Position overview

The Psychosocial Support Service is a newly established service that provides trauma-informed information and support for children, young people and their families with gender concerns and variations in sex characteristics (VSC), also known as differences in sex development or intersex variations.

The Unit is committed to working with children, young people and families to provide a high standard of professional treatment and care. This includes protecting the rights of people with a VSC under the Variation in Sex Characteristics (Restricted Medical Treatment) Act 2023 (VSC Act 2023).

As a Social Worker you will work with a multidisciplinary team, including psychosocial staff, relevant medical specialists, and other members of the care team, to provide individual consultations for clients with variations in sex characteristics. As a social worker you will provide psychosocial assessments and interventions for children, young people and their families with gender concerns and variations in sex characteristics. This may include supporting families to understand a child or young person’s treatment options so they can make fully informed decisions about potential interventions. In some cases, the role may extend to supporting a young person to make a decision about treatment, including statutory requirements under the VSC Act 2023. The position will involve significant liaison with peer support agencies, schools, specialist networks, statutory authorities, and other ACT Government bodies.

The Social Worker will report to the Care Coordinator of the VSC Psychosocial Unit. Please note, this reporting line may be subject to change. Professionally, the position holder will be responsible to the Director of Allied Health, Women, Youth and Children (WYC) Division and supported by the discipline Profession Lead.

Key Responsibilities

1. Provide a high level of appropriately skilled social work assessment and clinical interventions for children and young people (and their families) referred to the VSC Psychosocial Unit.
2. Contribute to the interdisciplinary team approach including the implementation of best practice and evidence-based models.
3. Liaise with parents and carers and other service providers to facilitate effective service provision.
4. Participate in and/or coordinate quality improvement programs and service enhancement activities including clinical guidelines, education programs and research.
5. Ability to exhibit a positive self-image regarding own professional contribution and foster the development of professional self-esteem in others.
6. Consult and liaise with external community agencies/groups to develop partnerships for health promotion and other service delivery activities identified in the business plan.
7. Participate in, and show a commitment to, continuing professional education, clinical supervision and performance management.
8. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team and adapt quickly to a busy changing environment.
• Commitment to achieving positive outcomes for children and young people, their families and/or carers.
• Ability to respond to and prioritise competing demands in a calm and efficient manner while maintaining high work standards.
• Be flexible, adaptable, and comfortable with a changing working environment.

Qualifications

Essential

• Tertiary qualifications or equivalent in Social Work and eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011.

Desirable

• AASW Accredited Mental Health Social Worker.
• Have an understanding of how the National Standards and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

• Applicants must have a minimum of 3 years post-qualification experience.
• Well-developed understanding of child and adolescent development and ability to practice from a developmental perspective.

Desirable

• Knowledge of and/or experience working with people with variations in sex characteristics.
• Experience of 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.
• 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 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 competency in delivering complex social work support for children and young people with chronic conditions within community and tertiary health care settings.
2. Ability to initiate, implement, embed and evaluate quality improvement and research projects which contribute to improved knowledge, practice and care relevant to clients with chronic conditions.
3. Demonstrated high level interpersonal and communication skills with proven ability to work within an interdisciplinary team and develop positive working relationships with consumers and a broad range of professional disciplines.
4. Demonstrated ability to work according to organisational policies and procedures, a high standard of record keeping, reporting and data management and a demonstrated understanding of your Professional Code of Ethics.
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.