Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) is a new, dedicated public youth mental health service and is the first of its kind in Australia. We are looking for a passionate and dedicated individual to join our team.

CLINICAL SPECIALIST - TEAM LEAD, CUSTODIAL FYMHS

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS)

Fixed Term until March 2027 | Full-Time 1.0 EFT | Cherry Creek & Parkville

Join the Custodial FYMHS Senior Clinical Leadership team and lead the specialist forensic mental health care, operational oversight and system integration for young people within the Youth Justice Precincts, as part of and leading a trauma-informed, recovery-focused multidisciplinary team.

• Join Victoria’s newest Public Mental Health Service dedicated to youth

• Fixed Term until March 2027 | Full-Time 1.0 EFT | Cherry Creek & Parkville based
• Salary Packaging | 5 weeks Annual Leave | Monthly ADO

About Us:

Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service (PYMHWS) is Victoria’s newest public mental health service dedicated to the care of young people aged 12 to 25 experiencing complex mental health challenges. 

PYMHWS is leading a bold and values-driven transformation in youth mental health care across Melbourne’s north and west. We exist to walk alongside young people, their families, carers, supporters and kin delivering care that is accessible, inclusive, developmentally appropriate, evidence-informed, and grounded in lived experience. Our service model is shaped by the voices of young people and their communities, and underpinned by a commitment to safety, equity, and continuous learning.

At PYMHWS, we are working with our community and partners to build in a future where all young people can access world-class mental health support, close to home. As we grow, we are looking for passionate, skilled, and visionary professionals to join us in shaping a new era of youth mental health in Victoria.  

The Opportunity:

This is a unique leadership opportunity to shape forensic youth mental health care within youth justice custodial settings.

As the Clinical Specialist - Team Lead (Custodial FYMHS), you will provide strategic clinical and operational leadership across the Parkville and Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precincts, driving high-quality, evidence-based mental health care for young people in custody. You will lead multidisciplinary teams, oversee clinical governance and risk frameworks, and ensure the integrity and ongoing development of the Custodial FYMHS Model of Care.

This role sits at the intersection of mental health, justice and system reform. You will work in close partnership with Youth Justice, Justice Health, medical leads and senior managers to strengthen integrated care, improve custody-to-community transitions, and reduce the risk of reoffending through specialist intervention.

You will influence service design, workforce capability, research translation and quality improvement whilst contributing to a transformational model of youth mental health that is developmentally responsive, trauma-informed, culturally safe and grounded in lived experience.

If you are an experienced Senior Mental Health Clinician with leadership experience and you’re ready to lead a team to shape systems, support a wonderful, skilled team, and improve outcomes for young people with complex needs, this is YOUR opportunity to make a lasting impact.

Why Join PYMHWS?

• Be part of building a legacy for youth mental health in Victoria
• Work alongside passionate, visionary leaders in a values-led organisation
• Salary packaging options, up to $11,600 tax free earnings
• 5 weeks annual leave plus monthly ADO for full time employees
• Flexible working arrangements including remote work options where possible
• Employee wellbeing focused, access to EAP
• Fitness passport membership
• Flexible, inclusive, and supportive workplace culture
• Opportunities for professional growth and development

About the Role:

As the Clinical Specialist - Team Lead (Custodial FYMHS), you will:

• Provide strategic clinical and operational leadership across Custodial FYMHS at Parkville and Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precincts.
• Lead and support multidisciplinary teams delivering specialist mental health assessment, treatment and risk management to young people in custody.
• Oversee clinical governance, quality, risk and compliance frameworks, ensuring high standards of safe, evidence-based practice.
• Drive the integrity, implementation and continuous refinement of the Custodial FYMHS Model of Care.
• Provide senior supervision and mentoring to Senior staff.
• Lead workforce capability development, advanced practice pathways and succession planning within the custodial stream.
• Represent Custodial FYMHS at senior governance and interagency forums, building strong partnerships with Youth Justice, Justice Health and community providers.
• Strengthen custody-to-community transition pathways and integrated care arrangements.
• Contribute to service reform, quality improvement initiatives, research translation and innovation.
• Maintain a small clinical caseload and/or provide advanced consultation for complex, high-risk cases.

The role requires regular work across custodial sites, with travel incorporated into working hours. You will work within a trauma-informed, culturally safe and evidence-based framework, contributing to a service that prioritises safety, quality, and young-person-centred care.

About You:

You are an experienced and confident senior mental health clinician who brings clinical depth, sound judgement and strong leadership capability to complex custodial and forensic environments.

You are eligible for appointment as a Registered Psychiatric Nurse Grade 5, Occupational Therapist Grade 4, Social Worker Grade 4 or Psychologist Grade 4, with relevant professional registration and qualifications as outlined in the position description.

You will bring:

• A minimum of 10 years’ experience in tertiary and/or youth mental health settings, with demonstrated ability to lead a clinical team, supervise mental health clinicians, and operate effectively both autonomously and in collaboration with senior clinical and organisational leaders.
• Strong clinical leadership and supervisory skills, including experience supporting multidisciplinary teams, overseeing clinical governance processes, and promoting high-quality, safe and ethical practice in complex environments.
• Advanced capability in assessment, formulation, intervention and risk management with young people presenting with severe mental illness and forensic complexity.
• Sound knowledge of the youth justice and/or criminal justice system, with familiarity navigating community-based forensic and youth mental health services to support continuity of care and transition planning.
• A commitment to youth-focused, inclusive and recovery-oriented practice, grounded in trauma-informed and culturally safe approaches.
• Well-developed communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work effectively across health, justice and community service systems.

Most importantly, you are values-driven and aligned with PYMJHWS values of putting people first, leading with kindness, and striving for excellence together.

Ready to Make a Difference?
If you're looking to be part of something truly meaningful, we’d love to hear from you.

For a confidential discussion, please contact Caitlin Reid, Talent Acquisition Specialist – 0427 271 857.

Interested applicants are encouraged to apply as soon as possible. Recruitment is ongoing, with interviews commencing as soon as suitable candidates are received. Advertising may cease prior to the closing date.

To view the full Position Description, please click HERE

PYMHWS stands in solidarity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in work and care. We are proud to be a workplace that champions diversity, inclusion and equality for our staff and our community.  Our goal is for our people to feel safe, included and supported so that they can be at their best every single day. We encourage talented people from all backgrounds, abilities, and identities to apply to our vacancies, and will consider adjustments to support such applications