Consumer Peer Worker

An exciting opportunity exists for a consumer peer worker/s to join the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD) Older People's Mental Health Services (OPMHS) providing peer support services to community dwelling older people and their families/carers. This position/s involves working across three community OPMHS teams providing a voice of lived experience to assist the recovery journey of older mental health consumers and working alongside the clinical multidisciplinary teams. This position may be filled by a full time equivalent or by a number of part time positions.

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Position Classification: Health Education Officer Non Graduate
Remuneration: $ 1,245.43 - 1,801.00 per week
Hours Per Week: 38
Requisition ID: REQ656828

Who we are: We are a health service that touches thousands of lives across the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD), together as a team of like-minded people. We are passionate, driven and have the skills and knowledge to care for our patients whilst creating the best services possible. Our teams have meaningful, interesting and rewarding work everyday. We challenge and nurture each other, sharing our knowledge and experience so that we can deliver better care for everyone There’s a real sense of belonging here because we value and respect our patients, employees, and teams’ voices. You’ll feel a real privilege being a trusted caregiver in our patients, their families, their carers, and our communities’ lives. 

NSLHD is proud of our diverse and inclusive workplaces, a place where health care professionals can thrive and feel they belong. We are committed to ensure that all our people feel respected and participate safely within a work environment without aggression, sexual harassment, discrimination and racism. 

Where you'll be working
Three locations across NSLHD: Hornsby Community Mental Health Centre; Royal North Shore Community Health Centre and Brookvale Community Health Centre.

What you'll be doing
The OPMHS Consumer Peer Workers will draw upon their lived experience of mental health challenges and their personal recovery journey in a safe and effective way, to develop empathic relationships and support personal recovery of consumers accessing OPMHS of the Northern Sydney Local Health District (NSLHD). The OPMHS Consumer Peer Worker will work in collaboration with the OPMHS Multidisciplinary Teams to engage older consumers and their carers in individual and group peer support processes and activities that are person centred and recovery focused. The OPMHS Consumer Peer Worker will participate in service planning and delivery meetings, clinical review and attend and contribute to clinical handover. This is a non-clinical role. 

The OPMHS clinical services provide both inpatient and community mental health services to persons over the age of 65. Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people may be referred from the age of 50. The goals of the position are to support the older consumer through their journey in mental health services by providing peer support, individual consultations, education and group interventions aimed at facilitating recovery principles of hope, choice, self-determination and social connectedness. Key focus areas include: mental health and wellbeing for consumers of OPMHS, supporting consumers through their initial referral and engagement process, supporting people to identify their personal goals for recovery, to facilitate social inclusion, rehabilitation and recovery, support working with consumers and the treating team to prevent hospital admissions, and to offer post discharge support from Mental Health Inpatient Units. 
 

People of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander background encouraged to apply.
Candidates will need to meet the following criteria: