Psycho-social Support Worker

Alfred Health

Alfred Health is a leader in health care delivery, improvement, research and education. We are the main provider of health services to people living in the inner southeast suburbs of Melbourne, from ambulatory to inpatient and home and community-based services. On 1 January 2026, Alfred Health will come together with Kooweerup Regional Health Service, Peninsula Health, Bass Coast Health and Gippsland Southern Health Service to create Bayside Health, a newly merged health service with more than 22,000 employees caring for a community of over 1.2 million Victorians. The new health service will provide people with the best possible care with services that support them throughout their lives. The merger will also strengthen our workforce, providing new training, education and career opportunities. Subject to final approval on 1 January 2026, all employees from the five health services will transfer to Bayside Health.

• Part time 0.6 EFT (48hours) to 09/08/2026  
• Community Development Worker Grade CL 2A (years 5-10) 
• Based at 549 St Kilda Rd
• Great staff benefits! 5 weeks annual leave and salary packaging

The Department

Alfred Mental & Addiction Health (AMAH) is responsible for the operation of services, which focus on people with a severe mental illness residing in the Inner South Eastern area of Melbourne.

The single most important goal of AMAH is to create an environment that facilitates clinical recovery, supports individual recovery efforts and strives to minimise service system barriers to the recovery process.

The HOPE Suicide Prevention team provide 3 months’ intensive outreach psycho-social support and brief interventions to individuals discharged from hospital post a suicide attempt or who have presented with serious suicidal ideation.

The Role

The HOPE team work Monday – Sunday 8 – 4:30pm including public holidays, and Psychosocial Support workers work on a rotating roster covering approximately 1 weekend per month.

In keeping with the goals of the Victorian suicide prevention framework 2016–25, the Alfred HOPE team aims to provide support and build resilience in individuals who have experienced suicidal crisis by engaging them with intensive outreach support and holistic, flexible, individualised care. The HOPE team is a multidisciplinary team including clinicians, psychosocial support workers, and lived experience workforce. Psychosocial Support Workers work in collaboration with and under the supervision of clinicians, senior clinicians and leadership within the HOPE team.

Psychosocial Support Workers work with consumers for up to 3 months to address the stressors/gaps in their life, develop safety plans and facilitate community engagement. Referrals may be received from other AMAH teams or from external sources including individuals and other supporters. Some individuals who are identified to be at higher risk will be managed by CATT in the first instance and parallel engagement will occur until their risk has subsided.

Psychosocial Support Workers work with clients to implement the strategies developed in collaboration with the consumer and the clinical team, and promote wellbeing by supporting connectedness with the community. This is achieved by assisting clients in navigating services; providing transport to appointments if available and appropriate; ensuring linkage with appropriate health practitioners, community services and recreational groups. Psychosocial Support Workers promote a healthy lifestyle and through general problem solving assist the client to take steps in making positive changes to their lives and more effectively manage their distress.

It is expected clinicians and Psychosocial Support Workers will adopt an approach that minimises the risk of further suicide attempts by engaging clients in the ongoing assessment of their risk, develops self-awareness, and engages clients in a collaborative suicide prevention plan that is personalised and strengths based.

Experience and Qualifications Required

Essential

• Hold a qualification in a health-related field and/or engaged in further studies, OR
• Significant demonstrated work experience in a relevant field
• A current Victorian Drivers Licence

Desirable

• Other relevant qualifications (or working towards) in a relevant area such as drug and alcohol or psychosocial or therapeutic interventions.
• Experience working with individuals in crisis or with mental health issues

Staff Benefits

• Salary packaging & novated leasing through Maxxia
• Flexible health insurance coverage through HCF Health Insurance
• Onsite car (subject to availability) and bike parking opportunities, deducted pre-tax(Subject to availability)
• Fantastic onsite fitness facilities at The Alfred through ProSport health and fitness
• Childcare services at The Alfred managed by KU Children’s Services

For enquiries regarding this position, please contact HOPE team leader Juliet Thornton on 0457 451 834 or j.thornton@alfred.org.au

Applications close at 11.00 pm on Friday 19 December 2025

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and people of all genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application materials, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

In accordance with the Health Services Amendment (Mandatory Vaccination of Healthcare Workers) Act 2020, health care workers in Category A or B roles (as determined by the department’s risk ratings) are required to be vaccinated against influenza or hold an acceptable medical exemption. 

Website: www.alfredhealth.org.au