Position overview

The Cancer Psychosocial Service aims to improve outcomes for people with cancer and their families, by providing a comprehensive psychosocial service within the inpatient, outpatient, and community settings.  The Cancer Psychosocial Service is located at the Canberra Region Cancer Centre.

The Social Worker will understand issues relating to oncology and the impact of cancer on a person and their family / carer, including adjustment to the changes and challenges of a cancer diagnosis and its treatment for patients and families and grief, loss, and bereavement counselling. They will demonstrate a commitment to working within an Interprofessional environment. The overall function of the position is to promote positive client outcomes through the provision of high-quality counselling, assessment, and care planning interventions as part of a multidisciplinary team.

This position is permanent part time (4 days per week). Currently there are opportunities for increased hours (up to full-time) on a temporary basis.

Key Responsibilities

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

1. Provide appropriate skilled clinical assessment and psychosocial interventions across a range of clinical areas, including individual and group work to patients and carers, with support.
2. Exercise independent professional judgment on routine matters and perform novel and complex or critical tasks under professional supervision, decreasing as expertise increases.
3. Liaise with patients, carers, and service providers, to enhance and improve clinical outcomes and develop partnerships for health promotion and other service activities identified in the business plan.
4. Assist in the supervision and education of other staff and students. Actively participate in supervision, continuing professional development and performance management.
5. Actively contributes to the implementation of clinical governance activity, quality improvement projects, research programs and health promotion in areas relevant to service.
6. Actively participate in team meetings, complete clinical and administrative data collection and case records to a consistent standard.
7. Practice in accordance with the professional body’s code of conduct, practice standards and organisational guidelines and legislative requirements.
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.

• Working independently to manage and prioritize specific tasks, processes, or activities against stated objectives with supervision generally limited to complex tasks or unfamiliar situations.
• Communication with and provision of information and advice to a range of stakeholders.
• Participate in quality improvement activities/ research activities.
• Provide procedural supervision to HP1’s, AHAs, and students.
• Good organizational skills and high degree of drive.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients needs.
• Willingness to critically reflect on and develop practice skills and framework.

Qualifications

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications in Social Work.

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 1 year experience working professionally in social work.

Desirable

• Prior experience in working in the oncology space will be highly 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 and must be addressed in your application:

1. Proven knowledge of and ability to provide assessment, counselling and care planning interventions which are responsive to patient needs in a healthcare setting.
2. Demonstrated effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with an ability to communicate sensitively with patients and colleagues and work effectively with hospital and community-based stakeholders.
3. Demonstrated ability to work within multidisciplinary team/s and prioritise workload according to clinical indicators, risk management frameworks and organisational requirements.
4. Demonstrated ability to participate in professional supervision, continuing professional development and assist in the education of students.
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.