Mental Health Lead

Sonder; Adelaide; On-site; AUD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Above award salary

Flexible work

PD allowance

Salary packaging

Leave loading

Modern offices

Christmas bonus leave

Training opportunities

Meal & entertainment allowance

Parental leave

Job summary

Sonder is establishing the Integrated Crisis Support Hub at Lyell McEwin Hospital, Elizabeth Vale, SA. The Mental Health Lead will provide senior clinical leadership across IAC and CSC teams, ensuring evidence‑based care and strong governance.

You will oversee psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, group programs, and care coordination, while coordinating with multidisciplinary staff and meeting NSQHS standards. Rolling recruitment, go-live July 2026, with flexible benefits.

Qualifications

• Senior clinical leadership experience in mental health settings.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and coordinating services.
• Proven ability to produce reports with actionable recommendations.
• Knowledge of funding requirements and NSQHS standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide senior clinical leadership across IAC and CSC teams.
• Oversee psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, and care coordination.
• Lead program delivery, governance, and quality improvement efforts.
• Coordinate with multidisciplinary staff and ensure service integration.

Skills

Senior clinical leadership

Mental health expertise

Team leadership

Report writing

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

AHPRA registered professional

Job description

Job Description

The soon-to-be-established Integrated Crisis Support Hub is a first‑of‑its‑kind service, bringing together two specialised mental health crisis services in one place, designed to meet people where they are and provide the right level of care at the right time. Located within the Lyell McEwin Hospital precinct, the Hub will be home to two services working side by side. The Immediate Access Care (IAC) provides prompt, accessible support for people experiencing a mental health crisis who need help right away. The IAC operates from the lower floor of the Hub, offering a welcoming first point of contact for people who need urgent support without the experience of a traditional Emergency Department. The Crisis Stabilisation Centre (CSC) is a 16‑bed, 24/7 voluntary service offering short stays of up to 72 hours for people experiencing mental health crisis and/or suicidal distress. Operating from the upper floor of the Hub, it provides a safe, therapeutic, home‑like environment, a genuine alternative to Emergency Departments for people who need time, space, and support to stabilise. Both services are shaped by the voices of people with lived experience, guided by a Peer First, Peer Last Philosophy of Care, and grounded in zero suicide principles, trauma‑informed practice, and cultural safety.

What benefits can we offer?

• Salary (excluding super) paid above award and reviewed annually
• Flexible working arrangements
• Professional development allowance provided yearly
• Generous salary packaging options - increase your take home pay by 6-12%
• 17.5% Leave Loading
• Modern and welcoming office spaces
• Christmas Closure Bonus Leave (above annual leave entitlements)
• Training opportunities
• Meal & entertainment allowances
• Paid parental leave, and much more!

Sonder are open to negotiating further benefits with the successful applicant to ensure an excellent working environment for you.

Hours

Hours can be completed between Monday – Friday, 9am – 5pm with some flexibility.

On call rotations

On call rotations will be shared amongst the clinical leadership team.

Contract

1 FTE (full-time) | Permanent

Location

Elizabeth Vale (Lyell McEwin Hospital precinct)

More Information & Position Description via this link: The Role

The Mental Health Lead is a senior leadership role within the Integrated Crisis Support Hub, providing leadership and professional supervision to mental health clinicians, including social workers, psychologists, and occupational therapists, across both the IAC and CSC teams. This includes direct oversight of IAC and CSC clinicians, as well as the CSC Clinical Lead and IAC Nurse. The role ensures that evidence‑based therapeutic interventions, psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, group programs, and care coordination are consistently integrated across both services. The Mental Health Lead supports interdisciplinary collaboration and upholds alignment with clinical governance standards, NSQHS requirements, and the Philosophy of Care. This is a pivotal role during the establishment phase of the Integrated Crisis Support Hub, as the IAC and CSC come together to form a cohesive, integrated service model and contribute to the broader continuum of mental health care in the region.

Experience Requirements

• Demonstrated experience working within a fast‑paced mental health or acute care environment.
• Minimum of five (5) years’ clinical practice in mental health treatment and care, preferably providing therapeutic treatment and/or case management and support.
• Proven experience at a senior clinical level within the area of mental health service delivery.
• Experience in successfully leading a team of staff and working as a member of a multidisciplinary team with the ability to inspire and facilitate team commitment and cooperation.
• Demonstrated experience in the preparation of reports with recommendations.
• Experience working across a range of Commonwealth and State funded mental health programs and ensuring program implementation in line with funding requirements and contracts.
• Experience in successfully coordinating allied health clinical services including psychosocial assessment, therapeutic interventions, care coordination, and discharge planning.
• Experience acting as, or working alongside, an Authorised Officer (AO) under the SA Mental Health Act is highly desirable.
• Experience in maintaining continuous quality improvement.

Qualification and Other Requirements

Current registration with one of the following professional bodies:

• Social Workers – Registered member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) with AASW Mental Health Accreditation
• Psychologists – Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)
• Mental Health Nurses – Registered with AHPRA and a member of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN)
• Occupational Therapists – Registered with AHPRA and the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists, with Mental Health Endorsement recognised by Occupational Therapy Australia
• Relevant Leadership or Management training is desirable.
• AHPRA Psychology Board Approved Supervisor status is desirable (for Psychologists).
• Postgraduate qualification in mental health, clinical practice leadership, or a related field is highly desirable.

Please note: This is a rolling recruitment process for a new service. Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and interviews will be conducted throughout the advertising period. The service is expected to go live in July 2026, with the successful applicant commencing soon.

At Sonder, we strive to respond to all applicants. However, due to the high volume of applications we receive, we may only be able to contact those shortlisted for the role. Thank you for your understanding.