Position overview

The VAD Care Navigators will primarily provide direct support to callers (individuals, families, health professionals and the public) who contact the service during business hours. You will be a key liaison point for individuals seeking information about or who want to access the VAD process, clinicians and other health professionals who may have VAD queries and will be in daily contact with VAD Authorised Practitioners, and a range of services used by individuals and their families as they navigate this end-of-life option.

Key Responsibilities

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

• Provide consistent, accurate and current general information about VAD and how to access VAD in the ACT and regional NSW areas for both consumers and service providers.
• Identify and access appropriate end of life referral  pathways based on an individual’s needs and their goals of care.
• Liaise with individuals, families, carers, health professionals, health care workers and others who may be involved in the provision of services to someone who may be seeking information about or access to VAD.
• Work closely with people accessing VAD to facilitate individualised VAD support packages which specifically meet the needs of the individual, family and carers.
• Coordinate and facilitate support for individuals  through the VAD process, in consultation with all those involved in the  provision of care, including grief and bereavement information and clinical  services for carers, families, health practitioners and staff before and following  a VAD death.
• Provide appropriate VAD services and resources for people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.
• Provide individualised and appropriate VAD support in  different modalities including telephone, email, Telehealth and face-to-face, in keeping with legislation.
• Travel within ACT to provide face-to-face services at  the individual’s location (home, residential care facility, hospital or hospice etc.) as indicated.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

• Strong communication skills, including the ability to explain complex information to consumers, carers and health care professionals with compassion.
• A strong understanding of the legal and ethical requirements related to the provision of VAD services in the ACT.
• Ability to assess patient needs and collaborate with various health care providers to ensure appropriate care.
• Ability to navigate complex ethical issues and make decisions that respect patient autonomy and dignity.
• Ability to manage the emotional demands of working in end-of-life care.
• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality care.
• Ability to monitor quality activities against agreed standards and support the development of quality benchmarks to measure service performance and outcomes for recipients of healthcare services.
• Ability to work collaboratively in relation to implementation of policy, practice changes and clinical innovations.
• Ability to provide a unique contribution when engaging with others in the VAD Community of Practice.
• Experience developing education resources for staff and recipients of healthcare services in consultation with individuals, family, carers, staff and other health service users.

Qualifications

Essential

• A current driver’s licence.
• Relevant tertiary qualification such as degree or diploma in an allied health profession.
• Tertiary qualification in nursing and eligible for registration in the category of Registered Nurse by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

• Extensive clinical experience in primary health care, palliative care, end of life or within a relevant acute and/or primary care area.

Desirable

• Prior experience in end-of-life conversations, such as in palliative care, ICU, organ and tissue donation, advance care planning, or community care.
• Experience in developing local procedures and policies.
• Experience in a call centre service would be an advantage.
• 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.
• 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.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.

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. Demonstrated high level communication skills (both written and verbal) and interpersonal skills when liaising with a broad range of people and services, including the ability to engage in difficult conversations.
2. Proven ability to work collaboratively with complex individuals at their end of their life, while working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and, prioritising workload according to clinical indicators and organisational requirements.
3. Demonstrated ability to liaise with family, carers, service providers and external community agencies, to develop partnerships for service delivery and to support integrated person centred care.
4. Demonstrated advanced understanding of the current VAD legislation in the ACT.
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.