Position overview

Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol & Drug Services (MHJHADS) provide health services directly and through partnerships with community organisations. The services provided range from prevention and treatment to recovery, maintenance and harm minimisation. Consumer and carer participation is encouraged in all aspects of service planning and delivery. The Division works in partnership with consumers, carers and a range of government and non-government service providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for clients.

The Division delivers services at a number of locations, including hospital inpatient and outpatient settings, community health centres, detention centres, other community settings including peoples’ homes.

These services include:

• Adult Community Mental Health Services
• Older Persons Mental Health Services
• Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services
• Alcohol & Drug Services
• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services
• Justice Health Services

The AIMHS is across The Canberra Hospital, the University of Canberra Hospital (UCH), and North Canberra Hospital sites, and includes services such as Adult Mental Health Unit, Ward 12B Mental Health Unit, Mental Health Short Stay Unit, Mental Health Clinical Liaison TCH and NCH, the Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (AMHRU), the Adult Mental Health Day Service (AMHDS), Banksia Mental Health Unit and Acacia Mental Health Unit.

The AMHRU, located at the University of Canberra Hospital (UCH), is an inpatient rehabilitation unit whose aim is to attain and maximise independence through bio-psychosocial rehabilitation in all aspects of daily living for graduated community re-integration.

The AMHDS is located adjacent to AMHRU and focuses on the delivery of recovery-focused interventions with people living in the community to help enhance their quality of life and/or improve their functional status. The AMHDS offers a variety of programs, including several group-based interventions and other specialist services that target people who are experiencing moderate to severe mental health conditions. Service delivery for both services are underpinned by evidence based mental health care, the principles of Recovery and the provision of collaborative care involving the person, their carers and other key stakeholders.

Under routine supervision from the Allied Health Manager, the Music Therapist is responsible for the provision of high quality creative arts/music therapy services that will achieve sound outcomes for people within a therapeutic environment. The Creative Arts/Music Therapist role is an integral member of both the AMHRU and AMHDS teams at UCH, sharing their therapy expertise across both units.

The Music Therapist role is supported by a cohesive multi-disciplinary team of Nurses, Psychologists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers, Allied Health Assistants, Administration Service Officers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Liaison Officers, Peer Recovery Workers, Psychiatry Registrars and Consultant Psychiatrists.

Key Responsibilities

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

Exercising independent professional judgement on routine matters and under routine professional supervision for more complex tasks:

• Provide appropriate and skilled music assessments, interventions and evaluations of therapeutic programs within the creative arts/music therapy scope of practice and using established techniques and methods.
• Include carers, children, Nominated Persons, GPs, and other service providers in the recovery planning process, as required.
• Adhere to risk management processes, identifying and escalating issues appropriately.
• Complete clinical and program records to standards required and meet clinical and data collection requirements.
• Participate in clinical supervision, continuing professional development and personal performance review process. Provide professional supervision and training to Health Professionals Level 1, students, Allied Health Assistants, and other support staff.
• Actively contribute to the implementation of clinical governance activities, quality improvement projects, research programs, and health promotion in areas relevant to service.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following.

• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet client’s needs.
• Ability to work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

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

Essential

• Tertiary Qualification or related qualification in Music Therapy.
• Professional membership (or eligibility for professional membership) of the Australian Music Therapy Association as a Registered Music Therapist.

Desirable

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

Experience

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

Essential

• A minimum of 12 month post-qualification experience in a relevant clinical area and of supervising staff is preferred.

Desirable

• Previous experience working with adults with mental health issues within a rehabilitative framework.
• 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.

Key Selection Criteria

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience:

1. Proven ability to work collaboratively with individuals with moderate to severe mental illness to undertake relevant creative arts/music assessments and plan treatment.
2. Demonstrated ability to provide individual and group creative arts/music therapy interventions including evaluation of intervention and program effectiveness.
3. Effective communication skills including the ability to liaise and consult with carers and relevant agencies and to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team.
4. Demonstrated understanding of the principles of recovery, The National Standards for Mental Health Services (2010), contemporary issues in mental health practice, and the implications for service delivery.
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.