Position overview
Acute Allied Health Services (AAHS) Physiotherapy provides services to a range of clients in acute inpatient wards and specialised outpatient settings. Our physiotherapists work closely with patients, carers, referrers, other health care professionals and multidisciplinary teams to achieve safe, high quality patient care. Acute physiotherapy inpatient care is delivered across 7 days with extended hours of service provision. New graduate physiotherapists rotate across five clinical areas during the new graduate year.
Community Health and Integrated Care (CHIC) is a vibrant and diverse Division within CHS providing multidisciplinary rehabilitation, aged and community-based care across a range of settings. CHIC services work collaboratively with individuals and their families or carers to facilitate achievement of their rehabilitation goals. Additionally, we collaborate with other services within and external to CHS.
Community care physiotherapy services (within CHIC) are offered from community health centres across the ACT. As well as musculoskeletal out-patients, this service offers home visits and pelvic health consultations. Services are offered in either a one-on-one format or via group exercise and education. The Community Care Physiotherapy Team provides services for Commonwealth Home Support Program clientele
North Canberra Hospital (NCH) Physiotherapy provides services to a range of clients in acute inpatients and specialised outpatient settings. Our physiotherapists work closely with patients, carers, referrers, other health professionals and multidisciplinary teams to achieve safe, high quality patient care. This position works in collaboration with the physiotherapy and multidisciplinary team to deliver services, supporting patient flow and maximising patient outcomes. You will play a key role in delivering high quality patient centred care and associated functions to support service delivery in clinical areas. You will be required to participate in overtime, restricted on-call and shift rosters.
The successful applicant(s) will be employed as a health professional level 1 for 12 months in available positions to maximise clinical and professional skills growth and development. The successful applicants will also join the CHS allied health interprofessional graduate program. This program is specifically designed to support new graduates to launch their careers in healthcare and develop their professional identity. The program provides graduates with individual support to optimise learning and career opportunities. New graduates will have onsite access to a clinical supervisor who will work with them and support them to grow their clinical and professional skills. New graduates will also be matched with a peer from the previous cohort of new graduates to provide them with additional informal support. The program also offers a 12-month allied health interdisciplinary education program facilitated by the Allied Health Clinical Education Unit.
Clinical supervision, support and professional development are provided through team structures, clinical supervision, competency-based skills assessments, on the job training, and internal and external professional development opportunities.
Key Responsibilities
Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:
Under limited direction of the AAHS manager or CHIC Physiotherapy Manager or Community Care Physiotherapy Manager or Transitional Therapy and Care Program or Brindabella Day and Ambulatory Rehabilitation Service Manager or NCH Director of Physiotherapy you will perform clinical, administrative and educational duties related to the care and wellbeing of CHS consumers and staff.
You will:
- Provide appropriate physiotherapy assessment and intervention to patients, using established principles, techniques and methods under supervision.
- Work collaboratively as part of your work area team, and with consumers, carers, significant others, GPs, and other service providers to ensure quality service delivery across the continuum of care.
- Complete clinical and administrative data collection and evaluation to standards.
- Participate in clinical supervision, continuing professional development and performance planning and review processes.
- Participate in team and program related service activities as required.
- Participate in the implementation of clinical governance activities, research programs, health promotion and quality improvement projects in areas relevant to service.
- 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.
- As a practitioner, integrates all other competencies, applying knowledge, skills and professional values in the promotion of health and provision of culturally responsive, high quality and safe, client centred management.
- As a communicator, form effective therapeutic relationships with clients that facilitate the gathering and sharing of essential information for effective health care and health promotion to optimise management and outcomes.
- As a collaborator, work effectively with health care and other professionals to provide safe, high-quality, client-centred management.
- As a health advocate, support clients in navigating the health care system and to advocate with, and, for them to access appropriate resources in a timely manner.
- As a scholar, demonstrate a commitment to maintaining and enhancing professional competency, achieved through engaging in clinical reflection, continuous learning, teaching others and sharing their knowledge and practices.
- As a professional, demonstrate commitment to safety and quality in healthcare through ethical practice, high standards of professional behaviour, accountability, and management of their own physical and mental health.
Qualifications
Essential
- Degree in Physiotherapy.
- Registered (or eligible for registration) with the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
- Current Australian Driver license.
Desirable
- Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
Experience
Essential
- N/A
Desirable
- Previous clinical experience working in a hospital setting.
- 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.
- 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.
- Successful applicants may be required to be available for weekend, on call and/or rotation roster and work flexibly across services, locations and programs.
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.
- Proven ability and experience in assessing patients, planning and implementing physiotherapy treatment programs including appropriate patient/carer education.
- Understanding of and ability to work effectively within physiotherapy and multi-disciplinary teams and collaborate with other service providers to ensure effective patient outcomes.
- Demonstrated effective oral and written communication skills, including the ability to use a range of information technology applications to maintain clinical documentation and data collection.
- Demonstrated commitment to and experience of clinical governance through quality improvement activities, research programs and health promotion in relevant areas.
- 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.
| Administrative | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Telephone use | Frequently |
| General computer use | Frequently |
| Extensive keying/data entry | Occasionally |
| Graphical/analytical based | Occasionally |
| Sitting at a desk | Occasionally |
| Standing for long periods | Frequently |
| Psychosocial demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations | Occasionally |
| Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness | Occasionally |
| Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries | Occasionally |
| Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers | Never |
| Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide | Occasionally |
| Physical demands | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit) | Frequently |
| Working outdoors | Occasionally |
| Manual handling | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Lifting 0 - 9kg | Frequently |
| Lifting 10 - 15kg | Frequently |
| Lifting 16kg+ | Occasionally |
| Climbing | Occasionally |
| Running | Never |
| Reaching | Frequently |
| Kneeling | Frequently |
| Foot and leg movement | Frequently |
| Hand, arm and grasping movements | Frequently |
| Bending/squatting | Frequently |
| Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting | Frequently |
| Push/pull | Frequently |
| Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time | Frequently |
| Travel | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Frequent travel – multiple work sites | Occasionally |
| Frequent travel – driving | Occasionally |
| Specific hazards | Frequency |
|---|---|
| Working at heights | Never |
| Exposure to extreme temperatures | Never |
| Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift | Never |
| Confined spaces | Never |
| Excessive noise | Never |
| Low lighting | Never |
| Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological. | Never |
| Slippery or uneven surfaces | Occasionally |
Directorate: Canberra Health Services
Division: Various
Business Unit: Allied Health
Position number: P29651 + multiple
Position title: New Graduate Physiotherapist
Classification: Health Professional Officer 1
Location: Canberra Health Services, ACT
Reporting relationships:
Direct Manager: Acute Physiotherapy or CHIC Physiotherapy or Community Care physiotherapy or NCH Physiotherapy
Manager +1: Director of Allied Health
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. We provide acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website.
Our Vision: creating exceptional health care together
Our Role: to be a health service that is trusted by our community
Our Values: Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind