Position overview

The position is situated within Adult Community Mental Health Services (ACMHS), under the Intake Services Teams, which is a specialist mental health service that provides health care and support for people aged from 18 years old.  ACMHS provides evidenced based and personalised care planning for recovering people while also collaborating with carers, Nominated Persons, supports and other key stakeholders.

ACMHS teams operate across the Australian Capital Territory, adhering to both the Adult Community Mental Health Model of Care and the Older Persons Community Mental Health Model of Care. ACMHS program area services the community’s mental health needs in the areas of intake, recovery, supported and therapeutic accommodation, therapy, older persons, neuropsychology, assertive community outreach, homeless outreach, and intensive home treatment. The Intake Services Teams – ACMHS, includes the Access Mental Health Team (AMHT) - Triage and Comprehensive Services, Home Assessment and Acute Response Team (HAART) which includes the Police Ambulance Clinician Early Response (PACER), Rapid Response, and an Intensive Home Treatment (IHT) service.

Applicants may apply using the CHS online employment website and must attach two recent referee reports, one which must be from your current line manager, a current resume and no more than a two-page written response that demonstrates your experience against the selection criteria. Depending on the response received applicants may be appointed on merit.

AMHT incorporates the guidelines and principles of the Adult Community Mental Health Services (ACMHS) ensuring that the teams’ practice is current and is keeping pace with the changes occurring in the greater MHJHADS teams. The AMHT function is critical to identify and mitigate potentially life-threatening risks for people calling the service.

Key Responsibilities

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

1. Provide appropriate skilled clinical assessment and intervention to specialised client group/s with support in a mental health care environment, while including carers, children, Nominated Persons, GPs, and other service providers in the recovery planning process.
2. Work within the Mental Health Act 2015 and other relevant legislation that impact on clinical service delivery whilst adhering to risk management processes, identifying and escalating issues appropriately.
3. Provide a high standard of clinical discipline-specific expertise within the multidisciplinary team processes and work collaboratively with people, carers, and community agencies/other stakeholders to provide short term care co-ordination.
4. Participate in clinical supervision, continuing professional development and personal performance review processes. Provide professional supervision and training to undergraduate Students and post graduate students and assist in the supervision of Level 1 Staff.
5. Complete case notes and risk assessments, to the required standard in the electronic database - Digital Health Record (DHR) and meet reporting and data collection requirements for key performance indicators and statistical data collection.
6. Compliance with the frameworks around clinical audits, incident management, occupational violence, staff orientation, clinical review, the National Standards for Mental Health Services, the National Safety and Quality Health Service standards and the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards.
7. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification and within the approved scope of clinical practice which contribute to the operations of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Mental Health Assessment experience working with specialised client group/s.
• Understanding of the Mental Health Act 2015.
• Application of recovery-based interventions, trauma informed care, and strengths-based approaches to care provision.
• Understanding risk and escalation of concerns through the team leader and team, such as MDT processes, RISKMAN, clinical supervision and other supportive frameworks.
• DHR competence and ongoing standard expectations for updating skillset to ensure statistical and data collection requirements are met.
• Clear communication skills in both verbal and written ability to work with carers, consumers, nominated persons, and support services/government agencies in accordance with the Mental Health Act 2015.
• Understanding of the frameworks encompassing the National Safety and Quality Digital Mental Health Standards, and the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.

Qualifications

Essential

• Relevant Tertiary Qualifications in Social Work, Occupational Therapy or Psychology
• Be registered or be eligible for general registration with (Psychology Board or Occupational Therapy Board of Australia) under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) or professional membership or eligibility for professional membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
• A current driver’s license and will need to work on a roster that includes weekends and after-hours work.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Desirable

• Post Grad Qualification in relevant discipline or another relevant stream.

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of 12 months experience in your respective discipline.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Desirable

• Experience working in community mental health teams, as well as understanding the partnership with emergency services personnel that promotes the spirit of cooperation and collaboration, respect for each other’s philosophy, priorities, knowledge, skills, and experience.

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.
• The successful applicant will need to work on a roster that includes weekends, after-hours work and nightshift.

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 ability to undertake complex relevant mental health assessments within a community setting, plan treatment and provide evidence-based interventions in collaboration with people and their families/carers, within the relevant discipline scope of practice.
2. A demonstrated understanding of the principles of recovery and the National Standards for Mental Health Services.
3. Effective communication skills and an understanding of and willingness to participate in, research, quality improvement activities and clinical supervision.
4. Demonstrated knowledge of current mental health services within the ACT and a working knowledge of current mental health and other relevant legislation.
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.