Consultant Psychiatrist

Provide clinical leadership of a new service, specialising in early intervention mental health treatment to young people aged 12-25 years with a first episode of psychosis, or at ultra-high risk of psychosis.

The Consultant Psychiatrist for the headspace Early Psychosis, Mobile Assessment & Treatment Team, holds a key clinical leadership position in partnership with the Team Leader.  

Responsible for the provision of professional and clinical leadership, and supervising a Registrars in training.  The service is co-located with a primary care headspace site and consist of three teams:  Mobile Assessment and Treatment, Continuing Care and Functional Recovery. 

The service specialises in early intervention for young people aged 12-25, for up to 5 years.  You would contribute to the development of an innovative recovery service, that provides high quality care to achieve the best outcomes for young people and their families.

• ACT headspace Early Psychosis Youth Service
• Part Time Flexible – 3-4 days/week – Permanent position
• Specialist rate up to Senior Specialist + TESL + Salary Packaging

Role Overview

The Consultant Psychiatrist will work collaboratively with a range of mental health clinicians to promote comprehensive evidence-based psychiatric care, that is youth friendly, safe, effective, and of a high standard, based on the Orygen EPPIC model. You would actively participate in overseeing clinical review and quality assurance processes (including risk management), supervision of staff, professional development meetings and contribute to the development and maintenance of community partnerships with key external stakeholders, developing effective interfaces across programs within the service, as well as facilitating relevant evaluation activities.

The overall aims of clinical care are:

• To reduce the duration of untreated psychosis through early detection, in order to minimise the impact of a first episode of psychosis on the normal developmental trajectory of the young person.
• Intervene early and effectively with young people at risk of a first episode of psychosis, to prevent the onset of psychotic illness.
• To enable both symptomatic and functional recovery from a first episode of psychosis.

Essential Criteria

• Registration as a medical practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA); Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists or equivalent postgraduate specialist qualification.
• Experience and demonstrated skill in crisis intervention and management of young people in the acute phase of a mental illness.
• Substantial knowledge of the evidence base for the biopsychosocial treatments of first episode psychosis.
• Demonstrated ability to engage with young people, their families and/or significant others.
• Demonstrated capacity to be innovative in clinical approaches with young people.
• Ability to maintain the philosophy, guidelines, standards and policies of the EPPIC model within a headspace platform and to promote the early intervention and recovery of young people with a first episode of psychosis.
• Demonstrated commitment to clinical supervision, education, training and ongoing professional development and to contribute to clinical staff learning.

To Apply, click the Apply button & attach your Resume and Cover Letter addressing the Essential criteria.

Uniting Staff Benefits & Culture

As an organisation we celebrate our diversity and welcome all people regardless of ethnicity, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people from a diverse cultural background are encouraged to apply. 

• Generous salary packaging options.
• Paid parental leave.
• Professional development leave and funding.
• My wellbeing programs.
• Corporate discounts.

Enquiries: A/Professor Roger Gurr, Clinical Director –  0434 075 617  [email protected] using the subject line: Consultant Psychiatrist enquiry via EthicalJobs.

Should you have any questions, please contact Alex Sullivan from Uniting’s Talent Acquisition Team on: 
0466 801 937 / [email protected] using the subject line: Consultant Psychiatrist enquiry via EthicalJobs for more information.