Organisation: Western Sydney Local Health District
Job Title: Mental Health Professional
Location: Cumberland
Relevant tertiary qualification in – Nursing and registration with AHPRA – Social Work with current registration with AASW – Psychology with current AHPRA registration – Occupational therapy with current AHPRA Qualifications and Registration with AHPRA or the AASW
As a qualified Social Worker, I have completed a Bachelor of Social Work and Post Graduate Diploma in Professional Supervision at the University of Auckland, a Post Graduate Certificate in Allied Mental Health at Victoria University, and am currently completing a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Service Management through Massey University. I am registered with the Australian Association of Social Workers (458345), as well as Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (6535) and the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board.
Further to this, I have demonstrated a commitment to continued professional development by participating in a range of short courses throughout my career, including
Primary Mental Health Network Conference: Making Connections
LGBTTI Wellness and Suicide: Why do we need to change?
Introducing Culturally Appropriate Mental Health Services
Case Reviews and Common MH Disorders in Primary Care
Youth Depression and Early Intervention in Primary Care
Pasifikology Fono – Launch of Pacific Talking Therapies
International Symposium – Motivational Interviewing
Safe Practice and Effective Communication Refresher
The Integrative Approach to Cross Cultural Practice
Working Effectively with Families / Whanau Ora
Train the Trainer: E-Therapy – Beating the Blues
Inaugural National Pacific Recovery Conference
Train the Trainer: Results Based Accountability
Risk Management Training and Assessment
Professional Supervisor and Mentor (PMA)
Mental Health Assessment and Screening
Psychiatric Emergencies in Primary Care
Pacific Cultural Competencies in Health
Health of the Nation Outcome Scales
Sector Networking and Collaboration
Hearing Voices that are Distressing
Personal Safety and Awareness
Project Management (CMDHB)
Root Cause Analysis (CMDHB)
Anxiety about Dual Diagnosis
Introduction to Supervision
Medication Policy
Current Drivers Licence valid within Australia
I have a current NSW manual driver’s licence.
Knowledge of the NSW Mental Health Act and relation legislation, Government Policy frameworks as relating to mental health care provision
Since 2007, my roles have been specifically focused on the provision and leadership of mental health care. Prior to this I had six years of experience in more general social work settings. As a result, I have developed an in-depth knowledge of the mental health frameworks in New Zealand, and set high standards for my work in line with this framework. Since arriving in Australia three months ago, I have taken the opportunity to study the NSW Mental Health Act, along with related legislation and government policy, and have found the standards in NSW to align with those I already hold in my professional practice.
As a Case Manager, and more recently as a Program Manager, I have gained extensive experience in adapting my practice to provide the most appropriate care for the individual situation. I effectively manage a varied case load, whilst maintaining alignment with overarching policies and legislation. I am aware of the need to maintain consistency with the Mental Health Act, and as such utilise it to inform my practice in the treatment of voluntary and involuntary patients, both in the mental health facility and in the community.
As a Mental Health Clinician, I have demonstrated respect for the rights of the patient throughout the care process. One example of where I do this is when a patient chooses not to involve their family in their care. In this situation I provide all appropriate information regarding the benefits of having support from family, but do not pressure the patient, nor go against their wishes. When family are involved in the care of the patient, I work collaboratively with them to gain support for the care plan; educate them on the illness, its impact and possible treatments; and address any concerns they have.
Not only do I apply these principles in my own practice, but as Mental Health Program Manager I was responsible for the training of other staff in practice standards in line with legislation, frameworks and the Mental Health Act. As a direct result of my training, my team maintained a professional approach with an exceptional level of care.
Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal communication skills, as well as demonstrated intermediate computer skills and ability to learn new skills.
As a highly skilled mental health professional, I engage high level written and verbal communication skills, together with excellent interpersonal skills, to facilitate the provision of exceptional care. Further to this, I am confident in the use of computers, in particular for documentation, communication via email, and the use of the Microsoft Office suite of products. I am an enthusiastic learner, as demonstrated by my pursuit of continued professional learning in the formal learning environment, professional reading, and engagement with a multidisciplinary team. Additionally, I am able to rapidly acquire new skills, both in the clinical setting and with computer systems.
