Mental Health Service Manager

Pathway Talent; Blacktown; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

New Horizons Enterprises Ltd seeks an experienced Mental Health Service Manager to lead the CLS program in the Blacktown region. You will provide leadership across the CLS team, ensuring safe, effective, recovery-oriented support, while upholding contractual obligations and organisational standards.

The role focuses on fidelity to the CLS model, lived experience-informed practice, and continuous improvement in service delivery, with governance through the General Manager and SCHADS Level 6.1

Qualifications

• Certificate IV in Mental Health or equivalent.
• At least 2 years' experience leading a mental health service.
• Strong understanding of the CLS model of practice and related programs.

Responsibilities

• Lead delivery of trauma-informed, recovery-oriented mental health services.
• Develop and support the multidisciplinary team.
• Ensure fidelity to the CLS model across service delivery.
• Promote lived experience-informed practice and consumer co-design.
• Oversee supervision, coaching and professional development.
• Monitor service delivery, risk management and safeguarding.
• Support care planning in partnership with consumers and clinicians.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Conflict resolution

Cultural competence

Lived experience

Education

Certificate IV in Mental Health

Job description

Pathway Talent is proud to be recruiting on behalf of New Horizons Enterprises Ltd for an experienced Mental Health Service Manager to lead its CLS program within the Blacktown region.

New Horizons is a diverse not-for-profit organisation supporting people across mental health, disability, aged care and other community services. With wellbeing at the heart of its work, New Horizons is focused on empowering people to achieve their individual goals and aspirations.

This is an opportunity for an experienced mental health leader to combine people leadership, practice development and service improvement while supporting the delivery of high-quality, person-centred services.

About the Role

As the Mental Health Service Manager, you will provide leadership and accountability across the CLS program, ensuring consumers receive safe, effective and recovery-oriented support.

You will provide leadership to the multidisciplinary team, including the Practice Lead and frontline staff, building an engaged, capable and high‑performing workforce while ensuring service delivery meets CLS program requirements, contractual obligations and organisational standards.

A key focus of the role will be ensuring the consistent implementation and fidelity of the CLS model of practice, supporting high‑quality, recovery‑oriented and person‑centred service delivery.

You will also promote lived experience‑informed practice, consumer participation and co‑design, ensuring consumer perspectives contribute meaningfully to service delivery, continuous improvement and service development.

The position sits within the LHD Level CLS program, reports to the General Manager and is classified at SCHADS Level 6.1.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the delivery of high-quality, evidence-based, trauma‑informed and recovery‑oriented mental health services.
• Lead, support and develop the multidisciplinary team, including the Practice Lead and frontline team members.
• Ensure consistent implementation and fidelity to the CLS model of practice across service delivery.
• Promote lived experience‑informed practice, consumer participation and co‑design across service delivery and continuous improvement.
• Strengthen supervision, coaching, onboarding and professional development across the team.
• Build workforce capability and identify opportunities for training and development.
• Maintain oversight of consumer service delivery, risk management and safeguarding.
• Support effective care planning in partnership with consumers, clinicians and the broader multidisciplinary team.
• Build strong working relationships with Local Health District mental health clinicians, housing providers, families and carers.
• Monitor service performance, CLS KPIs, outcomes and quality.
• Use service data to identify trends, risks and opportunities for improvement.
• Drive continuous improvement and contribute to service development and innovation, incorporating consumer perspectives and feedback.
• Ensure compliance with organisational policies, CLS guidelines, contractual obligations and relevant legislation.

About You

You're an experienced mental health professional and people leader who can balance quality service delivery with team development, stakeholder engagement and operational accountability.

You will bring:

• At least a Certificate IV in Mental Health or equivalent, or other tertiary qualifications in a relevant health‑related discipline.
• At least 2 years' experience leading a mental health service.
• Strong understanding of the CLS model of practice and the delivery of community‑based mental health support. Experience within CLS or comparable programs, such as HASI+ or CLS‑R, will be highly regarded.
• Comprehensive knowledge of person‑centred and recovery‑oriented care, trauma‑informed practice and cultural competence.
• A commitment to lived experience‑informed practice, consumer participation and co‑design.
• Strong communication, coaching and conflict‑resolution skills.
• The ability to adapt your communication style to effectively engage with a diverse range of people.
• Willingness to undertake supervision training.

Desirable

• Experience mentoring staff.
• Familiarity with the NSW Mental Health Act.
• Lived experience of mental health challenges, or carer experience, with a willingness to bring this perspective to practice leadership.

Checks and Certifications

The successful applicant must hold, or be willing and eligible to obtain prior to commencement:

• NDIS Worker Check
• National Police Check
• Working with Children Check
• Full Australian working rights
• Current valid NSW Driver's Licence

A Safe and Inclusive Workplace

Pathway Talent has a zero-tolerance approach to abuse, neglect and harm and is committed to safeguarding the wellbeing of children, young people, people with disability and the communities we serve.

In line with this commitment, all appointments are subject to the successful completion of relevant pre-employment and safeguarding checks, including background screening, qualification and registration verification, and any role‑specific compliance requirements.

Diversity & Inclusion

Pathway Talent is committed to supporting inclusive, diverse and culturally safe workplaces.

We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Ready to Make an Impact?

If you're an experienced mental health leader with a strong understanding of community‑based mental health service delivery and the CLS model, and a passion for developing people, strengthening practice quality and improving outcomes for consumers, we'd love to hear from you.

Please note that only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.