North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network is looking for a dedicated Intake and Assessment Officer to support people seeking mental health assistance. Be part of a dynamic team, guiding assessments and referrals in a fast-paced primary health network.

• Remuneration: $48 - $50 per hour (Covered by the Health Professionals and Support Services Award 2020)
• NFP salary packaging options up to $18,550
• Part-time role (0.8 FTE, 30.4 hours per week) Maximum- Term until 26th June 2026 with potential for extension
• Docklands office location with option to work some days at home

You will be part of the Referral and Access team at NWMPHN, the intake and Assessment Officer will respond to calls from people seeking mental health support and will process referrals from GPs and other health professionals. You will have in-depth knowledge of mental health services available for people at different levels of acuity. You will have a positive, recovery led and consumer focused approach and will use your strong clinical assessment skills, and the Initial Assessment Referral Decision Support Tool (IAR-DST), to get people to the most appropriate mental health care available.

You will be a great communicator who pays attention to detail, and who can confidently navigate client management systems. You will be required to clearly document all relevant demographic, contextual and risk assessment information, and work collaboratively with both referrers and services that you refer to, to ensure the best outcome for the client.

About Us

We are North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network (NWMPHN) - Victoria's largest independent, locally governed and run, not-for-profit PHN, dedicated to improving primary health care in Melbourne's northern, western suburbs and inner-city areas. We help people stay well by commissioning health services to deliver better and more accessible primary care.

What are PHNs?

PHNs have been established with two key objectives:

• Increasing the efficiency and effectiveness of services for community members, particularly those at risk of poor health outcomes
• Improving coordination of care to ensure people receive the right care in the right place, at the right time.

At NWMPHN, we offer:

• Flexible working arrangements, including work-from-home options.
• Up to 6 days of Paid ‘Life Leave' per calendar year for cultural celebrations, family events, birthdays etc.
• Support for parents with Paid Parental Leave options.
• Additional Paid leave during End-of-Year close down period.
• Generous NFP salary packaging, health and wellbeing programs, and professional development opportunities.
• Supportive and inclusive workplace culture.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.

For more information on Staff benefits, please visit: https://nwmphn.recruitmenthub.com.au/Staff-Benefits/

What will my typical week look like?

• Promptly answering phone calls to provide initial assessment of people seeking support for their mental health using the Initial Assessment and Referral Decision Support Tool.
• Working with a multidisciplinary team of clinicians to mutually support each other in your clinical practice.
• Participating in case-reviews of people seeking exceptional circumstances for treatment.
• Responding to emailed referrals and e-alerts from people seeking assistance, or their referrers, ensuring practice approaches are safe and inclusive.
• Proactively identifying and escalating risks and issues to the Lead, Mental Health Access and Manager, Mental Health Services.
• Participating in relevant meetings, group supervision, seminars, and information sessions, and reporting back as appropriate.
• Actively and respectfully communicating with your whole team, including clinicians, administrators, and commissioning leads and managers to share learnings about trends, issues, and successes.

  About you:

• Tertiary qualification in a clinical health related field and evidence of registration with the relevant board or eligibility for membership of the relevant professional association.
• Minimum 3 years' clinical mental health experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge and understanding of mental health disorders. Knowledge of Mental Health Services and supports available in the North Western Melbourne and Western Victorian catchment and surrounding suburbs.
• Experience in undertaking mental health assessments and screening of people seeking mental health support.
• Demonstrated ability to document information accurately and record assessments clearly.

NWMPHN is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We recognise the importance of attracting and retaining talent that reflects the diverse community we live in. Research shows that teams with diverse experiences and perspectives are more creative and better problem-solvers. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Peoples.

We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds and lived experiences. If you bring curiosity, adaptability, and the right skills - even if you don't check every box in the responsibilities or qualifications section - we still encourage you to APPLY!

Should you need any specific support or accommodations during the recruitment process or afterwards, please reach out to the HR team at [email protected]

Candidates with valid work rights will be fully considered. The successful candidate will be required to undertake a National Police Check, Working with Children Check and provide AASW and/or AHPRA Certification.