Official Visitor NSW Mental Health

Summary about this job

Detail information about job Official Visitor NSW Mental Health. Terms and conditions vacancy

• Make a difference in mental health services
• Advocate and collaborate
• In your community and across the state

Official Visitors Program
Working to keep the humanity in mental health care
Recruiting Official Visitors in the Illawarra, South Coast and Southern Tablelands

Applications close August 2

If you are looking for an opportunity to work with people, have a passion for human rights and want to make a difference in mental health care, joining us as an Official Visitor may be a role for you.

You may have experience in a health profession, lived experience as a consumer or carer or be an interested community member. You will want to contribute to the lives of people who experience living with mental health issues through contact with the services they use. This is part time work requiring only several days each month.  

Our work
The Official Visitors Program has progressed from our beginnings in 1843.  We are appointed by the NSW Minister for Mental Health for a fixed term, usually four years.

Our progression and effectiveness is a direct result of our people. We have a strong commitment to rights, dignity and keeping the humanity in mental health care. We are very proud to be Official Visitors and value the strength of our diverse teams. With a focus on care, collaboration and communication we work hard to ensure every visit and every conversation we have makes a difference.

We are a workforce of over 90 people who live all over New South Wales and find this work rewarding, interesting and enjoyable. We have busy lives but we set aside several days each month to work as Official Visitors because we believe in rights and dignity. Some of us have a health profession background, others come as community members and jointly we all contribute to the lives of people who experience living with mental health issues.

Why we exist
Our purpose is to keep the humanity in mental health care.
Our vision is that mental health treatment and care should always be provided in a humane and dignified way.
Our functions and activities are described in the Mental Health Act 2007. It states that we will visit declared mental health services (mental health units, community health centres and emergency departments in hospitals) every month.
During these visits we

• Talk with consumers, carers and families
• Look at the care and treatment being given
• Act as an advocate
• Inspect the facilities

We also talk with the staff and ask questions about the services. Each visit produces a report which helps to guide improvements in the mental health system.

Selection Criteria

•  Professional qualifications or an equivalent level of knowledge gained through a combination of education, training and experience
•  Interest in current issues relating to mental health and services
•  Commitment to social justice and human rights
•  Excellent oral and written communication and negotiation skills
•  Ability to work effectively in a team and independently
•  Competence in using a range of on-line systems and devices (mobile phone, iPad) and a willingness to learn to use a reporting and communication system.
•   Good research and investigative skills
•   Current driver's license

We value the diverse perspectives and sources of expertise within our workforce. We strongly encourage applications from :

•  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 
•  People with CALD backgrounds 
• People with expertise gained through lived experience as consumers or carers

Key roles and responsibilities
•  Advocate on behalf of consumers of mental health services, to ensure that issues of importance to them are addressed
•  Collaborate with health service managers, the Principal Official Visitor, Official Visitors, Program staff or other organisations on matters raised by consumers, their carers and/or families
•  Visit mental health facilities regularly as part of an allocated team
• Undertake the functions of Official Visitors at each visit 

Apply

Email [email protected] for more information or apply by sending us your CV and a cover letter that tells us more about your interest and experience in mental health services, why you are applying for this position and the particular skills and experience you'd bring to the role.