Job Description

Mental Health Clinician
Mental Health Advice and Response Service
Grade: RPN4
Location: Dandenong Magistrates Court (backfill to other courts as required)
Full time - Hybrid onsite WFH model (75% onsite work or WFH 1 day per week)
Salary $112,470 - $121,113 + Super + Benefits
Mental health advice and response service
The Mental health advice and response service (MHARS) responds to the over representation of people living with mental illness in the criminal justice system. The service aims to intervene early in the criminal justice process by identifying individuals with a mental health disorder at the post charge, pre-sentence stage. It also provides timely advice to courts and links consumers with treatment providers. The service
offers specialist mental health assessment and advice to Magistrates and facilitates early intervention for people who are in police custody.

The individuals supported by this service are typically those who are charged with offences and present with a mental illness including:
• those currently linked with treatment services
• those who have disengaged from treatment
• those who are experiencing mental illness and have yet to come into contact with treatment providers.
MHARS plays a crucial role in facilitating the pathway for incarcerated people back into mainstream psychiatric services. MHARS clinicians regularly conduct inpatient assessment orders under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 for individuals with mental health disorders who are in the process of applying for bail.
MHARS operates in nine metropolitan courts: Melbourne, Broadmeadows, Ringwood, Heidelberg, Dandenong, Frankston, Moorabbin, Sunshine, and Wyndham.
Position objective
The MHARS Clinician provides specialist clinical mental health advice to Magistrates, Community Correctional Services (CCS) and court users to ensure the appropriateness of mental health interventions and referrals for people appearing before the Court. The clinician provides a clinical mental health service including a responsive recovery-oriented approach for Magistrates’ Court users including screening, assessment, provision of reports, advice, consultation and referral.
To view the full position description, please view here
Key Responsibilities:
• Work within an ethically and legally sound framework.
• Provides a recovery oriented mental health service to Court users.
• Provides informed clinical advice and consultation to Magistrates, CCS staff, members of the legal profession, other relevant professionals and community agencies in relation to mental health issues.
• Demonstrates highly developed skills when completing mental health assessments with clients in the context of the court system including the Court Assessment and Prosecutions Service (CAPS) of Community Corrections.
• Undertakes liaison with Police, Custodial Health Service and Forensic Medical Officers to ensure that the mental health needs of defendants in police custody are met.
• Contributes to the development and delivery of training for Magistrates, Community
Correctional staff, members of the legal profession, other relevant professionals and community agencies in relation to mental health issues.
Key selection Criteria:
Registered Nurse RPN4:
• Registered Psychiatric Nurse. Must have current unrestricted registration with AHPRA and a post-graduate Diploma qualification in mental health nursing or equivalent
Eligibility
• COVID19 & Influenza Vaccination Evidence
• This position is subject to a Police Check
• We are able to Sponsor eligible International candidates for 182 Permanent or 486 Temporary Visa
Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and developing a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTQI, people with a lived experience of disability, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Forensicare promotes our guiding principles of curiosity, purpose, strong ethics, compassion and fairness; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.