Position overview

Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Services (RACS) is a vibrant and diverse Division within Canberra Health Services providing multidisciplinary rehab, aged and community-based care across a range of settings. This includes Canberra Hospital, Community Health Centres and Village Creek Centre in Kambah.

Community Care Occupational Therapy services are offered from community health centres and in patient homes across the ACT. The service provides assessment and intervention relating to assistive technology and home modifications for patients aged 18+ years. Patients vary in their medical conditions and may include people with neurological conditions, orthopaedic conditions, complex and chronic medical conditions, frail aged and rapidly deteriorating. Community Care Occupational Therapy also provides services for the National Disability Insurance Scheme participants as well as Commonwealth Home Support Program clientele.

Community Care Occupational Therapists have strong peer support where we work collaboratively with other professionals and participate in regular clinical supervision. We pride ourselves on our continual drive to deliver exceptional care and maintain a positive workplace culture. Our team is committed to the delivery of health services that reflect Canberra Health Services values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind.

Community Care Occupational Therapists work to their strengths and share knowledge to facilitate an environment of curiosity, innovation, and excellence to assist each other to achieve positive patient outcomes through the provision of exceptional clinical services. We are a high performing team that is engaged in continuous quality improvement and research.

Staff wellbeing is high priority, and the Community Care Occupational Therapy team is an inclusive team that cares and takes the time to listen, show empathy and understanding towards each other, and our consumers.

Key Responsibilities

Under limited direction and supervision from the Community Care Occupational Therapy Manager, you will promote positive client outcomes through the provision of high-quality clinical services, networking, health promotion activities and education in/across designated areas or units as part of the wider interdisciplinary community care team. You will:

1. Provide a high level of appropriate skilled clinical assessment and interventions across a range of specialised clinical areas (including Rapid Assessment of the Deteriorating Aged at Risk service), liaising with carers and other service providers to facilitate effective service provision.
2. Exercise independent professional judgement in solving problems and managing cases where principles, procedures, and techniques require expansion, adaptation, or modification.
3. Contribute to the planning, development and evaluation of client programs and services, including the evaluation and analysis of policies and procedures applicable to professional practice.
4. Provide professional supervision and training to Health Professionals Level 1 & 2, Allied Health Assistants, Trainees and Students, and assisting in the supervision of other Students as directed.
5. Consult and liaise with external community stakeholders to develop partnerships for health promotion and other service delivery activities identified in the organisational business plan.
6. Complete case and patient records to standards required and meet reporting and data collection requirements.
7. Participate in and/or implement and coordinate research programs and quality improvement activities in relevant areas of service delivery.
8. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

To be successful in this position, it is expected that you will have the following attributes:

• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive.
• Displays critical thinking skills and forms defensible conclusions based on evidence and sound judgement.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.
• Effective communication, including active listening skills, and an ability to negotiate with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Qualifications

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

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy preferably with minimum of 5 years’ experience working professionally in occupational therapy.
• Be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Current driver’s license with ability and willingness to drive/travel as the role requires.

Desirable

• Understand how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Experience

Essential

• N/A

Desirable

• Prior experience providing domiciliary care within a public health service will be highly desirable.
• Experience working with older, frail and vulnerable populations an advantage.
• Experience working with participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• 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.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.

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. Extensive experience in providing high level and complex occupational therapy assessments and interventions including appropriate patient/carer education, across aged care and community settings.
2. Demonstrated ability to deliver patient centred services and effectively manage, prioritise, and coordinate caseloads whilst ensuring to meet high safety and quality standards.
3. Demonstrated ability to provide professional supervision and/or training to other staff and students.
4. Demonstrated ability to use a range of communication skills in complex situations, including an ability to produce high standard written reports to a professional audience.
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.