MST – Psychiatric Family Therapist

About the role:

MacKillop has implemented the Evidence Based Model – Multisystemic Therapy –Psychiatric (MSTP) in the metro regions to focus on families with 9 – 17 year old young people. The psychiatric stream of MST integrates intensive mental health and substance abuse treatment with systemic family practice to provide clinical therapeutic support to young people and their families. Psychiatric assessments and consultation are available to families one day per week.

MST-P is a community-based, family driven intervention with a focus of empowering caregivers. Therapists carry small caseloads so they can visit families up to three times per week. In addition, team members are rostered to provide 24/7 crisis response to a family if needed

The therapist role is at the core of the clinical intervention. Each therapist has a case load of 4 families, and the therapeutic intervention lasts for 4-7 months, averaging 8 over the course of a year. Caseload size variation is determined by the age and relative complexity of the families currently in treatment. Duration of treatment should range from 4-7 months, averaging 6 months.

For ongoing programs, maintaining accreditation requires each therapist to treat at least 8 families annually. The 4-7 months of the MST-Psych intervention is delivered in the home and community where the young person and family reside. This will involve intensive home-based treatment and family visits which may be required initially as frequently as daily. In addition, 24/7 face-to-face crisis response by a member of the MST-Psych team is available to the family when needed.

The therapist will meet with families on a flexible schedule that may include evenings and weekends. Crisis calls after hours on weekdays and on weekends are received by an MST-Psych team member familiar with the family’s situation on a rotating on-call schedule. Most crisis calls are handled by telephone, but the on-call therapist needs to be available to respond face-to-face when appropriate. 

This is a Permanent Full-Time opportunity based in Geelong, VIC within our FPR Response/Clinical Services program. The position reports to the MST Psych Supervisor.

Key Selection Criteria:

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• The role requires a Bachelors degree and work experience in Psychology, Social Work, Counselling or a related subject area. Masters degree preferred.
• The role will at times require evening and weekend hours plus a rostered on-call schedule, therefore it is essential that the successful applicant’s life circumstances allows some flexibility to undertake this role.
• Direct use of pragmatic (i.e., structural, strategic and functional) family therapies
• Individual therapy with children and adults using cognitive behavioral techniques

Please address the full Key Selection Criteria outlined in the PD as part of your application.

For a full position listing, please click APPLY. The Position Description is available for review at the bottom of the page.

For more information, please contact:

Doliza Reyes-Bibbs at doliza.reyes-bibbs@mackillop.org.au or on +61437985378

Our offer:

• Generous Salary Packaging - helps increase your take home pay
• Ongoing Career Development, Education and Training 
• Employee Assistance Program – free and confidential counselling, coaching and emotional support for work and personal challenges
• Click HERE to find out more about becoming a member of the MacKillop Family Services team and what further support we have to offer our employees. 

You must have a:

• Valid and current Driver’s Licence;
• Satisfactory Criminal History Check (paid for by MacKillop);
• Valid Employee Working with Children Check;
• Valid and current NDIS Workers Screening Check (for risk assessed / client facing roles). MacKillop can assist successful candidates with their application.

Our Commitment:

MacKillop celebrates and draws strength from diversity and respects the dignity of all people. Every person at MacKillop has the right to be safe and to be treated justly. We value every person’s ability, cultural or linguistic backgrounds, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, intersex status, relationship status, religious or spiritual beliefs, socio-economic status, and age.

It is our goal that MacKillop Family Services continues to evolve as a culturally safe, culturally competent, and welcoming organisation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people, families, and communities.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are strongly encouraged to apply for this position.

Shortlisting for this position may commence immediately so please submit your application as soon as possible.