Young Person Peer Worker - CY-HOPE

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Young Person Peer Support Worker, ELMHS CY-HOPE 

Our Journey - Child and Youth HOPE Team, Early in Life Mental Health (ELMHS)   

Monash Health is excited to announce a Young Person Peer Support Worker position in the new Child & Youth Hospital Outreach Post-Suicidal Engagement (CY-HOPE) Team with the Early in Life Mental Health Service. The CY-HOPE team provides wellbeing/psychosocial support, peer support and brief clinical support to young people in the 0-18 age range presenting with suicide and self-harm concerns. The Young Person Peer Support Worker will work as part of the CY-HOPE team under its governance and support and, as such, will have opportunities to work in a variety of community settings. 

This role is permanent ongoing (0.5 EFT). 

About the Child and Youth HOPE Team 

The Early in Life Mental Health Services (ELMHS) provides assessment and treatment for infants, children, adolescents, young people and their families. We work with the 0-18 age in the Southern Region. We provide a comprehensive assessment service and a range of treatment options including inpatient treatment in times of crisis, community (outpatient) treatment, group programs, family therapy, and specialist services. The Child & Youth Hospital Outreach Post-Suicidal Engagement (CY-HOPE) Team is a core component of Victoria’s suicide prevention framework, which aims to halve Victoria’s suicide rate by 2025. This new service gives children and young people who are intentionally self-harming, experiencing suicidal ideation, or have attempted suicide a rapid and intensive form of support that is designed to prevent rate of recurrence and ultimately reduce rates of suicide among children and young people. Importantly, this includes engagement and support of their parents/carers, families and extended support networks in assertive outreach provided. 

All stakeholders (children, young people, their parents/carers, families and service providers) will work together in this Child and Youth HOPE service at the Early in Life Mental Health Service (ELMHS) at Monash Health. This service has been co-designed with and for young people and carers, First Nations people, people from Culturally Diverse Communities, LGBTIQ+ people, people in Out of Home Care, and Neurodiverse people. The co-designed service goals are: Approachable & Accessible, Positive & Empowering, Empathetic & Personalised, Responsible & Accountable, Creative & Resourceful, and Connected & Cohesive. The Early in Life Mental Health Services (ELMHS) provides assessment and treatment for infants, children, adolescents, young people and their families. We work with the 0-18 age in the Southern Region. We provide a comprehensive assessment service and a range of treatment options including inpatient treatment in times of crisis, community (outpatient) treatment, group programs, family therapy, and specialist services. 

About The Role 

The CY-HOPE team provides wellbeing/psychosocial support, peer support and brief clinical support to young people in the 0-18 age range presenting with suicide and self harm concerns.  The Young Person Peer Support Worker position is a lived experience peer support role. The successful candidate will provide non clinical support to consumers, alongside mental health clinicians and wellbeing support workers, and referral and liaison support to other services. The Young Person Peer Support worker will work as part of the CY-HOPE team under its governance and support and, as such, will have opportunities to work in a variety of community settings.    

In this role, you will utilise your own lived experience as a consumer who has experienced mental ill health and recovery, and has used mental health services to support others within the principles of intentional peer support. Within a relationship of mutuality, you will provide emotional support to consumers and promote well-being, choice, self-determination and greater opportunities for consumers to participate in their own treatment and recovery.  

Professional knowledge and experience: 

• Experience working in a Mental Health Lived Experience role, with the capacity to use recovery oriented and trauma informed principles when providing support to people at risk of suicide 
• Ability to establish strong, effective working relationships. I.e. Ability to liaise, consult and work with a broad range of consumers, carers/families, health professionals, community agencies and organizations  
• Effective written and verbal communication skills and an ability to communicate in everyday, non-clinical language 
• Understanding of the need to be sensitive to the needs of people from diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait people, culturally and Linguistically Diverse people 
• Demonstrated organisational skills including time management and working to agreed processes 
• Willingness to participate in relevant training and supervision programs for peer support workers 
• Understanding of the role of supervision, ongoing personal/professional development and other mechanisms that sustain motivation and enthusiasm 
• Understanding of the role of governance in developing and managing safe and effective services 
• Capability with using contemporary technologies, including Microsoft Office applications (Word, Outlook, Excel) 

What You Need: 

• Lived experience of  mental ill health and recovery, and has used mental health services 
• Recognition and understanding of own personal experience and ability to use this appropriately to support others.   
• Ability to use own experience to inspire hope and belief in recovery  
• Completion of Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training (or willingness to complete)  
• Completion of Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work or similar qualification (or willingness to complete)  

Monash Health will offer: 

• salary packaging 
• friendly and supportive culture 
• opportunity to experience various teams 
• on-going supervision and professional development

Important Information to Note

Existing Monash Health Employees should apply using your Monash Health employee account. 

Offers of employment can only be made once all required probity checks have been completed. These include:  

• reference checks;  
• a clear Police Check conducted within the last three months;   
• a current Victorian Employee Working with Children’s Check (or proof of payment for same);and   
• proof of immunisation.  

A request to conduct probity checks does not guarantee that an offer of employment will be made. As part of our selection process, you may be invited by email to participate in an on-camera video interview. 

For a confidential discussion and to explore the opportunity further, please call Elaine O'Kelly on 0404 016 468.

Position Description can be found here

Appendix B can be found here.

We recognise the value of equal employment opportunity. We are committed to patient safety, promoting fairness, equity and diversity in the workplace and to Child Safe Standards. At Monash Health we are relentless in our pursuit of excellence and work to our six guiding principles and our five ICare values.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted via the Monash Health online EHub system. For information including how to apply and probity check requirements, please click here for the ‘Application Guide’

Applications will be screened upon receipt and selection activity may commence prior to the closing date. 

Applications close April 15th, 2025.