Position overview

The Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Service (PEDS) provides coordinated and integrated care for children, young people and their families with diabetes and other endocrine conditions. It is an interdisciplinary service delivered under a partnership model in which shared decision making and respectful and sensitive care are central to achieving outcomes. Services are delivered at the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children (Canberra Hospital Campus) and Gungahlin Community Health Centre.

The Social Work service provides individual interventions for children and young people with diabetes and their families and carers. As a social worker you will provide clinical assessment, management, and evaluation of social work care to patients in tertiary and ambulatory care settings, with diabetes and other chronic conditions. The Social Worker will understand issues related to health and wellbeing and the impact on the person and their family/carer, including adjustment to change in their health.  You will be an integral part of the Paediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Service, collaborating with Endocrinologists, Diabetes Nurse Educators, and Diabetes Dietitians to provide interdisciplinary care for people with complex diabetes.

This part-time HPO2 Social Worker position will be supervised and supported by the HPO3 Social worker. They will be operationally responsible to the Paediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes Service Coordinator and report professionally to the Director of Allied Health in the Division of Women, Youth and Children.

Key Responsibilities

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

1. Provide appropriate skilled clinical assessment and psychosocial interventions to children, young people and families 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 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 documentation 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:

• Provide clinical care to a well-defined caseload under close supervision.
• Participate in quality improvement activities and/or research activities as directed.
• Be accountable for the setting of own priorities for completion of allocated tasks and compliance with set procedures.
• Make decisions within defined parameters and related to an area of responsibility.
• Be accountable for identifying and mitigating risks that affect day-to-day tasks.
• Be accountable to an immediate supervisor for own work outcomes.
• Work under general supervision
• Engage in clinical supervision and critical, reflective practice.
• Be accountable for identifying professional development needs and engaging appropriate supports.

Qualifications

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

Essential

• Bachelor of Social Work qualification.
• The successful applicant will need to be available for occasional after-hours work, with access to flex time.
• 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 one year experience working professionally in social work.
• Ability to work within an interdisciplinary team environment.

Desirable

• Experience in working with children and families within the context of chronic illness.
• 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.

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 clinical assessment and social work interventions which are responsive to the needs of children and families in a healthcare setting.
2. Demonstrated effective communication skills, both written and verbal, with an ability to communicate sensitively with consumers and colleagues and work effectively with hospital and community-based stakeholders.
3. Demonstrated ability to work within an interdisciplinary 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.