My written communication skills are demonstrated through accurate and precise documentation. This was particularly evident when I was caring for a patient who had been referred from a General Practitioner, and across one particular weekend the patient had attempted suicide. The GP was notified of this and immediately submitted a letter of complaint to my manager. When my manager informed me of the complaint I went and printed all the notes I had taken from my dealings with the patient. I was informed that there would be a meeting to discuss what had happened; however, three weeks later I still had not heard any details for this meeting. I contacted my manager who informed me the meeting was no longer required because of the quality of my documentation. All the information needed to address the complaint was clearly and accurately presented. My approach to documentation is that, no matter how minor an event seems, it needs to be documented. This facilitates all members of the multidisciplinary team having access to a complete picture of the patient, which contributes to the provision of individualised care.
I build positive working relationships with a range of internal and external stakeholders, including the client. As a calm person by nature, I have found that often it is enough just to be present to begin to see a de-escalation of the situation. In one particular instance, I was contacted by a GP who was experiencing difficulty dealing with a client with a dual diagnosis of mental health and substance abuse. Upon my arrival, the client was highly elevated and verbally abusive to staff, requiring me to think and act promptly and confidently, using my sound judgement to defuse the situation. Familiar with this particular client, I quickly assessed the situation and decided the best approach was to use relaxed body language and allow her to recognise my presence, but not engage in dialogue. Once she realised I was there to help her, she began to calm down and I was able to engage a quiet, calm conversation where I listened to her concerns, before discussing with her what had occurred and the steps we would take together to address it. She expressed her gratitude to me for listening and supporting her, and I continued to work closely with her to support her effective transition back into the community.
Relevant experience in the provision of Acute & Case-Managing consumers in a community mental health setting, and experience in working in collaboration with consumers, their families and carers.
With over fifteen years of experience in social work, the last 10 of which have been in the mental health setting, I have gained extensive experience in the provision of care for a diverse range of clients. This is best demonstrated through my tenure as a Mental Health Program Manager and Clinical Coordinator with Alliance Health Plus (AH+), where I was responsible for assessing, investigating and managing a substantial caseload encompassing a clinical network of over 20 General Practitioner (GP) practices. With a focus on high need populations, I provided direct clinical support and designed comprehensive case plans to empower and encourage individuals from all backgrounds towards a fulfilling life. In addition to undertaking direct client management services, I was responsible for leading and training a team of high-performing support service workers to facilitate a holistic, person-centred approach.
Following an assessment, I engage a wide range of counselling techniques to help patients and their families understand a particular illness, work through the emotions of a diagnosis, and offer support about the decisions that needed to be made. I do this by guiding discussions, introducing healthy problem-solving techniques and providing realistic strategies to help individuals resolve the issues related to their health condition. In addition to this, I work with families and carers to assist them in supporting their loved one through this process. Working closely with my clients towards their self-defined personal recovery, I emphasise hope, social inclusion, community participation, personal goal setting and self-management, with a focus on building their capacity to live independently and contribute as a valuable member of the community.
For example, in my role with AH+, I worked closely with a 27-year-old male who had experienced a brain injury, but was also presenting symptoms of mental illness and paranoia. Due to challenging family circumstances, he had not completed his education and was not equipped with the basic living skills and tools that others take for granted. Combined with his health condition, this made it difficult for him to work or study effectively, and often caused him mental, physical and financial anguish that prevented normal daily function. In addition to treating him with appropriate medication, I encouraged his participation in relevant services within the community through a client-centred and strengths-based approach. This involved focusing on his strengths, not his disability, and helping him to establish goals in alignment with his abilities, skill level and interests. I subsequently helped him enrol in a special education school and, after two years, he achieved greater levels of literacy and was able to sit his driver’s test and successfully gain his licence. He also engaged in assisted living services and now owns a car and is living independently on a reduced medication plan, with the support of regular therapy. This was a highly rewarding outcome and he now aims to join a social work organisation where he can provide support and assistance to others with complex needs.
