Position overview

Duties

Under limited direction of the Team Manager, Custodial Mental Health, you will be expected to provide high quality mental health assessment and care with support from senior clinicians including; legislated induction screening, assessment and management of at-risk clients, and medication management to mental health clients within the ACT’s two correctional centres – the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) and Bimberi Youth Justice Centre (BYJC). You will be required to work collaboratively with a team of clinical staff of nursing, medical, and allied health professionals, as well as a range of external agencies including JHS Custodial Health, community and inpatient mental health services, ACT Corrective Services, CYPS, and external agencies such as NGO’s.   At this level you will be expected to have sound clinical assessment skills, a thorough knowledge of relevant policies and procedures, engage actively in clinical supervision and professional development, and contribute to quality and safety initiatives. You will be supported by a Clinical Nurse Consultant and report to the Team Manager, Custodial Mental Health. You will:

1. Provide appropriate skilled clinical mental health nursing assessment and intervention to specialised client group/s with support in a custodial setting, and across the lifespan.
2. Conduct crisis risk assessments and develop risk management plans for detainees at risk of self-harm and suicide under supervision.
3. Liaise with carers and service providers to facilitate effective service provision. This includes the completion of comprehensive written handovers, referrals and reports including to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal and to community mental health teams under supervision.
4. Undertake clinical supervision and professional development activities.
5. Complete case notes and program records to standards required and meet reporting local and legislated standards for documentation and data collection requirements.
6. Be involved in service development through membership of committees, participation in quality improvement initiatives and procedure development and review.
7. Work within the mental health and other legislation relevant to the forensic setting.
8. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Behavioural Capabilities

• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and respond to novel situations.
• Ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with complex clients.
• Resilience and calm in the face of conflict or uncertainty.

Qualifications

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.

Essential

• Registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

Essential

• 4-year post-registration experience or
• Post graduate qualifications
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a custodial setting or community mental health service

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.

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. Key selection criteria

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.

1. Demonstrated clinical competence in collaborative assessment, care planning, treatment and intervention for people at risk of suicide and self-harm and/or those with complex mental illnesses/dysfunction.
2. Effective communication skills, including an ability to engage effectively with complex clients, produce high standard written handovers and reports to a professional audience.
3. Demonstrate a working knowledge of current mental health legislation and other legislation critical to working in a public health service.
4. Demonstrate a working knowledge of current mental health services, and other social support services, within the ACT.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience. Displays behaviour 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	Occasionally
General computer use	Frequently
Extensive keying/data entry	Occasionally
Graphical/analytical based	Occasionally
Sitting at a desk	Frequently
Standing for long periods	Never

Psychosocial demands	Frequency
Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations	Occasionally
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	Never
Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide	Occasionally

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	Never
Lifting 16kg+	Never
Climbing	Never
Running	Never
Reaching	Never
Kneeling	Never
Foot and leg movement	Never
Hand, arm and grasping movements	Never
Bending/squatting	Never
Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting	Never
Push/pull	Never
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.	Never
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Occasionally