Position overview

Key Responsibilities

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

1. As a member of a multidisciplinary team, provide advanced assessment and consultation liaison services for consumers by providing support with accommodation, social support, income, post suicide attempt community follow up and recovery partnership programs
2. Exercise independent judgement on routine matters and perform novel, complex, or critical tasks.
3. As part of a multidisciplinary team, work collaboratively in the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of consumers to promote positive mental health outcomes.
4. Provide support, consultation, liaison and education to consumers, families, direct care and non-direct care workers and agencies concerning the special needs of individuals who experience mental illness / mental disorder.
5. Develop and maintain collaborative cross-agency relationships.  Attend Partnership Meetings within the focus of your portfolio, providing clinical support to both sub-acute residential facilities that are managed by Community Organisations.
6. Active contribution in the implementation of clinical governance activities, quality improvement projects, divisional safety and quality initiatives, research programs, and health promotion.
7. Complete clinical and administrative data collection, evaluation to a high standard monthly, and undertake other administrative tasks upon request.
8. 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 written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate with influence.
• Expertise in making informed clinical decisions based on evidence, patient needs, and ethical considerations.
• Ability to work collaboratively and congenially with a wide range of people including peers, consumers, carers, managers, medical officers, internal and external organisations and stakeholders.
• High standards of ethical practice, especially in relation to patient confidentiality, consent, and mental health laws.
• Skills in promoting mental health awareness and educating patients and families about mental health conditions and resources.
• Ability to advocate for patients' rights and access to care, particularly in complex mental health settings.
• Commitment to continuous learning and improvement through regular reflection on professional practice.
• Commitment to involving patients in their care planning and respecting their autonomy and preferences.
• Understand and apply obligations for risk identification and safe practice within the clinical practice environment under the Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act 2011.

Qualifications

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

Essential

• Relevant Tertiary qualifications.
• A current driver’s license.

For Occupational Therapy:

• Be registered or be eligible for general registration with Occupational Therapy Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

For Psychology:

• Be registered or be eligible for general registration with Psychology Board of Australia under the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

For Social Work:

• Degree in Social Work, professional membership, or eligibility for professional membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), and registration under the ACT Working with Vulnerable People Act 2011.

Desirable

• Post Graduate Qualification in Mental Health or working towards such.
• Mental Health Officer (MHO) endorsement.
• 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 3 years’ experience working professionally in mental health services.

Desirable

• Strong understanding of adult community mental health service.
• Experience working closely with the NDIS.
• 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.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is 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 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. Under limited supervision, demonstrate an ability to undertake relevant advanced psychosocial assessment of people with moderate to severe mental illness, providing an advanced level of clinical leadership with the multidisciplinary team, using evidence-based knowledge to ensure that practice supports safe and quality health outcomes in partnership with consumers and carers.
2. An ability to demonstrate an understanding of the principles of recovery, bed management/access to Partnership Programs, and the National Standards for Mental Health Services.
3. Effective communication skills and an understanding of and willingness to participate in, research, quality improvement activities and clinical supervision. An ability or willingness to learn record keeping that assists with service delivery with specific Partnership Programs to improve service delivery, trends or needs. An ability to foster relationships with services.
4. Applied knowledge of current mental health services (both government and non-government) within the ACT and an advanced knowledge of current mental health and other relevant legislation including the Mental Health Act 2015 (ACT).
5. Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, safety and quality standards, workplace health and safety (WH&S), and the delivery of a positive patient experience. Exhibits behaviours aligned with Canberra Health Services’ values of reliability, progressiveness, respect, and kindness.

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.