Position overview

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) sits within the Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol & Drug division of CHS. CAMHS provides assessment and treatment for children and young people up to the age of 18 who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health issues.

The CAMHS Cottage Program is a therapeutic group initiative supporting up to 12 young people aged 12–18 in the ACT who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges that have disrupted their ability to attend school. With a strong recovery focus, the program aims to reduce the severity of mental health symptoms and promote functional gains in education or vocational pathways. It also supports the development of social and independent living skills, helping participants build confidence and resilience for future transitions.

The successful candidate will work collaboratively across Canberra Health Services and the ACT Education Directorate to facilitate recovery-focused interventions that promote mental health stabilization, functional improvement, and successful transitions back into school or vocational pathways. The role also supports the development of social and independent living skills, contributing to holistic outcomes for young people and their families.

Key Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

Under direction of the CAMHS Cottage Day Program Manager and supported by allied health professionals you will work within a recovery framework to provide engagement, practical support, emotional support, advocacy, and group work for young people with moderate to severe mental health concerns and long-term school avoidance. You will:

1. Work collaboratively with young people, their families and carers, the multidisciplinary team and other health and community service providers to develop and implement cohesive, recovery-oriented responses to the needs of young people and their families/carers.
2. Provide active supervision and support to young people participating in the program, including oversight during key transition periods such as morning drop off and afternoon pick up, to ensure participant safety, wellbeing and engagement.
3. Under minimum or remote supervision engage in the following clinical activities:
   • Participate in the development and implementation of therapeutic activities.
   • Identify circumstances that require additional input from the health professionals and liaise with clinical and teaching staff regarding consumers’ progress.
   • Liaise with external agencies to promote community engagement for consumers.
   • Contribute to the evaluation of clinical processes to ensure effective and efficient diverse care.
   • Participate in clinical meetings as required.
4. Maintain high quality health care records, including accurate and timely completion of documentation and communicate relevant information in a timely manner with the multidisciplinary team.
5. As an active team member contribute to team development and initiatives and be involved in service development through membership of committees and working parties.
6. Display flexibility and adaptability and contribute to a range of indirect clinical activities including but not limited to:
   • The development of resources for consumer use
   • Monitoring of supplies/resources and equipment inventories
   • Assisting with administrative tasks according to service policies and procedures
7. Undertake supervision, professional development activities and complete all essential training required.
8. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Ability to work within a team as a collaborative team member alongside other stakeholders and as needed be flexible and adaptable to a changing environment.
• Commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children and young people, their families and/or carers.
• Ability to respond to and prioritise competing demands in a calm and efficient manner while maintaining high work standards.
• Ability to communicate effectively, including displaying empathy, respect, genuineness, and responsiveness in communication.
• Good organisational and administrative skills.

Qualifications

Essential

• Level 2 Allied Health Assistant – Certificate III in Mental Health or Allied Health Assistance or equivalent and working towards achieving a Certificate IV qualification in Mental Health or have a recognised workplace equivalent qualification at a Certificate IV or higher qualification in a relevant field.
• Level 3 Allied Health Assistant – Certificate IV in Mental Health or Allied Health Assistance or a recognised workplace equivalent qualification at a Certificate IV or higher qualification in a relevant field.
• Registration under the ACT Working with Vulnerable People Act 2011.
• A current driver’s licence.
• The successful applicant may need to be available for occasional after-hours work.
• Availability to work during school terms in accordance with program operations.

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

The successful applicant will be appointed to the relevant level 2 or 3 allied health assistant position increment based on their qualifications and experience.

• Level 2 Allied Health Assistant - Experience working with children and families.
• Leve 3 Allied Health Assistant – A minimum of 3 years professionally relevant experience in a related/relevant organisation/service.

Desirable

• Previous experiencing delivering therapeutic group programs.
• Experience with Children and Adolescents - Prior experience or knowledge in delivering therapeutic interventions with children, adolescents, or young adults experiencing mental health concerns.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
• Be available to work the core business days of Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. To work throughout the school terms, with holidays generally taken in accordance with the latter.

CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience and must be addressed in your application:

1. Proven ability to engage with, and promote the recovery journey of, young people experiencing mental illness by working with them to develop life skills, participate in education and other vocational activities, build community connections, and establish meaningful relationships.
2. Demonstrated participation in the development, implementation and/or support of individual and group programs and therapeutic activities that meet the identified mental health needs of young people.
3. Demonstrated experience in working collaboratively and liaising with young people, families/carers, the multidisciplinary team and other health, education and community service providers to advocate for and support the recovery of young people experiencing mental health difficulties.
4. Demonstrated effective verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills with capacity to develop and display knowledge of current mental health services and relevant community organisations and activities within the ACT.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.