• Primary Work Location: Kensington
• Maximum Term contract ending 30 June 2025
• Full-Time role (Part-time arrangements can be discussed for suitable candidates)

About Us

Ngala is a leading parenting organisation and has been serving the Western Australian community for 130 years. Ngala strives to enhance the experience of parenting and the development of children 0-18 years of age. We offer numerous programs and have multiple projects all aimed at meeting our core goals. Ngala is an organisation that values children and families and offers a great place to work.

Our Purpose - Supporting parents, families and communities to enhance the well-being and development of children and young people. 

Our Way - Listening and responding to parents and the changing needs of families and communities, to meet the challenges of raising children and young people, by offering a range of inclusive, evidence-based support services. 

Our Impact - When parents and families are confident and communities are strong, safe and healthy, children and young people will achieve their full potential.

About the Role

The National Perinatal and Infant Mental Health – ForWhen program is a transformative care and navigation system engaged in the implementation and ongoing development of a highly impactful care navigation service. The program provides a national comprehensive, stepped continuum of care for parents particularly those experiencing moderate/severe PIMH concerns.

The WA navigator will triage and co-ordinate referral within WA. The intake service will leverage existing pathways to ensure parents are referred to the right intensity of services that best matches their support needs. The ForWhen Navigator will work collaboratively at a national level.

Employees classified at this level are experts within their area and stream of practice and will possess a significant degree of autonomy and decision making.

DUTIES

Working with a child-centred, strength based and collaborative approach, your key responsibilities will include but not limited to:

• Building productive relationships and stakeholder engagement with key individuals and groups such as clients, families, National PIMH ForWhen Team (including Navigators in other states/territories), broader Ngala staff, PIMH support service providers.
• Work within the NPIMH ForWhen model of care.
• Undertake triage, screening and assessment to ensure that clients are referred to appropriate Perinatal services.
• Develop knowledge of local services, using existing database and develop links with service providers, keeping current with service changes and developments.
• Liase with a range of multi-disciplinary professionals who are involved in a client’s care, ensuring a smooth and co-ordinated approach, especially where multiple agencies involved
• Identify at risk clients’, when there is a need for urgent action, requiring a stepped care model approach to facilitate safe management of clinical risk through appropriate escalation pathways.
• Establish strong links with other ForWhen navigator peers, consumers and referring agents and contribute to the wider aims and objectives of the ForWhen program.
• Provide leadership and direction, act as a role model, mentor, consultant and resource person relating to PIMH.

About You

You will possess:

• Bachelor or Diploma in Social Work, Nursing or Psychology with at least 3 years post registration experience
• Current registration with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency (AHPRA), Nursing or eligibility for membership with the peak professional association (Social Workers).
• Knowledge and understanding of moderate to severe mental health issues in antenatal, birth and the postnatal period (including maternal and infant health, parenting).
• Knowledge and awareness of current and emerging issues and trends in perinatal infant mental health, including barriers to accessing support services.
• Demonstrated experience of collaborative person-centred care and treatment planning and working with families, including an awareness of barriers to engagement.
• Demonstrated ability to work in multidisciplinary team and liaise with other health professionals.
• Ability to undertake a comprehensive perinatal-specific biopsychosocial assessment and use this to inform referral pathways and plan treatment as required in the perinatal context.
• Valid WA Working with Children Check and driver’s licence

If you are successful in this position you will need to provide a satisfactory National Police Clearance (within the last 6 months).

Why Join Us

• Salary packaging benefits to increase your take-home pay
• Free onsite parking
• Discounted Private Healthcare
• Access to Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Refer a Friend Program ($500 for the referrer and $500 for the friend)

If you are an experienced and talented professional looking to create and imprint your personal and professional mark with Ngala, we would love to hear from you.

Enquiries: Please direct any enquiries to Eleanor Boyd, Senior Coordinator Mental Health on eboyd@ngala.com.au.

To apply: Please submit your CV and cover letter by clicking the 'apply' button and follow the prompts.

Closing Date: Applications are due by 5pm, Friday, 13 September 2024, however shortlisting will commence immediately so we encourage you to submit your application promptly.

About Ngala

At Ngala, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to be their best, and that raising children should be a joyful and rewarding experience.

After 130 years of working with families across Western Australia, Ngala continues to use the latest research and training, alongside community stories and experiences to develop and deliver services that meet the needs of today’s parents and children.

Ngala is an equal opportunity employer. We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally diverse background, people who identify as LGBTIQA+ and people with a disability.

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People as the traditional custodians of the land where our programs and services operate and pay respect to Elders past and present in the spirit of reconciliation.