Clinical Educator - OVA Reduction

Forensicare; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Equal opportunity employer

Smoke free environment

Job summary

Forensicare, Victoria's specialist forensic mental health provider, seeks a Clinical Educator – OVA Reduction at Thomas Embling Hospital. You will lead training in aggression management, de-escalation, and staff safety, delivering induction and ongoing programs across clinical and non-clinical teams.

You will champion trauma-informed, least-restrictive practices, support governance processes, and collaborate with clinical leaders to enhance workforce capability and outcomes while maintaining

Qualifications

• Registration with AHPRA in a relevant discipline (Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Psychology) or eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
• Postgraduate qualifications and/or demonstrated experience in mental health/forensic mental health
• Post-registration clinical experience relevant to violence and aggression management

Responsibilities

• Lead hospital physical intervention training as part of PMoA, including induction and refresher programs
• Support staff to develop skills in therapeutic engagement, de-escalation and safe responses to clinical violence and aggression
• Ensure education and training is evidence-based and aligned with legislation, accreditation, and best practice
• Evaluate training effectiveness and translate learning into clinical practice
• Provide in-situ teaching, coaching and reinforcement of violence prevention and management for multidisciplinary staff
• Promote recovery-focused, trauma-informed and least-restrictive approaches in education and practice
• Provide specialist guidance on prevention and management of clinical violence to internal and external stakeholders
• Collaborate with leaders and teams to standardize approaches to violence prevention across the hospital

Skills

Clinical leadership

De-escalation

Training delivery

Interpersonal skills

Public speaking

Education

AHPRA registration (Nursing/OT/Psychology)

Postgraduate qualifications in mental health/forensic health

Job description

Forensicare (Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health) is Victoria’s specialist provider of forensic mental health services. We deliver recovery-focused programs that support consumers living with serious mental illness or problematic behaviours who are connected to, or at risk of contact with, the justice system, across a variety of settings including community-based services, inpatient units, and secure environments throughout Victoria.

Location

Based at Thomas Embling Hospital (May be required to work at other sites from time to time).

Full time - Multiple roles

Position Objective

The Clinical Educator – Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA) Reduction is an advanced clinical leadership role, responsible for leading the delivery of training and clinical education relevant to safely reducing clinical aggression and violence and restrictive practices at Thomas Embling Hospital. The role leads hospital induction and ongoing security training, and physical intervention training and debriefing support for hospital staff, as part of the organisation-wide Prevention and Management of Aggression (PMoA) training and framework.

The Clinical Educator – OVA Reduction educates clinical and non-clinical staff, as required, in preventative, secondary and tertiary strategies for reducing the risk of clinical aggression and violence in a manner that maintains consumer dignity and safely reduces reliance on restrictive practices. This role provides in-situ teaching, coaching and support in clinical violence and aggression management to strengthen workforce capability and promote the application of safe, trauma-informed, recovery-focused and least-restrictive practices. It leads and supports post-incident debriefing, reporting, review, practice development and quality improvement activities to enhance clinical practice and reduce restrictive interventions.

The position contributes to clinical governance processes and promotes a consistent, human rights-based approach to violence and aggression management across the hospital. Working collaboratively with clinical leaders, educators and governance committees, the role supports organisational capability, continuous improvement and evidence-based practice. It also promotes a safe environment for consumers, staff and visitors.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead hospital physical intervention training as part of the organisation-wide Prevention and Management of Aggression (PMoA) training, including induction and refresher programs.
• Support staff to develop skills in therapeutic engagement, early intervention, de-escalation and safe responses to clinical violence and aggression.
• Ensure education and training is evidence-based and aligned with relevant legislation, accreditation requirements and contemporary best practice.
• Contribute to the evaluation of training effectiveness, including participant learning outcomes and the translation of learning into clinical practice.
• Provide in-situ teaching, coaching and reinforcement of clinical violence and aggression prevention and management practices to support the capability of multidisciplinary clinical and non-clinical staff.
• Promote recovery-focused, trauma-informed, human rights-based and least-restrictive approaches throughout education, coaching and clinical practice.
• Provide specialist advice and guidance to key internal and external stakeholders regarding the prevention and management of clinical violence and aggression for forensic mental health.
• Work collaboratively with leaders and managers, organisation-wide educators and multidisciplinary teams to strengthen consistent approaches to the prevention and management of clinical violence and aggression.

Key Selection Criteria

• Current registration with AHPRA in a relevant discipline (Nursing, Occupational Therapy or Psychology), or eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), and relevant postgraduate qualifications and/or demonstrated experience in mental health, forensic mental health or related fields, with post-registration clinical experience.
• Demonstrated knowledge of contemporary practice in forensic mental health, including evidence informed approaches to the prevention and management of clinical violence and aggression, and the ability to apply this knowledge to support recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and rights-based care.
• Strong understanding of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 and its application to ethical, safe and person-centred practice, together with a demonstrated commitment to safely reducing restrictive practices.
• Proven ability to design, deliver and evaluate education, training and professional development programs in clinical or mental health settings, particularly in relation to safety, communication, de-escalation and workforce capability development.
• Highly developed interpersonal, communication and presentation skills, with the ability to convey complex concepts to diverse audiences and build effective collaborative relationships with colleagues and stakeholders.

Please note, applications will be reviewed and accessed as received. Advertising may close earlier than indicated.

Eligibility

• Influenza and Immunisation Evidence
• This position is subject to a Police Check

Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and developing a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTQI, people with a lived experience of disability, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Forensicare promotes our guiding principles ofRESPONSIVENESS, INTEGRITY, IMPARTIALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RIGHTS; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.