Position overview

Alcohol and Drug Services (ADS) is a part of the division of Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol & Drug Services (MHJHADS), which is contemporary, evidence-based service providing high quality ADS guided by the principles of harm minimisation. ADS incorporates 7 areas including the Opioid Treatment Services, Medical Services, Consultation and Liaison Service, 10 bed Inpatient Withdrawal Service, Police and Court Diversion Service, Drug Alcohol Sentencing List and Counselling and Treatment Services.

ADS provides information, court reports, advice, referral, intake, assessment, and support for ACT residents struggling with substance use issues. We offer services for individuals, their family and friends, general practitioners, other health professionals, and business and community groups. This also includes the provision of high-quality liaison with external stakeholders, consumers, and staff of MHJHADS. This position is part of ADS Police and Court Diversion Services, based at 1 Moore Street, Canberra City.

Within a multidisciplinary team, the Allied Health Professionals within this role will work collaboratively with individuals encountering the justice system in context of alcohol and other drug use and supporting diversion from the justice system via delivery of health-based responses to substance use. This involves clinical assessment, screening and identification of psychosocial needs, psychoeducation, therapeutic counselling, group-based interventions, advocacy and facilitation of onwards referrals where required.

This position reports to the ADS Police and Court Diversion Services Team Manager and involves regular liaison and collaborative work with other MHJHADS program areas, government and non-government services in the Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug (ATOD) and mental health sectors, and other external stakeholders.

ADS Team Members are required and supported to undertake professional development, engage in clinical supervision, participate in quality improvement and service development initiatives and contribute to multidisciplinary team processes.

Please note: Selection for this position may be made based-on written response to advertised selection criteria, Curriculum Vitae and referee reports alone.

Key Responsibilities

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

Under limited direction of the ADS Team Manager, you will perform duties consistent with those of an Allied Health Professional Level 2, including:

• Facilitated delivery of clinical services in line with evidence-based practice to people who have used Alcohol, Tobacco, or Other Drugs (ATOD). This includes undertaking comprehensive clinical assessments and providing therapeutic interventions with people seeking/receiving treatment and care for substance use concerns.
• Communicate effectively with people seeking/receiving care through ADS, their nominated support networks and other stakeholders, to address identified psychosocial needs, treatment and care planning.
• Consult, liaise and work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and other relevant services within government and non-government sectors, at the individual and systems level, to ensure streamlined service provision and positive individual outcomes.
• Actively participate in clinical supervision processes, continuing professional development opportunities and completion of data and reporting processes for evaluating team activity against agreed targets and clinical governance requirements.
• Initiate, coordinate and/or contribute to quality improvement activities relating to service delivery and improvement, policies and procedures applicable to professional and organisational practices.
• Work within legislation and policies associated with clinical service delivery in this area, using evidence-based practices which follow agreed clinical standards, policies, procedures and protocols.
• 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.

• Practical understanding of the biopsychosocial components of wellbeing and ability to consider the influence of presenting biopsychosocial factors in clinical formulations.
• Capacity to undertake clinical assessment, formulation and provide therapeutic interventions to people seeking/receiving treatment and care.
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team, with adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and respond to novel situations.
• Ability to communicate, liaise and advocate effectively, with influence and of demonstrating strong written and oral communication skills.
• Strong organisational skills and ability to analyse information and make decisions to complete tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ability to support access and equity to high-quality person-centred care for people with diverse needs.

Qualifications

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

Relevant tertiary qualifications and experience working professionally in Allied Health or Counselling is required.

Essential

For Social Work:

• Degree in Social Work.
• Professional membership or eligibility for professional membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
• Registration under the ACT Working with Vulnerable People Act 2011.

For Psychology:

• Be registered or be eligible for general registration with Psychology Board of Australia under AHPRA.

For Counselling:  

• Demonstrated evidence of eligibility for listing on the Australian Register of Counsellors and Psychotherapists (ARCAP) as either Division A PACFA minimum Clinical Registrant or Division B ACA minimum Level 3.

For Occupational Therapy:

• Be registered or be eligible for general registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of Australia under AHPRA.

For all:

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Either a Certificate IV in Alcohol and other Drug Studies, relevant degree with completion of associated competencies, or willingness to complete the four core competencies after commencement (training will be provided for the successful candidate).

Desirable

For Psychology:

• Psychology Board of Australia endorsement, or eligibility for endorsement, as Principal and/or Secondary Board Approved Supervisor.

Experience

Essential

• Applicants must have a minimum of 12 months full-time, or part-time equivalent, post-qualification experience.

Desirable

• Experience in alcohol, tobacco and other drug assessment skills are desirable but not mandatory.
• Experience or knowledge of 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:

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

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 and must be addressed in your application:

1. Demonstrated skills in provision of clinical assessment, formulation, psychoeducation and therapeutic interventions responsive to multi-faceted needs of people seeking/receiving treatment and care for health concerns.
2. Proven effective verbal and written communication skills, including excellent clinical record keeping and the ability to communicate clinical concepts effectively to a range of stakeholders; demonstrated via the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with people seeking/receiving care, engagement with internal and external service providers and collaborative work within a multidisciplinary team.
3. A working knowledge of available support services and policy direction in the alcohol, tobacco, and other drug sector; particularly within the ACT context.
4. Ability to undertake service development, quality improvement, and/or research activities, with commitment to continuing professional development and a willingness to provide clinical supervision where required.
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.