Position overview
Women, Youth, and Children Community Health Programs provide essential, community-based primary health care services for women, children, and families. The Maternal, Child, and Family Health (MACH) team, delivers universal and targeted support, including an intake and triage service, and initial home visits for families after discharge from ACT and surrounding NSW maternity services. Our universal services offer nine key child health contact points from birth to five years of age, ensuring a comprehensive approach to promote infant growth and development, breastfeeding, early identification of child health concerns, and support for parenting wellbeing. Nurses and midwives in MACH play a pivotal role in the lives of families, guided by the National Framework for Universal Child & Family Health Services and the seven standards in the National Standards of Practice for Maternal, Child, and Family Health Nurses in Australia (2017). MACH is at the forefront of early intervention, offering critical support that promotes healthy development, strengthens family dynamics, and enhances overall well-being. Working within a Family Partnership Model, MACH collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to provide holistic, family-centered care. Supporting families, parents, and carers to build skills and confidence in their parenting role is a core element of the ACT Children and Young People Plan 2015-2025. MACH service extends beyond individual families to benefit the wider community through, health promotion, breastfeeding advocacy, child safety education, immunisation and emotional wellbeing support for parents, influencing a healthier community and brighter futures.
Key Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Under limited direction of the Clinical Nurse/Midwifery Manager (CNM), you will perform your work collaboratively across the ACT. You will:
- Provide quality direct clinical care to clients in the maternal and child health (MACH) context in accordance with primary health care principles and practices incorporating the role, vision and values of Canberra Health Services.
- Effectively communicate with children and families to accurately assess their health needs, with support from peers, CDN and CNM. Participate in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of interventions to ensure best health outcomes.
- Advocate for the child and family by supporting, advising, and educating in accordance with primary health philosophies that promote health and wellbeing.
- Actively participate in quality improvement activities, professional activities and forums related to clinical nursing practice. Ensure a sound evidence base for nursing practice through appraisal and utilisation of contemporary research findings.
- Practice in accordance with the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council’s Code of Professional Conduct, Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia and relevant, validated professional practice competencies.
- Foster collegial relationships within the multidisciplinary team, including timely and appropriate referral for clients to deliver best practice health outcomes.
- Assume responsibility for professional development of self in accordance with the expectation of the discipline for lifelong learning.
- Undertaking other duties as directed/appropriate, within the approved scope of clinical practice ensuring the delivery of person and family centred, safe and high-quality patient care which contribute to the operation of the organisation.
Competencies
Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.
Behavioural Capabilities
To be successful in this position, it is expected that the successful candidate will have the following attributes:
- Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive and able to contribute positively to team culture.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Demonstrates kindness to colleagues and clients.
- Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.
- A strong self -directed learning ethic.
Qualifications
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following.
Essential
- Be registered or be eligible for nurse and/ or midwife registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- Registered Nurse and /or Registered Midwife with relevant post graduate qualifications in Child and Family Health OR
- Registered Nurse and /or Registered Midwife working towards successfully completing the relevant post graduate qualifications in Child and Family Health.
- Hold a current driver’s licence
Desirable
- Relevant further tertiary qualifications, including midwifery and paediatrics, public health
- Family Partnership Model and/or Circle of Security Training.
- International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant.
- Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
Experience
Essential
- Minimum of 4 years’ postgraduate experience in nursing and/or midwifery - full time equivalent.
Desirable
- Prior experience working in maternal child and family health specialty organisation/service
- Prior experience in midwifery, paediatrics, and education.
- Experience in lactation and breastfeeding
- Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.
Prior to commencement
- Pre-employment National Police Check.
- Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
- Provide the names of two referees, including a current manager.
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.
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.
- Displays clinical skills to assess and address the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of children and families, with emphasis on collaboration and working in partnership with clients to achieve positive health outcomes.
- Demonstrated ability to communicate with clients, families and colleagues, to work collaboratively and effectively in a multidisciplinary team environment to provide optimal health outcomes and a high-quality service.
- Demonstrated commitment to the provision of evidence-based nursing/midwifery practice and an involvement in quality improvement activities that promote best professional practice and improved health outcomes.
- Demonstrated competence in the use of Information Technology in health service provision, including electronic health records and data collection within the healthcare system.
- 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 | Frequently |
| General computer use | Frequently |
| Extensive keying/data entry | Occasionally |
| 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 | Occasionally |
| Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness | Occasionally |
| Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries | Occasionally |
| 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 | Never |
| Physical demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit) | Occasionally |
| Working outdoors | Occasionally |
| Manual handling | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Lifting 0 - 9kg | Occasionally |
| Lifting 10 - 15kg | Never |
| Lifting 16kg+ | Never |
| Climbing | Never |
| Running | Never |
| Reaching | Frequently |
| Kneeling | Occasionally |
| Foot and leg movement | Occasionally |
| Hand, arm and grasping movements | Frequently |
| Bending/squatting | Frequently |
| Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting | Frequently |
| Push/pull | Frequently |
| Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time | Occasionally |
| Travel | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Frequent travel – multiple work sites | Frequently |
| Frequent travel – driving | Frequently |
| 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 | Never |
Directorate: Canberra Health Services
Division: Women, Youth and Children
Business Unit: Maternal Child and Family Health (MACH)
Position number: P38466
Position title: Registered Nurse and/or Registered Midwife Level 1 - Maternal and Child Health Nurse
Classification: Registered Nurse and/or Registered Midwife Level 1
Location: ACT Community Health Centres
Reporting relationships: Manager MACH and Clinical Nurse/ Midwifery Manager
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