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.

Canberra Health Services is committed to the delivery of person and family-centered, safe and high-quality care in a sustainable health system. This will be achieved with key strategic priorities for CHS which include ensuring the delivery of Canberra Health Service’s Quality Strategy and government priorities and aligning them with ACT Health’s Territory Wide Services Framework.

The key strategic priority for acute services is to deliver timely access to effective and safe hospital care services. The hospital delivers a full range of medical, surgical and obstetric services, including complex procedures in areas such as cardiac surgery, neurosurgery and neonatal intensive care.

Strong links exist between hospital and community-based services, as many of the operational divisions deliver services across the continuum of care to ensure continuity of care for patients. The community-based services of Canberra Health Services include early childhood, youth and women’s health; dental services, rehabilitation and community care; mental health and alcohol and drug services. In addition, justice health services are provided within the Territory’s’ detention facilities.

The Children’s Hearing Service operates from Belconnen Community Health Centre and provides a full hearing assessment for children and young people from 18 months to 18 years at no cost to the family. Families are given information about their child’s hearing and provided with education and health promotion around hearing health. Appropriate referrals are put in place where required.

The Health Professional Level 2 (Audiologist) is responsible for delivering high‑quality, evidence‑based audiology services to a defined paediatric caseload. The role applies professional judgement within established clinical guidelines and scope of practice, operating with a high level of professional accountability under general supervision in accordance with Health Professional Level 2 Work Level Standards.

Canberra Health Services is a partner in teaching with the Australian National University, the University of Canberra and the Australian Catholic University.

Key Responsibilities

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

Under general professional and operational supervision of the School Services Manager. You will:

1. Provide high-quality, comprehensive audiology assessments and intervention for children and young people, applying professional judgement within established scope of practice, practice standards and evidence-based clinical guidelines, and contributing to health promotion and illness/injury prevention strategies.
2. Communicate and liaise with the client, their family and other service providers as required, while contributing to the support, guidance and procedural supervision of other staff or students, under the direction of senior clinicians, as required.
3. Complete non-clinical and administrative duties as required, including accurate and timely clinical documentation that meets professional legislative and service requirements, while adhering to data retention policies and procedures.
4. Foster collegial relationships with stakeholders, providing sound, evidence-based professional advice within defined clinical and professional parameters, referring to the client as appropriate.
5. Participate in education programs for areas of clinical service delivery, including actively contribute to service development activities, including analysis, evaluation and planning of service initiatives within defined areas of responsibility.
6. Participate in the organisation as appropriate and the implementation of clinical governance activity, approved quality improvement projects, service-based evaluation and research activities, and health promotion in areas relevant to the service.
7. Participate in supervision, continuing professional development and performance appraisal and development.
8. 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.

• Demonstrated ability to work effectively and independently within defined clinical and professional parameters, while contributing positively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs
• Excellent communication skills
• Organisational skills and motivation

Qualifications

Essential

• A degree in Audiology from a recognised tertiary institution.
• Eligibility for full membership with Audiology Australia with Certificate of Clinical Practice (CCP).
• Be registered under the Working with Vulnerable People Act.

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

• Professional experience working with children and young people or demonstrated capability to provide paediatric audiology services under supervision.

Desirable

• 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.

1. Demonstrated experience in audiological assessment and interventions for children and young people in accordance with existing practice guidelines.
2. Proven high level communication skills, both written and verbal and the ability to work effectively and progressively as a member of the Children’s Hearing Service and multidisciplinary teams.
3. Demonstrated organisational skills and ability to work with flexibility to prioritise competing workloads.
4. Participation in and commitment to professional development, evidence-based practice, quality improvement activities and in-service education.
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.