Reference Number: 54033: Peer Support Worker- Mental Health
Employment Type: On Going Part Time (PT)
Location: Northern Health (All Campuses)

About Northern Health:

As an organisation we have a clear focus on how we service and partner with our community, including our strategy of helping the community stay well when at home. Our reputation of community minded, inclusive and progressive is matched to none.

Northern Health is located in the rapidly growing northern suburbs with projected growth the biggest in the state. With a booming, culturally rich and diverse community, and less than an hour’s drive from the CBD (still within the bounds of Myki and ride-sharing), Melbourne’s North is fast becoming the place to be.

Northern Health are seeking applications from motivated and suitably experienced Senior Consumer Peer Support Workers to join the team at the acute adult inpatient mental health units at The Northern Hospital, Epping.

Northern Health is the major provider of acute, maternity, sub-acute, mental health, specialist, community and home-based services in Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer north.

Services are provided through our six main campuses:

Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora Centre, Craigieburn and Mernda Community Hospitals Centres and Kilmore District Hospital. In addition, Mental Health Services are provided at Epping, Broadmeadows, Jacana, Preston, Mill Park, Mernda and Coburg.

About the Role:

The Senior Consumer Peer Support Worker will support, mentor and orientate other Consumer Peer Workers within the team at our Northern Psychiatric Units (NPU), providing guidance for their peer practice. They will also support the development and implementation of Consumer initiatives on the ward in collaboration with the LLEW Consumer Manager and Lead Peer Support Worker. They will promote the Consumer perspective in the context of clinical and leadership meetings, co-design projects, and delivery of services at the local level.





The Senior Consumer Peer Support Worker will provide peer support to the consumers admitted to our Northern Psychiatric Unit (NPU) by utilising their own lived experience of mental health challenges and accessing/navigating public mental health services.

This role requires ……

- Guiding, supporting and mentoring of Level 2 Consumer Peer Support Workers in the team;
- Orientation and mentoring of new Consumer Peer Support Workers in collaboration with the Lived Experience Education Manager, Lived Experience leadership and clinical program managers;
- Orientation and education of multidisciplinary team members about the role of Consumer Peer Support;
- Facilitate and/or leading co-design projects to improve services and care for Consumers in the inpatient setting in collaboration with the lived experience leadership team;
- Advise from a Consumer lived experience perspective in various settings such as clinical reviews, handovers, leadership meetings and working groups;
- Connect with consumers to gain a deeper understanding of their experience of mental ill health and what recovery means to them;
- Provide a non-clinical alternative perspective to consumers by utilising and intentionally sharing knowledge, skills and experience arising from their own personal mental health challenges and accessing mental health services;
- Provide one to one Peer Support utilising the Intentional Peer Support framework;
- Facilitate and participate in the group program;

To be successful in this role you will have:

- A personal lived experience of mental illness and accessing mental health services;





- Relevant understanding of the public mental health system, Mental Health & Wellbeing Act 2022 & the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System;

- Current National Police and Working with Children History Check.

- Minimum of 2 years working within a designated Consumer lived experience peer support role;

- Intentional Peer Support Core training.

Next Steps . . .

If this prospect sounds like the next step in your career, then we would love to hear from you. Please click on the 'Apply' button and follow the prompts.

For further details, please refer to the Position Description. Alternatively, you can contact Carlotta Martiniello, Carer Lived Experience Program Manager on (phone hidden)

Applications close 16th August

Optional:

Shortlisting will commence immediately for this vacancy. If an appropriate candidate is sourced, the advertising may close early, thus we advise you to apply right away.

Why work at the Northern Health?

NH offer a range of benefits which support and reward staff both personally and professionally.

Our staff benefits include award winning facilities and campus partnerships, Professional development and events, an award-winning Health and wellbeing program and financial advantages.

- Health and Wellbeing programs, including our new ‘Thrive’ program
- Flexibility in the workplace and extra leave options and support
- An inclusive and culturally safe space
- Access to salary packaging & EAP
- Comprehensive Library services for learning, research, clinical decision-making, leisure and wellbeing (onsite and online)

Work with us! Northern Health is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as applicants who are LGBTIQ+, who have different abilities, or are from culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds are encouraged.

📌 Peer Support Worker- Mental Health (Australia)
🏢 Northern Health
📍 Australia