Position Description Position Title(+ Ft/Pt/Fixed/Casual) Consumer

Position Description
Position Title(+ Ft/Pt/Fixed/Casual)
Program Area
Award/Agreement/Classification
Reports To
Contact
Contact Phone Number
Consumer & Carer Participation Officer ( 0.2 EFT,
until 30th June 2016)
Prevention & Population Health
Health and Allied Services, Managers and
Administrative Officers, 2011-2015, Grade 3
Coordinator, Mental Health Catchment Based
Planning
Gordon Conochie (Senior Manager, Prevention &
Population Health)
0475 810 798
cohealth is one of Australia’s largest community health organisations delivering
services across Melbourne’s inner, northern and western metropolitan suburbs.
cohealth’s mission is to strengthen community and make a difference to the lives
and wellbeing of people, particularly of those who experience stigma and the risk of
marginalisation. We create impact through a powerful combination of advocacy,
innovation in service delivery, and partnership with consumers, communities and
other stakeholders.
With over 40 sites cohealth provides a range of vital local health and support
services including medical, dental, allied health, mental health, and counselling,
and many specialist health services. More information about cohealth is available
on our website www.cohealth.org.au.
Staff enjoy being part of a supportive environment with strong leadership and a
collegiate and communicative approach. A not for profit organisation built on
strong values, cohealth’s commitment to all staff and volunteers is to ensure a
positive and supportive work environment.
cohealth is an equal opportunity employer that offers generous salary packaging
and opportunity to undertake professional training and development opportunities.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those who speak languages other
than English are encouraged to apply.
Site/Program Profile
The Prevention & Population Health program is part of the Advocacy and
Partnerships Directorate which is responsible for ensuring alignment between
cohealth’s strategic and value based commitment to inclusion, and the continued
development of cohealth’s local communities and services.
The Directorate seeks to achieve this outcome by facilitating a range of cross
organisational programs and external partnerships focussed on policy, research and
service innovation; community partnerships, programs and strategy; prevention and
population health planning, and communications, marketing and media relations.
The Prevention & Population Health program aims to improve health, wellbeing and
social inclusion through cross-organisational programs, external partnerships and
community development. It comprises a range of functions including integrated
health promotion and upstream primary prevention programs, and the Catchment
Based Planning Function under the newly established Community Mental Health
Support Services system.
Prevention & Population Health Mission Statement
“We work with the communities we serve, especially the most vulnerable
communities, taking action before health issues arise to improve health and prevent
illness. We do this by addressing social determinants of health, improving access to
services, developing creative programs and advocating for equitable systems for
the whole population."
Position summary
Cohealth is responsible for establishing and coordinating the delivery of catchment
based planning for Mental Health Community Support Services (MHCSS) across the
north and west of Melbourne. The Consumer and Carer Participation Officer will be
part of a small team with a coordinator and senior manager that will work with
cohealth, other MHCSS providers and consumers to better understand and respond
to needs and work collaboratively to improve responsiveness, with a focus on the
most disadvantaged.
The Consumer and Carer Participation Officer is responsible for enabling consumers
and carers inform the development and review of the catchment-based strategic
plan and are represented in other relevant planning forums. The Officer will work
closely with consumer and carer consultants employed by the MHCSS providers to
achieve this.
Position Responsibilities


Contribute to the development, implementation and review of a consultation
and engagement strategy with consumers and carers.
Manage the Consumer Working Group that meets quarterly, approximately,
ensuring that group is contributing effectively to decisions about how Mental
Health Community Support Services (MHCSS) can be more accessible and
work better with other services.






Contribute to the development of and manage the delivery of consultation
and engagement strategies and activities with carers
Collaborate with consumer and carer consultants employed by MHCSS
providers in the catchment area to create systems, structures and processes
that enable consumers and carers to influence planning, delivery and review
of services.
Learn and share information amongst MHCSS providers in the catchment
regarding successful ways of enabling consumers and carers to influence
planning, delivery and review of services.
Assist carers and consumers to participate effectively in consultation and
engagement activities or events, such as stakeholder forums, by providing
orientation and guidance.
Collaborate with existing consumer and carer groups to gather information
from them to influence planning, delivery and review of services.
Undertake other duties as instructed by the line manager.
General Organisational Requirements
 Ensure compliance with cohealth financial policies and procedures
 Ensure all work is in line with cohealth policies and procedures
 Work within limits of confidentiality and privacy appropriate to programs
 Work in ways that support and uphold cohealth values
 Maintain integrity in adhering to personal accountabilities such as working in
a non-smoking work place, no smoking with or around clients, timeliness and
other professional courtesies
Position Requirements





An ability to build and maintain relationships with consumers, carers and staff
from multiple organisations
Takes initiative, acts with confidence and works well under own direction
Ability to solve problems by being collaborative, creative and analytical
Demonstrates integrity and reliability, and fosters open, honest,
communication
Must be an Australian citizen or have work rights in Australia
Key Selection criteria
Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced people addressing
the following areas:
Essential




Tertiary qualification in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
Lived experience of mental illness and recovery.
Knowledge of, and commitment to, client, carer and community
participation and codesign.
Experience of participating in meetings/groups that plan or review services




Experience of assisting consumers or carers participate in meetings/groups
that plan or review of services
Knowledge and understanding of the mental health sector and the key
stakeholders.
Experience of building and maintaining relationships and working in
partnerships/networks.
Good written and verbal communication skills.
Desirable
 Knowledge of the health sector in North and West areas of Metropolitan
Melbourne
 Knowledge of the cohealth regions and relevant services
 Current drivers licence
Additional Information
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
cohealth is an equal opportunity employer.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and those who speak languages
other than English are encouraged to apply.
This position is based at cohealth’s office: 365 Hoddle Street, Collingwood, 3011,
but may be required to work across sites from time to time or to change sites.
Employment is subject to the satisfactory completion of a Police Record Check
and where required Working with Children Check.
In the context of occupational health and safety all employees are required to
carry out their duties in a manner that does not adversely affect their own
health and safety and that of others by reporting all incidents and injuries as
well as co-operating with any measures introduced in the workplace to
improve OH&S.
Salary packaging is available to all fixed and permanent staff.
Relationship to Performance Development and Review Plan
This position description operates in conjunction with and forms part of the relevant
individual Performance Development Review Plan. An initial performance review
will take place three months following commencement of employment and then on
an annual basis.
Our Principles
Our work is informed by human rights based principles which include:
Participation: We work to improve access to our services by creating
opportunities for active and meaningful participation.
Accountability: We have strong systems that are open and transparent and
we actively encourage and respond to feedback.
Non-discrimination and attention to vulnerable groups: We work with the most
disadvantaged people to improve their health and wellbeing.
Empowerment: We work alongside a strong and well-connected community
that is supported to have a voice.
Linking practice to human rights standards: Our work promotes and protects
the rights of staff, consumers and the wider community.
We require all employees to perform in a way that is in line with these principles.
Document Review Details
Version Number: 1.0
Date Reviewed: 22nd April 2015
Date to be reviewed: 22nd April 2016
I have read, understood and accept the above position description
Name
Signature
Date /
/
Date /
/
Director Name
Director Signature