Position overview

Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Services (MHJHADS) provides support to children, youth and adults through inpatient and outpatient settings, community health centres, justice health facilities and other community settings, including people’s homes. We partner with our health care consumers, their family, carers, government, and community organisations to ensure that they receive the best possible care during their treatment and recovery.

MHJHADS services include:

• Adult Community  & Older Persons Mental Health Services
• Adult Inpatient  Mental Health Services (AIMHS)
• Alcohol & Drug  Services (ADS)
• Child &  Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
• Justice Health  Services (JHS)

AIMHS includes the Adult Mental Health Unit (AMHU), Ward 12B and the Mental Health Short Stay Unit (MHSSU). The AMHU is a 40-bed inpatient unit for people experiencing moderate to severe mental illness. AMHU is a contemporary evidence-based service providing high quality mental health care, guided by the principles of Recovery. The service aims to provide collaborative care involving the person, their carers, and other key services. 12B is 10–14-bedroom low dependency inpatient unit for patients with a lower risk of behavioural disturbance or vulnerability. MHSSU is a low dependency 6 bed inpatient unit in the Emergency Department for people requiring extended mental health assessment and/or treatment initiation.

In this role you will contribute clinical expertise to the multidisciplinary team, assist and contribute to the service development and therapy processes and support health promotion strategies within Canberra Health Services.

The successful applicant will also be required to undertake professional development and clinical supervision and participate in quality improvement initiatives. The successful applicant may also provide support supervising staff at the Health Professional 1 level, students and clinically related staff (such as Allied Health Assistants). The position will report operationally to the Allied Health Manager alongside the HP4 Clinical Lead over the program area. Discipline specific support is available through the Occupational Therapy Profession lead.

Please note: This is a full-time position working Monday to Friday.

Key Responsibilities

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

• Provide appropriate and safe Occupational Therapy clinical assessment and interventions with the aim of increasing an individual’s ability to live as independently as possible while engaging in meaningful and productive life roles and to build confidence and self- esteem using purposeful activity. Assessment and intervention include, but is not limited to:
  • Facilitating the development of skills needed for independent living such as using community resources, managing one’s home, managing time, managing medications, and being safe at home and in the community
  • Providing training in activities of daily living (eg hygiene and grooming)
  • Provide educational programs, experiential learning, and treatment groups or classes to address assertiveness, self- awareness, interpersonal and social skills, stress management, and role development.
  • Working with clients to develop leisure interests and pursuits
  • Providing evaluation and treatment for sensory processing deficits
• Include carers, children and Nominated Persons, GPs, and other service providers in the recovery planning process, as required
• Liaise with external community agencies and service providers as required
• Adhere to risk management processes and identify risks, suggest mitigating actions and escalating issues appropriately
• Participate in team and program related service activities as well as complete clinical records and administrative data collection to standards
• Participate in clinical supervision, continuing professional development and personal performance review process. Provide professional supervision and training to Health Professional level 1 as appropriate, students, Allied Health Assistants, and other support staff.
• Participate in 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
• Be flexible, adaptable and comfortable with change in the working environment
• Commitment to achieving positive outcomes for mental health consumers.

Qualifications

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

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy and registered with Occupational Therapy Board Australia
• Eligible for professional membership of Occupational Therapy Australia
• Current passenger vehicles Driver’s License

Desirable

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

Experience

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

Essential

• Minimum of 12 months paid work experience, post qualification, in a related/ relevant organisation/ service post qualification experience

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.

Please note prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:

• Undergo a 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.

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 the 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. Proven knowledge of Occupational Therapy assessments and interventions for clients with moderate to severe mental illness with regard to recovery principles
2. High-level oral and written communication skills, including computer skills, to complete clinical and program records/ reports
3. Proven effective communication skills including ability to work effectively as a member of a multi-disciplinary team and to liaise and consult with carers, GPs and relevant agencies.
4. Demonstrated ability to evaluate occupational therapy and/ or psychosocial intervention programs through quality improvement initiatives, and to plan and develop the service to meet the needs of people.
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.