Position overview

Alcohol and Drug Services (ADS) is a part of the division of Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol & Drug Services (MHJHADS), which is contemporary, evidence-based service providing high quality ADS guided by the principles of harm reduction.

ADS incorporates 9 program areas under two Models of Care, including:

• Specialty Services
  • Specialty Services Allied Health Team
  • Co-Occurring Needs Program
  • Opioid Treatment Services
  • Consultation and Liaison Service
  • Withdrawal Services
  • Medical Services
• Diversion and Therapy Services
  • Police and Court Diversion Services
  • Drug and Alcohol Sentencing List
  • Counselling and Treatment Services

Across these program areas, ADS provides information, court reports, advice, referral, intake, assessment, and support for ACT residents experiencing health-related concerns associated with substance use. We offer services for individuals, their family and friends, general practitioners, other health professionals, and business and community groups. This includes provision of high-quality liaison with external stakeholders, consumers, and staff of MHJHADS.

The Senior Manager is responsible for the senior leadership of community-based and allied health teams, including the Speciality Services Allied Health Team and Co-Occurring Needs Program, and Diversion and Therapy Services program areas. The role includes providing clinical expertise, contributing to policy development, implementation, and support for professional development in consultation with Managers of ADS teams and senior clinicians/professionals. The Senior Manager is required to work across various contexts, including within the community, community health centres, at the ACT Courts, and at Building 7, The Canberra Hospital, Garran.

This position reports to the Operational Director of Alcohol and Drug Services and involves regular liaison and collaborative work with other MHJHADS program areas, government, and non-government services in the ATOD and mental health sectors, and other external stakeholders.

ADS Team Members are required and supported to undertake professional development, engage in clinical supervision, participate in quality improvement and service development initiatives, and contribute to multidisciplinary team processes.

Key Responsibilities

Under limited direction of the ADS Operational Director, you will perform duties consistent with the role, including:

1. Develop and lead Managers of ADS to provide day-to-day clinical services within the context of community and inpatient services within ADS teams.
2. Manage the financial, human and administrative resources associated with ADS; promoting the safe and effective use of human and physical resources, as well as complex relationships associated with industrial processes to ensure sound industrial relations.
3. Manage delivery of ADS for people based in community settings within the ACT, to ensure access to services is consistent with clinical demand.
4. Manage complex relationships across health-related sectors and governmental agencies as well as statutory agencies to ensure effective provision of an integrated, comprehensive, and responsive health care model.
5. Continue implementation of ADS’ two new Models of Care and Operational Procedures alongside comprehensive governance processes and Quality and Safety systems.
6. Establish policies and procedures supportive of ADS treatment and specialist therapeutic interventions for the effective and efficient operations, consistent with statutory requirements and National Standards and Work Health & Safety legislation.
7. 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:

• Ability to foster a collaborative approach and provide clinical guidance to other leaders, members of multidisciplinary teams, and colleagues.
• Demonstrated strong organisational skills and a high degree of drive. Ability to work with independence, subject to limited direction against established priorities, practices, and methodologies to deliver quality outcomes.
• Demonstrated clinical skills and strong clinical decision-making necessary to ensuring high-quality care for persons experiencing complex and co-occurring mental illness/disorder and substance use disorders.
• Demonstrated adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and respond to novel situations, maintaining resilience and calm in the face of conflict or uncertainty.
• Ability to apply critical thinking skills and ability to form defensible conclusions based on evidence and sound judgement.
• Commitment to ethical practice and ability to manage confidential and sensitive information, and to communicate clinical concepts with influence and sensitivity.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills including the ability to explain complex information to consumers and relay clinical information as appropriate to non-clinical audiences.

Qualifications

Essential

Psychologists

• Unconditional general registration as a Psychologist with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Social Workers

• Degree in Social Work and eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers.

Occupational Therapists

• Unconditional general registration as a Occupational Therapist with Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

All

• Hold current driver’s licence.

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Experience

Essential

• A minimum of five years, full-time or part-time equivalent, post-qualification experience in a relevant clinical area.
• Prior experience in providing clinical leadership, managing and/or supervising staff.

Desirable

• Prior experience in developing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating new programs/services will be highly desirable.
• Additional qualifications in Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drug, Mental Health, Health Leadership, and/or other relevant areas will be highly desirable.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Dependant on qualification, current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 may be required.
• 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 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 leadership at a management level with demonstrated achievement in formulating strategic direction, developing and implementing models of care, management of organisational change, and resource management.
2. Proven ability to provide leadership in innovation, design, planning, implementation, and monitoring of systems which promote high standard of health care and collaborative practice.
3. Proven ability to develop, lead and review complex clinical and corporate health governance systems to maintain safe and responsive care consistent with legislative requirements, National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) and related standards.
4. High level interpersonal, written, and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to manage consultative processes, successfully liaise, negotiate, and communicate with a range of internal and external stakeholders within a complex changing health care 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.