Position overview

The Social Work Department, Allied Health, is a contemporary evidence-based service providing high quality inpatient and outpatient care at the Canberra Hospital.

The Social Work Department is a team of approximately 40 FTE social workers. We provide care and support to patients and families across critical and acute inpatient areas and specialised outpatients settings, including medical and surgical wards, intensive care unit, the emergency department, maternity and paediatrics.

As a social worker you will provide to patients, families and carers a range of social work clinical services and support such as:

• Assessments and interventions to address complex psychosocial needs. This may include working with traumatic injury, psychological trauma, family violence, new diagnosis, adjustment to health condition, management of chronic health conditions, loss and grief, safety concerns, mental health and alcohol and other drug issues.
• Referral and liaison with health and other service providers.
• Advocacy to promote and address patients’ needs.
• Counselling and emotional support.
• Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to facilitate a positive patient journey and provide a high-quality clinical service.

Clinical supervision is provided through team and department structure. Access to formal professional development funds is available and outlined in our EBA.

Key Responsibilities

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

1. Provide appropriate skilled clinical assessment and psychosocial interventions across a range of clinical areas, including individual and group work to patients and carers, with support.
2. Exercise independent professional judgment on routine matters and perform novel and complex or critical tasks under professional supervision, decreasing as expertise increases.
3. Liaise with patients, carers and service providers, to enhance and improve clinical outcomes and develop partnerships for health promotion and other service activities identified in the business plan.
4. Assist in the supervision and education of other staff and students. Actively participate in supervision, continuing professional development and performance management.
5. Actively contribute to the implementation of clinical governance activity, quality improvement projects, research programs and health promotion in areas relevant to service.
6. Actively participate in team meetings, complete clinical and administrative data collection and case records to a consistent standard.
7. Practice in accordance with the professional body’s code of conduct, practice standards and organisational guidelines and legislative requirements.
8. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

To be successful in this position, it is expected that you will have the following attributes:

• Moderate level of clinical skills, such as assessment and identifying and implementing complex interventions.
• Moderate level of verbal and written communication skills including the ability to communicate well with patients, families and treating teams.
• High standard of ethical practice in line with CHS and AASW standards, such as maintaining patient confidentiality and making sound decisions.
• Independently manage workload management, under general supervision.
• Critical and self-reflection, including the ability to learn from situations and problems.
• Problem solving and negotiation skills, that are generally straightforward but may have some complexities.
• Good organisation skills and high level of motivation.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide a responsive service.

Qualifications

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

Essential

• Degree in Social Work (or AASW recognised equivalent).
• Professional membership or eligibility for professional membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

• Minimum of 1 years’ experience working professionally in Social Work.
• Computer literacy skills.

Desirable

• Experience working in a health or a hospital setting.
• Driver’s licence.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Prior to commencement

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

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.
• 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 including on a roster and available to work shutdown.

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 knowledge of and ability to provide assessment, counselling and care planning interventions which are responsive to patient needs in a healthcare setting.
2. Demonstrated effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with an ability to communicate sensitively with patients and colleagues and work effectively with hospital and community-based stakeholders.
3. Demonstrated ability to work within multidisciplinary team/s and prioritise workload according to clinical indicators, risk management frameworks and organisational requirements.
4. Demonstrated ability to participate in professional supervision, performance management, continuing professional development and assist in the education of students.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety 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.