Palak Mehla

• Managed and led activities promoting growth in mental, emotional, and educational areas.
• Encouraged youth clients to develop own activities and leadership skills through group discussions.
• Completed necessary reports and documentation to maintain thorough, accurate case records.
• Provided key emotional support to special needs youth.
• Provided guidance and advice to youth, supporting navigation of diverse personal and social issues.
• Advocates on behalf of young people to support their rights.
• Complies with Connecting Families quality policies and procedures.
• Conducts phone calls, digital communication and outreach support to young people and communicates with external stakeholders.
• Maintains a caseload and provides support and case coordination.
• Develops and maintains positive relationships with young people, undertakes assessments and establishes a support plan in conjunction with the young person.
• Supports young people to develop exit plans, leaving care plans, and to access housing and community support options as required.
• Delivers youth support services that meet all relevant performance and outcome indicators.
• Liaises and collaborates with a range of service provider's: community, disability and youth specific.
• Identifies and acts on opportunities to integrate and work collaboratively across
• Undertakes a respectful, solutions focussed approach to working with young people while being open about risks, strategies to reduce risk and expectations in relation to dignity of risk that promotes the wellbeing of young people.
• Provides individual advocacy as required and ensures flexible funding is appropriately expended to achieve maximum impact.
• Completes all required documentation to enable monitoring of program performance and outcomes and participate in continuous quality improvement.
• Participates in reflective practice and professional development and collaborate with Your Journey Leadership Team.
• Engages in professional supervision, support and coaching and take active role in professional development and pertormance review processes.
• Maintains comprehensive professional case notes, reports, client files and records, including data collection according to program and statutory requirements, and ensure timelines for completion are adequately met.
• Ensures program quality is maintained by participating in internal audit, critical incident and complaints management process as required.

1. Skilled in active listening, creating a safe space for clients to express their thoughts and feelings.

2. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Techniques

• Knowledgeable in CBT principles and techniques to help clients identify and modify negative thought patterns and behaviors.

• Ability to guide clients in developing coping strategies and resilience.

3. Client Advocacy

• Strong advocate for clients’ rights and needs, ensuring they receive appropriate services and support.

• Experienced in liaising with healthcare providers, social services, and community organizations to coordinate care.

4. Medication Management

• Proficient in supporting clients with medication adherence, including educating them about their medications and monitoring for side effects.

• Experienced in collaborating with medical professionals to adjust medication plans as needed.

5. Behavioral Support

• Skilled in developing and implementing behavioral support plans to address challenging behaviors and promote positive outcomes.

• Ability to monitor progress and adjust interventions as necessary.

6. Cultural Competency

• Sensitive to the cultural, religious, and personal backgrounds of clients, providing care that respects their values and beliefs.

• Experienced in working with diverse populations, including clients from different ethnicities, genders, and socioeconomic backgrounds.

7. Confidentiality and Ethical Practice

• Committed to maintaining the highest standards of confidentiality and ethical practice in all client interactions.

• Knowledgeable about legal and ethical guidelines in mental health care.

8. Team Collaboration

• Experienced in working as part of a multidisciplinary team, including psychiatrists, social workers, and other mental health professionals.

• Strong communication skills for coordinating care and sharing information with team members.

9. Documentation and Record-Keeping

• Proficient in maintaining accurate and detailed client records, including progress notes, assessments, and treatment plans.

• Experienced in using electronic health record (EHR) systems for documentation.

10. Resilience and Self-Care

• Strong ability to manage personal stress and maintain emotional resilience while working in challenging environments.

• Commitment to ongoing self-care practices to ensure sustained professional effectiveness.