General Manager Mental Health and Wellbeing

• Rebuilding Shattered Lives – join a nationally recognised leading organisation supporting refugees to recover from torture and other traumatic events

Your impact

The General Manager Mental Health and Wellbeing (GM MHW) is a member of the Foundation House senior executive and plays a crucial role in the leadership, management and strategic direction of the agency.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Group delivers specialist trauma focused mental health and wellbeing services that are safe, person-centred, effective and connected in order to meet the needs of clients and their families. All services are delivered in accordance with the Foundation House Integrated Trauma Recovery Service Model, Rebuilding Shattered Lives: Integrated Trauma Recovery for People of Refugee Background (2nd edition), Community Capacity Building Framework, and international best practice.

Services in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Group are delivered to clients across the lifespan and include:

• Referral intake and assessment
• Comprehensive psychosocial assessments
• Complex trauma-focussed counselling and therapy for families, adults, children and young people
• Client advocacy required to support improvements in mental health and wellbeing in combination with counselling and therapeutic assistance
• Therapeutic and psychoeducational group work
• Complementary therapies including massage, herbal, and other natural remedies.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing program also contributes to the recovery of clients by:

• Actively developing strong partnerships with key external stakeholders to strengthen referral pathways
• Actively contributing to and partnering with other Foundation House programs to ensure service integration and collaboration.
• Supporting the refugee and humanitarian services sector, as well as health, mental health, and wellbeing sectors to deliver trauma-informed practice to support client and community trauma recovery needs.
• Advocating for sustainable programs that better balance the long-term needs of individuals, families and communities.
• Contributing to research and evaluations of Foundation House services and other areas relating to refugees and asylum seekers as appropriate.

The role

Reporting to the CEO, the GM MHW is responsible for leading, developing and overseeing the delivery of high-quality services to clients of refugee background who are survivors of torture and other traumatic events.

The GM MHW has direct line management of the MHW Regional Managers and supports them to manage the delivery of client services at our offices in Dallas, Dandenong, Ringwood and Sunshine.

Some of the key responsibilities for the role include:

• Provide overall leadership, management and direction of the MHW group including the regional offices, Intake & Access, Complementary Therapies and the Refugee Mental Health Clinic.
• Ensure the high quality delivery of MHW client services in line with the Foundation House Integrated Trauma Recovery Service Model and Rebuilding Shattered Lives.
• Work collegially with senior leadership to continuously improve the quality of client services and programs and in strategic planning and implementation.
• Lead and drive the development of key advocacy to support trauma recovery within refugee and asylum seeker communities.
• Lead and drive the use of data to inform the effectiveness of MHW initiatives and future planning.
• Manage MHW reporting responsibilities required by the Foundation House Board, executive and funding agencies.

This role is a full-time, ongoing position based in our Brunswick Head Office. Travel to our other Melbourne metropolitan offices is a role requirement.

What you’ll need to successfully apply

To be successful, you will need to positively respond to the below selection criteria:

• Post graduate qualification in a mental health discipline (counselling, psychology, mental health, social work) with a practice and quality improvement focus.
• Extensive experience as a senior clinician in the mental health sector.
• Demonstrated senior leadership experience in managing and oversight of complex clinical and psychosocial assessments, case planning and counselling and advocacy responses to people with complex trauma experiences.
• Strong ability to build positive and productive team culture in order to achieve key BAU operations and deliver on important agreed strategic priorities.
• Leadership and practice experience in working with vulnerable communities among people from refugee backgrounds would be advantageous.
• A clear commitment to human rights and an appreciation of how organisations with a mandate to deliver services to a diverse range of clients in complex human rights and political contexts should operate.

In return

You’ll be rewarded with:

• An attractive remuneration package of circa $175k plus superannuation.
• Salary packaging benefits of up to $18,550 and novated car leasing options.
• A role with true purpose to make a difference in people’s lives.
• A dynamic, highly diverse, collaborative and supportive team environment.
• Excellent opportunities for professional development.
• Generous leave provisions.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members.

Foundation House is an inclusive employer

Foundation House is an equal opportunity employer; we foster a work environment that is inclusive and diverse. We are values driven and are committed to improving the life outcomes of refugees and asylum seekers.

Foundation House is a state-wide agency offering services throughout Victoria. We currently employ 250 staff across our five offices in metropolitan Melbourne, and also provide services in partnership with agencies in regional and rural Victoria. Foundation House is also a leading member of the Forum for Australian Services for Survivors of Torture and Trauma (FASSTT) which comprises representation of each torture and trauma recovery service from every state and territory in Australia.

Foundation House is a Child Safe organisation committed to promoting and protecting the interests and safety of children. We actively play a part in combating family violence, as reflected in our organisational policies, protocols and staff development.

Read more about our history on our website here.

How to apply

Please upload your CV and a cover letter (maximum one to two pages) outlining why you are suitable for this role and how you meet the selection criteria as described above.

For more information about our hiring process, please refer to our careers with us page https://foundationhouse.org.au/be-involved/careers-with-us/our-hiring-process/

For enquiries please contact Justin Curreen-Harris from our HR Team via [email protected] using the subject line: General Manager Mental Health and Wellbeing enquiry via EthicalJobs or by phone on 03 9389 8985.

Refer to the position description attached for detailed information about the role. 

If you think you have what it takes but don’t necessarily meet all selection criteria, please still get in touch as we would love to talk with you and see if you could be a suitable fit.

Hiring is subject to satisfactory Police Check, current Working with Children Check, and proof of the right to work and live in Australia.