Position overview

Acute Allied Health Services (AAHS) Physiotherapy provides services to a range of clients in acute inpatient wards at Canberra Hospital including critical care areas ICU and CCU, and medical and surgical specialties of General Medicine, Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Renal, Cardiology, Oncology, General Surgery, Cardiothoracic, Vascular and Urology.

Cardiorespiratory physiotherapy services are also provided to range of specialised outpatient services including but not limited to Pulmonary Rehabilitation, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Heart Function, Respiratory Outpatients, Enhanced Recovery After Surgery programs and multidisciplinary Adult Cystic Fibrosis and Bronchiectasis clinics.

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. Cardiorespiratory HP3s can work in varying inpatient and outpatient areas depending on operational service needs and individual interest and development requirements.

HP3 Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapists are supported operationally, professionally and clinically through team leaders, clinical leads, clinical educators and manager.

An Advanced Skills Allowance (ASA) is available to eligible HPO3s and is a mechanism to recognize and promote the development of advanced skills of health professionals. The ASA is not applied automatically and must be made through an application process.

Key Responsibilities

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

• Provide high level of appropriate evidence-based physiotherapy assessments and interventions to patients across a range of specialised cardiorespiratory clinical areas.
• Communicate effectively and work collaboratively with patients, families, carers, multidisciplinary team, and other service providers to ensure continuum of care.
• Complete case, program and activity records to standards required while complying with data and documentation policies and are followed.
• Exercise independent professional judgement on moderately complex matters, generating innovative solutions to problems and producing a range of solutions for consideration.
• Provide  supervision and education to Health Professional 1 & 2 staff, students,  Allied Health Assistances and other non-health professional staff, and deliver  and participate in education programs for areas of clinical service delivery.
• Participate in  team and program related service initiatives as required.
• Participate in  organisation and implementation of clinical governance activities, research  programs, health promotion and quality improvement projects in relevant areas.
• 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.

• 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 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 Leader, engage with others to collaboratively in shared decision making for the operation and evolution of the service and in roles as individual care provider, as member of the Spinal Pain Service team, and as a leader of the service.
• 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 behavior, accountability, and management of their own physical and mental health.

Qualifications

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

Essential

• Tertiary Qualification or related qualification in Physiotherapy.
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• The successful applicant will need to be available for after-hours work including weekend and/or shift pattern.

Desirable

• Post graduate qualification in related field.
• 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

• A minimum of three years’ experience working professionally in Physiotherapy.
• Prior work experience in acute inpatient, and/or critical care areas and/or cardiorespiratory outpatient practice areas.

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.
• 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 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 ability and experience in physiotherapy management of patients with cardiorespiratory conditions in some or all the following areas - critical care, acute inpatient and outpatient services/programs through the integration of evidence into clinical practice.
2. Proven effective communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to work as a member of the multidisciplinary team and to supervise staff and students within the unit.
3. Demonstrated ability to maintain high professional standards and meet organisational requirements for record-keeping, data collection and clinical services evaluation.
4. Demonstrated commitment and experience in clinical governance through quality improvement activities, service development and evaluation, clinical supervision and education, research, and health promotion in relevant areas.
5. Demonstrates a commitment to work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience and displays behaviour consistent with Canberra Health Service’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.