Child Mental Health Services – skills and competencies

Child Mental Health Services – skills and competencies
Please complete this form if you wish to be considered as a provider to deliver services to children,
under the Access to Allied Psychological Services Program (ATAPS) Child Mental Health Services
(CMHS) in Gippsland. To be eligible you must be an appropriately trained (according to the
requirements of the profession) Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, Social Worker, Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Mental Health Nurse
Respond to each of the criteria as appropriate. Where “children” are referred to in the criteria, please
consider your experience within the range of birth to 12 years.
Essential Core Skills and Knowledge
1. Relevant qualifications and experience in working
clinically with children, parents and families
2. Extensive child development knowledge as demonstrated
via training at post graduate level and/or via continued
professional development and training relevant to child
and adolescent mental health
3. Knowledge of childhood mental disorders and “best
practice” in terms of evidence informed treatment
4. Skills and competence in completing biopsychosocial
assessments of children and their families; knowledge
skills and experience in the delivery of a range of
treatment relevant to working with children including
behavioural and cognitive behavioural therapy
interventions; and training and skills in the delivery of
evidence based parenting interventions and behavioural
family based interventions
5. Training and experience in working with families –
including knowledge of systems theory; family centred
practice; and an understanding of family
dynamics/problems and their impact on children; and
knowledge of ethical and professional issues when
working with children and families
Highly Desirable Skills and Knowledge
1. Experience in working within a private practice and/or
public setting with children with or at risk of developing a
mental disorder and/or previous experience working in a
child health or child education setting
2. Experience working collaboratively with relevant
community agencies, and other primary health providers
(e.g. child care centres and schools, linking clients into
support groups, referring clients to other health care
professionals)
3. Culturally sensitive practice – including experience
working with clients from culturally and linguistically
diverse backgrounds, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait
Islander communities, and working with interpreters;
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO

experience with working with children with special needs
(e.g. disabilities, medical and neurological conditions)
4. Risk assessment and appropriately managing identified
risks to children’s health and wellbeing
5. Skilled and competent in the delivery of group sessions,
for both family and/or children, and otherwise (e.g.
cognitive behavioural therapy groups with children)
6. Demonstrated commitment in engaging in clinical
supervision relevant to children’s mental health
7. Commitment to providing a child friendly environment
when working with children
8. Willingness to provide services from a child centric
setting
9. Ability to take into account the family environment, a
multi-disciplinary perspective, child developmental
abilities, and the rights of the child, in the development of
a treatment plan
10. Willingness to complete the required ATAPS CMHS
online training modules
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
YES
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO