applicant is not an Australian Citizen all visa documentation must be attached. The panel reserves the right to request additional referees other than those listed.

• All staff employed by the Department and schools have access to a broad range of employment conditions and working arrangements.
• Appointment of successful applicants will be made subject to a satisfactory pre-employment conditions check.
• A probationary period may apply during the first year of employment and induction and support programs provided.
• Detailed information on all terms and conditions of employment is available on the Department's Human Resources website at http://www.education.vic.gov.au/hrweb/Pages/default.aspx

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