Demonstrated training, skill and experience in the assessment of people presenting with acute mental health problems
Through my experience with AH+, in addition to my employment in various social work capacities with the Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) and the Department of Child Youth and Family Services, I have demonstrated my ability to effectively assess individuals presenting with acute mental health problems, and develop, deliver and evaluate capacity-building interventions to support recovery focused services. Specifically, this has included completing extensive mental health and social assessments, and designing tailored clinical care plans to help individuals to build their capacity to support themselves. Further to this, I conduct follow-up assessments to evaluate progress, and adjust care plans as needed to suit the individual client’s needs.
My most recent position as Mental Health Program Manager with Alliance Health Plus saw me solely responsible for the triaging of new patient referrals. After receiving a written referral, I would organise a meeting with the patient to assess their current position and needs, before assigning them to an appropriate Case Manager, or referring on to more specialised services under a Psychologist or Psychiatrist. During this assessment I would establish whether there was a need for immediate medication, or whether it was better to implement psychological therapies prior to the inclusion of medication. I was also personally responsible for the coordination of access to secondary care services and community agencies.
In addition to this, whilst dealing with mental health clients, I have utilised effective assessment techniques on regular home visits. On a number of occasions, I have found the situation where, although the client had initially been making progress, they have relapsed. I engage a collaborative approach to determining the best course of action, and involve the multidisciplinary team in the decision-making process. For example, upon observing a relapsed patient in their home, I would call the Psychiatrist and describe the client’s current condition to them. In this discussion I establish whether the case needs to be escalated. If so, the crisis team come to the client’s home to do their own assessment, which then determines whether the client needs to be admitted to hospital for further treatment, or whether the treatment plan can be implemented at home. In pursuing effective assessment strategies initially, I am well equipped to provide the detailed information required to make appropriate recommendations in terms of the ongoing care of the patient. I maintain a professional approach both in my dealings with the client and within the multidisciplinary team, and respect the knowledge and recommendations of those with more specific, in-depth knowledge in a particular aspect of mental health care.
Understanding of and ability to work within an integrated mental health service and a demonstrated ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team
With over 15 years of experience in the social work field, I have continuously demonstrated a strong commitment to, and ability to work within, a multidisciplinary team. Particularly in the mental health space, I work with occupational therapists, psychologists, nurses, psychiatrists, and a wide range of government and community organisations to ensure high quality care is provided. I utilise exceptional communication and collaboration skills to facilitate continuity of care for the patient, and regularly engage in professional conversations, sharing knowledge and learning from others, as well as actively contributing to case review meetings. Throughout this process I advocate for the patient, gaining and providing support for care plans as appropriate.
My commitment to an integrated mental health service was evidenced in my most recent role as Mental Health Program Manager, where I led several major engagement projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Health. One of these projects was a pilot program for a major engagement with GP clinics to improve engagement amongst the primary healthcare sector for dealing with mental health presentations and co-morbidities. My focus was on providing seamless integration of services across primary health GP practices and related community health and social service organisations, with initiatives aimed at resolving technical, financial and motivational barriers faced by GPs. These ranged from implementing bulk funding for GP clinics attending to mental health patients, to leading a team of psychologists to provide subject matter expertise to build the confidence of GPs. Following an evaluation of current systems, processes and clinical practices, I developed new delivery models and facilitated training specific to the assessment and provision of support for people with complex needs. My role also extended to reporting to the Ministry of Health against budgetary and KPI-based targets. The pilot was highly successful and is now being expanded. As a result, I was highly successful in developing local expertise within the AH+ network and increasing the clinical support capability and integration of GPs, psychologists and other support workers. Through this experience, I established positive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders, which allowed for a coordinated and cohesive approach between services.
