Position overview
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focused on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centered care. It provides acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding region. More information can be found on the CHS website: https://www.health.act.gov.au/
Mental Health, Justice Health, Alcohol and Drug Services provides health services directly and through partnerships with community organizations. The services provided range from prevention and treatment to recovery and maintenance and harm minimization. The participation of the people who use the service, including families and carers, is encouraged in all aspects of service planning and delivery. The Division works in partnership with a range of government and non-government service providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for clients.
The Division delivers services at a number of locations, including hospital inpatient and outpatient settings, community health centres, detention centres, other community settings including people’s home. These services include:
- Adult Acute Mental Health Services
- Adult Community Mental Health Services
- Alcohol & Drug Services
- Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
- Justice Health Services
- Rehabilitation and Specialty Mental Health Services
Adult Acute Mental Health Services incorporates the Adult Mental Health Unit (AMHU), the Mental Health Short Stay Unit (MHSSU), the Mental Health Unit 12B (12B MHU) and the Consultation Liaison (CL) Team across the Emergency Department and Canberra Hospital.
AMHU is a 40 bed inpatient unit for people experiencing moderate to severe mental illness. AMHU is a contemporary evidence-based service providing high quality mental health care, guided by the principles of Recovery. The service aims to provide collaborative care involving the consumer, their carers and other key services. MHSSU is a low dependency 6 bed inpatient unit in the Emergency Department for people requiring extended mental health assessment and or treatment initiation. 12B MHU is a 10 bed Low Dependency Mental health Unit.
Duties
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.
- Provide appropriate clinical interventions and clinical assessment to people with complex mental health needs consistent with the National Mental Health Standards.
- Liaise with the multidisciplinary treating team, community teams, General Practitioners, carers, and other agencies with regard to the person’s care.
- Actively apply recovery orientated practices and interventions in a way that acknowledges the dignity, culture, values, beliefs, and rights of individuals and or groups.
- Provide high quality patient care supportive of endorsed policies and procedures working within the requirements of the Mental Health Act 2015, other relevant legislation.
- Undertake as an active team member the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of care provided and ensure support and orientation is provided to student nurses.
- Participate in clinical governance systems, quality improvement initiatives, clinical supervision, mandatory training, continuing professional development and performance management.
- Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.
Competencies
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.
- Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive
- Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.
- An ability to work respectfully in partnership with a range of stakeholders
Qualifications
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.
Essential
- Tertiary Qualification or related qualification
- Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
Desirable
- Hold or be working toward Post Graduate qualification in mental health nursing.
- Current driver’s licence
Experience
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.
Desirable
- Recent experience working as a Registered Nurse in an acute mental health facility
- Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.
Prior to commencement
Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:
- Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
- Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
Important information
All employees are required to:
- Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct
- Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
- Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.
- The successful applicant will need to be available to work on a seven day a week roster filling morning, evening, and night shifts.
CHS is leading the drive to digitally transform health service delivery in Australia through the implementation of a territory wide Digital Health Record. Computer literacy skills are required which are relevant to this role as you will be responsible for completing required documentation and becoming a proficient user of the Digital Health Record and/or other Information Technology systems; once proficient, you will need to remain current with changes, updates, and contingencies.
What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)
These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.
- What clinical skills and attributes you can bring to Adult Acute Mental Health Services ?
- What areas of mental health nursing you are most passionate about and why?
- How do you successfully communicate and collaborate with colleagues, patients and their families in your daily practice?
- Evidence of commitment to professional development and on-going education activities.
- Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience. Displays behavior consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful and kind.
Work environment description
The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.
| Administrative | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Telephone use | Frequently |
| General computer use | Frequently |
| Extensive keying/data entry | Frequently |
| Graphical/analytical based | Occasionally |
| Sitting at a desk | Frequently |
| Standing for long periods | Occasionally |
| Psychosocial demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations | Frequently |
| Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness | Frequently |
| Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries | Frequently |
| Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers | Occasionally |
| Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide | Frequently |
| Physical demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit) | Occasionally |
| Working outdoors | Never |
| Manual handling | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Lifting 0 - 9kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 10 - 15kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 16kg+ | Occasionally |
| Climbing | Never |
| Running | Never |
| Reaching | Never |
| Kneeling | Occasionally |
| Foot and leg movement | Never |
| Hand, arm and grasping movements | Occasionally |
| Bending/squatting | Frequently |
| Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting | Frequently |
| Push/pull | Occasionally |
| Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time | Never |
| Travel | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Frequent travel – multiple work sites | Never |
| Frequent travel – driving | Never |
| Specific hazards | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Working at heights | Never |
| Exposure to extreme temperatures | Never |
| Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift | Never |
| Confined spaces | Never |
| Excessive noise | Never |
| Low lighting | Never |
| Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological. | Occasionally |
| Slippery or uneven surfaces | Occasionally |
Directorate: Canberra Health Services
Division: MHJHADS
Business Unit: Adult Acute Mental Health Services
Position number: Several
Position title: Registered Nurse Level 1
Classification: Registered Nurse Level 1
Location: Canberra Health Services
Reporting relationships: Direct Manager: : CNC Rostering and Recruitment
Manager
Manager +1: ADON
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. We provide acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website.
Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together
Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community
Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind