Position overview

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. We provide acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website.

The Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine (DRSM) provides both inpatient and outpatient services to the ACT and surrounding region. Our service includes the full range of care including respiratory and sleep diagnostic investigations and therapeutic interventions, interventional pulmonology (including endobronchial ultrasound) and specialised services for sleep disorders, tuberculosis, cystic fibrosis, bronchiectasis, airway disease, interstitial lung disease, respiratory infections and lung cancer diagnosis.

This position is within DRSM, a multidisciplinary team which sits within the Division of Medicine and is located at Canberra Hospital. This position is accredited by the RACP for Core Respiratory Medicine. The Advanced Trainee provides inpatient and outpatient medical services within DRSM and a consultative service to other departments.

Key responsibilities

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

• Provide high quality, safe, patient-centred care, to achieve the best health outcomes for patients and their families/carers.
• Assist to admit, assess, and diagnose patients admitted to the Respiratory and Sleep Department.
• Implement and initiate changes to treatment plans as directed.
• Participate in after-hours and on-call rosters including nights and weekends.
• Perform procedures as approved and/or supervised by the supervising Senior Medical Officer including but not limited to respiratory function test and sleep study reporting, interventional pulmonology procedures such as bronchoscopy and endobronchial ultrasound, pleural procedures such as medical thoracoscopy, intercostal chest drain insertion, indwelling pleural catheter insertion and thoracocentesis as well as commencement of non-invasive ventilation.
• Teach other clinical staff to ensure an optimal learning environment, promote growth and development of others, and to develop skills in teaching. Includes leading formal education sessions, providing learning experiences on the job, bedside teaching, case presentations, giving constructive feedback and informal instruction, undertaking formal/informal assessments, role modelling and mentoring.
• Supervise other clinical staff (eg. basic physician trainees, resident medical officers and interns) to enable supervisees to develop the competence and knowledge required for responsible practice, to ensure quality patient care and treatment, promote team building and a supportive environment, enhance the performance of those being supervised, monitor their welfare ensuring they are safe and well in their work, and contribute to development of the supervisor. Includes clinical supervision, checking work is conducted to standards, providing constructive feedback and guidance, contributing to professional development, assisting to solve problems, and clinical workload management.
• Participate in quality assurance activities to actively manage and improve the safety and quality of health care for patients, ensure that appropriate standards are maintained, gaps in meeting national safety and quality standards are identified and raised, and to contribute to the continual improvement of self, colleagues, the department and the service provided by the hospital. Includes audit activities, morbidity and mortality meetings, quality improvement programs, peer review, relevant committee participation, root cause analyses, infection control reporting, and complaints investigations.
• Prepare accurate documentation in relation to patient care, following relevant protocols to maintain confidentiality and privacy, ensure timely and efficient communication of patient information, and ensure patient records are effective and accurate for current and future use if needed. Includes preparing treatment plans, correspondence with other treating practitioners, entry into medical records, referrals, discharge summaries, reports for coroners, death certificates and any other documentation in relation to patient care and management.
• Actively monitor and manage own safety and wellbeing. Seek assistance with personal wellbeing when needed.
• Communicate patient-relevant information in a timely and clear manner to patients and their families/carers, to facilitate shared decision-making, ensuring quality patient care. Includes establishing therapeutic relationships, sharing information and treatment plans, escalating issues when required, and respecting confidentiality principles.
• Meet FRACP (Respiratory and Sleep) Advanced Training program requirements, in order to develop and understand your own skills, knowledge and capability; and therefore to exercise judgement and know when to seek assistance. Participate in educational experiences, and actively seek to learn and obtain feedback.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation

About you

CHS is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are particularly encouraged to apply.

Competencies

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of motivation.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.

Qualifications

Essential

• MBBS or equivalent
• Registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra).
• Completed FRACP Examinations (written and clinical) or been assessed by AHPRA as substantially comparable to Australian training in respiratory and sleep medicine but requiring peer review.
• Achieve and maintain currency in resuscitation and life support credentials

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering for Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.

Please note prior to commencement, successful candidates will be required to:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• 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.
• 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 you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé, experience and referee reports.

1. Excellent theoretical knowledge and clinical judgement.
2. Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary clinical team – diligence, punctuality, organization, record keeping, time management, problem solving skills, team work.
3. Excellent communication (verbal and written) with patients, their families, medical and non-medical colleagues; Demonstrates ability to provide empathetic and expert clinical care.
4. Demonstrated commitment to ongoing education, teaching, research and quality improvement.
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.
6. 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.