Position overview

Key Responsibilities

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

1. Assumes operational and supervisory responsibilities including the development of less experience staff, performance appraisal, co-ordination of workflow processes, quality of output of the work unit and implementing occupational health and safety guidelines
2. Participate in human, material, and financial resource management in collaboration with the RN Grade 3.2
3. Provide a patient-centred approach for patients and their families living with arthritis and autoimmune diseases that incorporates individualised care coordination across health settings, including coordination between diagnostic tests, outpatient treatments, inpatient visits, community care and other resources as required to achieve access to timely and appropriate referrals and appointment
4. Use advanced communication, counselling, advocacy, interpersonal skills, and evidence-based knowledge to initiate and develop therapeutic relationships
5. Supports coordinated clinical care across health care settings with provision of timely and appropriate access to outpatient treatments, diagnostic testing, and referrals to relevant practitioners
6. Assist with the operational requirements of the clinics including triaging, streaming, pre-appointment readiness and follow-up of patients
7. Maintain an up-to–date knowledge of arthritis and autoimmune disease management and provide regular and ad hoc reports and analysis on activity and outcomes with recommendations for system improvement. Assume responsibility for maintenance of the patient database. This will involve the input of patient information on a case-by-case basis along with ensuring that the accuracy of the database is maintained
8. Actively engage in development of policies, protocols, and practice guidelines to optimise evidence based Rheumatological nursing practice. This includes developing, implementing, and evaluating patient management pathways and protocols in consultation with specialist clinicians and other members within the multi-disciplinary framework
9. Participate and lead departmental research projects and/or quality improvement activities
10. 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.

• Demonstrates advanced clinical expertise and autonomous decision-making in delivering high-quality, patient-centred care.
• Adapts effectively to changing environments and client needs, ensuring responsive and flexible service delivery.
• Leads and coordinates quality improvement initiatives, clinical audits, and research to enhance care outcomes.
• Applies critical analysis to monitor service performance and develop benchmarks aligned with best practice standards.
• Contributes to the development, implementation, and review of clinical policies, protocols, and guidelines.
• Supports professional growth through mentoring, coaching, and structured education programs.
• Designs and facilitates training aligned with strategic objectives and evolving service requirements.
• Provides operational leadership, supervises nursing staff, and manages workflow to ensure safe and efficient care delivery.
• Builds respectful partnerships with stakeholders while demonstrating effective communication and leadership.
• Promotes culturally safe, inclusive practices and advocates for equitable access and outcomes for diverse populations.

Qualifications

Essential

• Be registered or be eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Tertiary Qualifications or related qualifications in nursing.

Desirable

• Post graduate qualifications (or working towards) in acute or chronic care or similar will be highly desirable for this position
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of five (5) years’ experience working professionally as a registered nurse or hold a post graduate qualification in a related field
• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive
• Proven ability to lead and coordinate multidisciplinary teams
• High-level communication and stakeholder engagement skills, including with other staff, external stakeholders, and families

Desirable

• Prior experience in chronic disease management will be highly desirable
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering With Consumers Framework and all other related frameworks.

Please note prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances.
• 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.

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. Proven advanced clinical knowledge and recent comprehensive clinical competency in rheumatology nursing, patient assessment, clinical care planning and patient education.
2. Demonstrated high level critical analytical and organisational skills with the ability to work with stakeholder groups to problem solve and implement improvements in Clinical Service Delivery.
3. Demonstrated senior nursing leadership within a team, supporting daily service operations, team education and timely patient care.
4. Demonstrated participation and leadership in quality improvement activities using quality improvement methods and research methodologies with an ability to apply the National Safety and Quality Health Services standards to service delivery in the Ambulatory Care setting.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety 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	Frequently
Graphical/analytical based	Frequently
Sitting at a desk	Frequently
Standing for long periods	Frequently

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	Occasionally
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	Occasionally
Lifting 16kg+	Never
Climbing	Never
Running	Never
Reaching	Occasionally
Kneeling	Occasionally
Foot and leg movement	Frequently
Hand, arm and grasping movements	Frequently
Bending/squatting	Occasionally
Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting	Occasionally
Push/pull	Occasionally
Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time	Occasionally

Travel	Frequency
Frequent travel – multiple work sites	Occasionally
Frequent travel – driving	Occasionally

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	Occasionally
Low lighting	Occasionally
Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.	Frequently
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Never