Mental Health Social Workers are highly trained professionals working to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of patients through direct practice, crisis intervention, advocacy, community organizing and psycho-education.
Mental Health Social workers are dedicated to the pursuit of social justice and strive to help those affected by mental illness, drug and alcohol, poverty, disabilities, unemployment, housing issues and other personal problems and social disadvantages.
Mental Health Social Workers help people solve problems in their daily lives.
Some common duties of a Mental Health Social Worker include:
- Responding to crisis situations.
- Assessing people’s needs and implementing a plan of action.
- Helping people adjust to major life changes.
- Identifying and reaching out to those in need.
- Home visiting patients on a needs basis
- Providing advocacy for people when needed.
- Connecting people with important resources and support.
- Following up with people to ensure circumstances are improving.
- Reporting to the referring doctor the progress of the patient
To receive a Medicare rebate for your Mental Health Social Worker sessions, your GP needs to refer you with a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). You will receive a Medicare rebate for six initial sessions with the option to receive a Medicare rebate for four more sessions during a calendar year. You will also be eligible for a Medicare rebate for 10 group Mental Health Social Work sessions in a calendar year.