Position overview

Women, Youth and Children Community Health Programs delivers a range of health care community-based services to women, children, young people, and families. These services include support, education, and information; counselling, assessment and screening; early identification and referral; and the delivery of public health programs. Services are delivered within a multidisciplinary context if not by a multidisciplinary team.

The Enhanced Health Services (EHS) includes the Early Family Support Service (EFSS), Developmental Paediatric and Enhanced Child Health Service (ECHS), and the Women’s Health Service (WHS).

As a clinical psychologist, you will work with a multidisciplinary team, including nurses, allied health and medical specialists, to provide high quality evidence-based assessment, intervention and support for children presenting with neurodevelopmental concerns. This position will deliver high level clinical services and leadership. Services provided are evidence based, collaborative, and holistic, with acknowledgment of the significance of sensitive, trauma informed care.

This is a rewarding and exciting position within a vibrant service that is suitable for a dynamic, flexible, and skilled psychologist, who is committed to working in a multidisciplinary team to deliver care to children, young people and their families.

Key Responsibilities

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

You will:

• Provide a high level of expert clinical and psychological assessments, clinical formulation, diagnosis and interventions to children and young people (and their families) referred to the Developmental Pediatricians and ECHS. This includes testing, assessment, Multidisciplinary Team diagnosis and therapy, working in partnership with families and other CHS staff.
• Providing effective and professional clinical leadership of a small team of psychologists within the service, in accordance with organisational policies and procedures, professional practice and ethical standards.
• Exercising independent professional judgement and employing innovative problem-solving skills to manage complex cases where principles, procedures and techniques require expansion, adaptation or modification.
• Responsibility for reporting performance and safety data for the ECHS Psychology Team and oversee the completion of clinical and administrative data collection and evaluation to a high standard.
• Liaise with the client, carers, multi-disciplinary team members and key internal and external stakeholders to enhance and establish effective and collaborative partnerships to ensure positive client outcomes.
• Provide leadership in the ongoing development of the ECHS Psychology Team, including clinical governance, quality improvement, policy development, evaluation, and review and contribute to research to support evidence-based practice.
• Lead a positive workplace culture by building collegial professional relationships and demonstrating a commitment to proactively seeking solutions when issues arise. Actively participate in supervision, provide clinical supervision and specialist training to staff and students as required, promote professional development and participate in performance management of self and others.
• Model an exemplary level of professional and ethical standards in clinical interventions and uphold the National Quality and Safety Health Care Standards. Ensure staff compliance with local and territory plans, legislation, CHS policy, incident and complaints management, and operation and strategic planning.
• 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.

• Demonstrates high level interpersonal, emotional intelligence and communication skills with proven ability to supervise and foster effective professional relationships.
• Displays adaptability and flexibility necessary to accommodate change and provide a service which is responsive to clients’ needs.
• A commitment to upholding patient privacy, confidentiality and ethical standards.
• Conscientious and professional in all aspects of work.
• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive and resilience.
• Ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team including external stakeholders, with a high level of verbal and written communication skills.

Qualifications

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

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications (or equivalent) in Clinical Psychology.
• Registration with or eligibility for General Registration and Area of Practice.
• Endorsement in Clinical Psychology with Psychology Board of Australia under
• Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Desirable

• Current drivers licence.
• Eligibility for Board Approved Supervisor Training or being a Board Approved Supervisor with the Psychology Board of Australia.
• 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

• At least 3 years’ experience minimum in the profession (including clinical placements and/or intern year).
• Well-developed understanding of child and adolescent development and ability to practice from a developmental perspective.

Desirable

• Five years’ experience in the profession (including clinical placements and/or intern year).
• Knowledge of and/or experience working with children experiencing neurodiversity.
• 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 ability to provide an expert level of skilled clinical assessment and interventions, to children and young people in partnership with families presenting with complex neurodevelopmental and behavioural concerns, consistent with the Psychology Board of Australia’s Area of Practice Endorsement competencies in Clinical Psychology.
2. Demonstrated skill in clinical leadership of psychologists and/or other allied health, active participation in clinical supervision and the provision of training and clinical supervision of staff, Clinical Psychology registrars and higher degree students in accordance with Psychology Board of Australia requirements.
3. Advanced level of communication skills demonstrated through the ability to establish and maintain high level effective working relationships with internal and external service providers, work as a member of a multidisciplinary team, coordinate holistic care with other health professionals and service care providers, and the ability to coordinate and manage staff.
4. Demonstrated ability to lead and undertake quality improvement activities through policy and procedure review, development of clinical governance documents, development and evaluation of services, and research to develop evidence-based practice within a complex health environment.
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.