Position overview

Acute Allied Health Services Speech Pathology provides expert speech pathology services to a range of eligible inpatient and outpatients at Canberra Hospital and the Centenary Hospital for Women and Children, including patients admitted to an acute ward with acute communication and/or swallowing disorders. Specialist outpatient services are provided to adults with voice disorders, adults and paediatrics with swallowing disorders due to an underlying medical condition, children born with cleft lip and/or palate and adults with head and neck cancer/trauma.

This position will be responsible for delivery of clinical speech pathology services to an assigned adult and/or paediatric caseload. The position will be actively engaged in quality improvement, service innovation, research, staff and student supervision and work collaboratively with the speech pathology and wider multidisciplinary teams.

This position will participate in a rotational weekend roster at the Canberra Hospital depending on operational requirements.

Key Responsibilities

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

1. Provide a high level of appropriate skilled clinical assessment and interventions across a range of clinical areas. While exercising independent professional judgement in solving problems and managing complex cases.
2. Liaise with carers and other service providers to facilitate effective service provision
3. Contribute to the planning, development and evaluation of client programs and services. While providing professional supervision and/or training to other staff and students as directed
4. Contribute to the development, evaluation and analysis of policies and procedures applicable to professional practice. Including initiate and coordinate quality improvement activities in areas of clinical specialty or experience.
5. Consult and liaise with external community agencies/groups to develop partnerships for health promotion and other service delivery activities identified in the business plan
6. Participate in and/or implement and coordinate research programs in relevant areas of service delivery. May be expected to contribute to advances of the techniques used.
7. Participate in supervision, continuing professional development and performance management, including completing non-clinical and administrative duties as required.
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.

• Excellent communication skills
• Ability to work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary and speech pathology teams
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate, change and be responsive to clinical needs
• Organisational skills and motivation

Qualifications

Essential

• Tertiary Qualification in Speech Pathology from a recognised institution.
• Eligibility for full practicing membership of Speech Pathology Australia (SPA).

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

• 3 years post-graduate clinical practice experience.

Desirable

• Prior experience as a Speech Pathologist in an acute health setting working with adults or paediatrics.
• Experience as a student and/or staff supervisor.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Prior to commencement

• 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.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work.

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 candidates will be assessed in conjunction with their resumé and experience.

1. Recent experience in the evidence-based assessment, diagnosis and management of patients in two or more specialty areas relevant to acute Speech Pathology:
   • Neonatal / paediatric feeding
   • Cleft lip and palate
   • Neurological swallowing, communication and cognitive disorders
   • Tracheostomy
   • Instrumental dysphagia assessment
   • Radiation Oncology / Head and neck surgery
   • Voice disorders
   • Aged care communication and dysphagia.
2. High level verbal and written communication abilities with demonstrated ability to work progressively within and across teams including coordinating client management across the continuum of care with other health professionals and service/care providers.
3. An understanding of and ability to develop and implement quality improvement activities and participate in research and in-service activities, continuing professional development and evidence-based practice.
4. Ability and/or experience in the supervision and performance management of Speech Pathologists, Speech Pathology students and allied health assistants.
5. Demonstrated 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.