Psychologist - Adult Mental Health

Senior Psychologist 

• Classification: Psychologist, Grade 3 (PL1-4)
• Department: Prevention and Recovery Care Service - Springvale 

The position provides psychological services to consumers in the Prevention and Recovery Care Service (PARCS) – Springvale. PARCS Springvale is a voluntary program that provides short-term residential support for adults aged 18 -64, identifying as women or gender diverse, who are experiencing acute mental health concerns. The program offers more intensive support than outpatient, and less intensive support than inpatient mental health services. The facility accommodates up to 10 people with an average stay of 14 days. PARCS Springvale is run in partnership with Wellways and is staffed by a multidisciplinary clinical team and non-clinical Recovery and Peer workers. 

The focus of the position is to provide evidence-based psychological services to the consumers who present with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, personality disturbances, depression and other severe and acute mental health disorders.

Key result areas:

• Engage in psychological work requiring advanced knowledge and skills 

• Conduct psychological assessments and provide meaningful feedback as per the model of care, including diagnostic, cognitive and personality assessments to assist with diagnostic clarification, formulation and treatment planning 

• Prepare psychological reports, and provide effective and timely verbal and written feedback to referrers, consumers and others, as appropriate 

• Use diagnosis, formulation, and consumers’ preferences to develop and deliver effective, evidence-based psychological intervention as per the model of care, including: 

  • Integrate a trauma-informed, gender-responsive approach into diagnosis, assessment, and treatment

  • Psychoeducation about the nature of the consumer’s mental illness, treatment options, and coping strategies

  • Assist consumers to develop strategies to prevent relapse, including recognising early warning signs and developing strategies to address them

  • Use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy with consumers to assist them identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviours which impact their mental health

  • Use Motivational Interviewing to explore and resolve ambivalence about engaging in treatment and making behavioural changes that are necessary for the consumer to reach their treatment goals

  • Facilitate groups with the goal of improving consumers’ psychological wellbeing and knowledge and understanding of mental health, emotions and coping 

• Engage with families and carers as part of providing evidence-based psychological assessment and intervention 

• Develop and implement behaviour support plans as required 

• Identify and refer to appropriate ongoing psychological support as part of discharge planning 

• Provide secondary consultation, including offering a psychological perspective to the treating team and other relevant stakeholders 

• Engage and provide supervision as per supervision policies 

• Be involved in supporting clinical education activities 

• Contribute to the evaluation and analysis of guidelines, policies and procedures 

• Practice ethically and professionally, including adhering to legal, ethical and organisational standards, including the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 

• Actively participate in reaching operational business Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s) 

• Participate in department meetings and other meetings when requested or required 

About the Role

Grade 3 Psychology positions are roles for psychologists who have completed five years of practice post attaining their general registration. They generally have an area of practice endorsement and are board approved supervisors. They have internalised and integrated knowledge, apply their knowledge effectively and support the development of other psychologists through providing supervision and contributing to education initiatives and other quality improvement activities. As per the PsyBA Professional competencies for psychology, all psychologists: 

• Apply a scientific, culturally informed and evidence-based approach to psychological practice and evaluating outcomes 

• Maintain appropriate clinical documentation, records and data as per organisational, legal and professional guidelines 

• Engage in reflection of own competence, evaluate effectiveness of own practice and engage in activities to enhance competence 

• Reflect on impact of one’s own culture, values, beliefs and biases, and act upon such reflection and ensure practice is responsive and adaptive to consumer, context and culture 

• Monitor and manage self-care to sustain professional functioning and wellbeing 

• Regularly evaluate consumer progress and views about the agreed psychological intervention, their goals and aspirations, and the effectiveness of interventions 

• Communicate effectively and professionally with a diverse range of consumers, colleagues and stakeholders 

• Work collaboratively with consumers, colleagues and stakeholders by establishing and maintaining appropriate, safe and respectful working relationships 

• Work without discrimination and be inclusive, sensitive and respectful of all forms of individual diversity in consumers, colleagues, and relevant others 

• Recognise the impact of one’s own values, beliefs, experiences, positionality and cultural identity on practice and demonstrates an ongoing commitment to culturally responsive practice 

• Demonstrate culturally responsive healthcare that considers the diversity of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, families and communities 

• Apply the principles of trauma-aware and culturally safe care to psychological practice 

About You

Qualifications/ registrations/ licences:

• Current general registration as a Psychologist with the Australian Health Professionals Regulation Authority (AHPRA) and consent to ongoing registration checks via Monash Health’s electronic credentialing systems 

• Hold endorsement in clinical or forensic psychology 

• Psychology Board of Australia (AHPRA) approved supervisor, or able to complete supervisor training within six months of accepting the role 

• Current and ongoing employment screening, including but not limited to, National Police Check, employee Working with Children Check (WWC) and where relevant Aged Care Worker Screening, and as required National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Worker Screening 

• Minimum of five years professional experience as a Psychologist Grade 2 (or equivalent) 

Technical skills/ knowledge/ experience:

• Advanced knowledge and skills in providing evidence-based psychological assessments, reports, formulation, intervention and evaluation of outcomes with individuals/groups 

• Advanced knowledge and/or experience in providing psychological services to adults who identify as women or gender diverse with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, personality disorders, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and other severe mental health disorders 

• Experience in group intervention 

• Experience providing secondary consultation 

• Experience supporting the development of skills in others 

Other position requirements 

• As we support a culture of safety through employee immunisation, there must be documentation provided confirming completed immunisation on employment at Monash Health. Applicants who are new to Monash Health must provide evidence of immunisation before they can receive an offer of employment. 

• Current and satisfactory Police Check (must also comply with Aged Care Act 1997 Accountability Amendment Principles 2012 if working in Aged Care setting) 

• Current and satisfactory Working with Children Check (employee status). 

• Applicants who are new to Monash Health will be required to enter into an Employment Agreement before commencement