Mental Health Adviser
- Newcastle, NSW
- Permanent
- Part-time
- To act as a central point of contact for students with varied, complex and sensitive mental health and wellbeing difficulties or vulnerabilities:
o provide advice, guidance and information on relevant internal and external services
o provide assessment and short-term support to students experiencing a range of welfare concerns, including safety planning
o refer to other agencies as appropriate
o manage risk appropriately, initiating safeguarding processes where necessary
Presenting concerns may include; complex mental health, high distress and crisis, housing and welfare, police and crime matters (where students may be the alleged reporter or responder) such as allegations of assault, discrimination and sexual violence etc
- To offer proactive appointments to students to discuss relevant support requirements and to facilitate any ensuing communication and liaison with academic schools and other University departments
- To manage safeguarding, student crisis and follow up ‘Out of Hours’ incidents. This may include, but is not exclusive to, missing students, hospitalisations, students being at risk to themselves or others, etc
- To act as a consultant and trainer to university staff to provide support and clinical reasoning, working together to support students with a range of mental health and wellbeing vulnerabilities
- To work in a multi-disciplinary team fashion, liaising with both external bodies and internal colleagues to assist in providing adequate support for students
- To undertake regular training and CPD, keeping up to date with changes in legislation, Government policy, research etc. and act as an information resource to the University on matters relating to emotional and psychological difficulties and mental health
- To maintain memberships and accreditations under appropriate national bodies and relevant accreditations
- To participate in promotion of SHWS activity, open days, receptions, Welcome Week which, from time to time, may require working out-of-hours i.e. evenings and weekends (only very occasional)
- To complete and maintain the electronic notes adhering to the Service policy and data protection requirements
- Knowledge and understanding of the implications of a range of mental health difficulties on individuals and potential impact on the University experience
- Strong experience of crisis management, safeguarding and coping with sometimes life-threatening situations
- A highly flexible working style, duty-style working
- Excellent communication, advice and guidance skills
- Ability to exercise initiative and judgement in relation to decision making
- Ability to manage time and resources effectively by prioritising and organising a high volume, complex and varied workload
- Evidence of experience of working in a multi-disciplinary team
- Evidence of commitment to principles of equal opportunities and diversity
- Competent IT skills: Word, Excel, Email, Internet, Databases
- Takes the initiative to ensure future success of the University and area by presenting new ideas and approaches
- Recognises urgency and takes decisive action when required
- Accepts the reality and requirements of change as part of achieving organisational goals
- Anticipates change and prepares for it. Accepts change and ‘runs’ with it
- Establishes effective time management and workload systems, planning tasks in a systematic way in conjunction with team and area objectives
- Confidently deals with and considers large amounts of complex information quickly and identifies key issues
- A relevant professional qualification such as Registered Mental Health Nurse/ Social Worker, and substantial demonstrable expertise in mental health
- Qualifications in or experience of working in a safeguarding or crisis management role