Position overview

Acute Allied Health Services (AAHS) Physiotherapy provides services to a level 3 intensive care unit (ICU) and Acute Coronary Care Unit (ACCU) across a 7-day service. This includes the management of medical, general surgery, cardiothoracic surgery, neurosurgery and trauma admissions in a mixed model environment.

AAHS Physiotherapy are responsible for providing acute respiratory management, early mobilisation and early rehabilitation to patients undergoing mechanical ventilation, non-invasive ventilation and other advanced organ supports in conjunction with a multidisciplinary team.

Under the guidance of senior clinicians, the HP3 Physiotherapist contributes to service development activities, including participation in quality improvement initiatives and research.

The position contributes to workforce capability through participation in staff and student supervision, professional development, and student education, while maintaining clinical competence and adhering to professional and organisational standards. The role supports the delivery of a sustainable, patient-centred model of care aligned with organisational priorities for improved health outcomes, access, and system efficiency.

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 competent, evidence-based physiotherapy assessment, clinical reasoning, and intervention for critically ill patients requiring advanced organ supports.
• Support cardiorespiratory physiotherapy service delivery through participation in supervision, teaching, and support of colleagues and students, under the guidance of senior clinicians.
• Work collaboratively with the Manager AAHS Physiotherapy, senior physiotherapy staff, multidisciplinary teams, and external stakeholders to support coordinated, safe, and effective service provision.
• Contribute to designated service portfolios through participation in service development, evaluation, research and quality improvement activities, under direction.
• Participate in service improvement and evaluation activities, including collection and documentation of clinical and service data to support monitoring of patient outcomes and service effectiveness.
• Contribute to the education and training of staff to support best practice management of patients with critical illness.
• Actively participate in professional development and engage in supervision and mentoring processes to support ongoing clinical development and workforce capability.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification that contribute to the operation and continuous improvement of the organisation, including participation in rostered services and weekend work as required.

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, 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 behaviour, accountability, and management of their own physical and mental health.

Qualifications

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

Essential

• Tertiary Qualification in Physiotherapy.
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Desirable

• Post graduate qualifications in education and training or relevant clinical 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

• Minimum of 3 years clinical experience post entry level qualifications.
• Experience in Level 3 or higher Intensive Care Units.

Desirable

• Previous experience as a clinical or student supervisor highly desirable.
• Experience across cardiorespiratory physiotherapy.
• 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 rosters.

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. Demonstrated clinical experience delivering high-quality physiotherapy services for critically ill patients with complex medical/surgical conditions, with the ability to apply sound clinical reasoning and evidence-based practice, including in respiratory management and early rehabilitation.
2. Demonstrated experience in clinical education, including participation in supervision and support of staff and students.
3. Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams, support colleagues and students, and establish collaborative working relationships with internal stakeholders.
4. Demonstrated ability to contribute to service development and quality improvement activities, including participation in the implementation and evaluation of service initiatives and supporting the collection of outcome data aligned with organisational priorities.
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.