Specialist Palliative Care operates from Clare Holland House, Barton. The Allied Health team in Specialist Palliative Care provide symptom management and end of life care to a range of clients in the inpatient unit (hospice), outpatient and home-based settings. Our Allied Health Assistants work under the supervision of the Allied Health Team (Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Social Work) to provide safe, high quality patient care in this clinical area.

AHAs within specialist palliative care are supported with regular clinical and peer supervision, access to, and support to engage in ongoing professional development. They provide clinical education opportunities for AHA students.

This position will be suitable for a suitably experienced AHA who meets the criteria of an AHA3; this is necessary due to the level of autonomy and specific skills required in this role.

The work of an AHA may be subject to progress checks dependent on work level and complexity of task. Where these checks are made, they are usually confined to ensuring that, in broad terms, satisfactory progress is being made. In a small number of cases, where the work is critical, checks may include an assessment of the integrity of tasks / activities as they are completed.

This position may require you to work flexibly across services / locations and may be required to participate in a weekend roster.

This position is a temporary full-time or part-time position. A merit list may be established from this recruitment to fill future temporary and permanent positions in a full-time or part-time capacity.

Under limited direction of the Allied Health Team Leader and the indirect supervision of collegial Allied Health Professionals you will:

1. Work flexibly and effectively as a team member and demonstrate interprofessional allied health assistance knowledge and skills at an advanced level. This includes undertaking tasks that are complex, and require high levels of problem-solving and initiation.
2. Implement/supervise treatment programs with clients under direction from the Allied Health Professional (AHP), communicating with the client and the team to ensure their needs are met and unusual circumstances are acted upon safely. Programs may be delivered at the inpatient unit (hospice), outpatient clinic or in the home, and may be individual or group based.
3. Provide safe, effective assistance to the patient/client/consumer while applying principles and practices related to being an Allied Health Assistant including the ability to provide timely and accurate feedback to AHPs.
4. Supply and screen for appropriate appliances/preparations to patient/client/consumer under direction of the AHP.
5. Contribute to the patient, client and/or consumer health record according to Canberra Health Service policy and procedures and the Territory Records Act 2002.
6. Assist with quality improvement activities and service developments under the guidance of supervising AHP.
7. Contribute to a range of indirect clinical activities including but not limited to:
   • Development of resources for patient, client and consumer use.
   • Ensure equipment is cleaned and maintained according to maintenance schedule.
   • Monitor and maintain stores and equipment inventories.
   • Complete administrative tasks according to departmental policies and procedures.
   • Maintain accurate statistical records
8. Participate in ongoing professional development including actively engaging with educational opportunities - including essential education, orientation requirements and opportunities to achieve advanced AHA competencies including participation in professional supervision.
9. Provide supervision and support to AHA students and staff, as appropriate to work level, level of experience, and with guidance and support as required.
10. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

• As a Practitioner, integrates all other competencies, applying knowledge, skills and professional values in the promotion of health and provision of culturally responsive, high quality and safe, client centred management.
• As a Communicator, form effective therapeutic relationships with clients that facilitate the gathering and sharing of essential information for effective health care and health promotion to optimise management and outcomes.
• As a Collaborator, work effectively with health care and other professionals to provide safe, high-quality, client-centred management.
• As a Health Advocate, support clients in navigating the health care system and to advocate with, and, for them to access appropriate resources in a timely manner.
• As a Scholar, demonstrate a commitment to maintaining and enhancing professional competency, achieved through engaging in clinical reflection, continuous learning, teaching others and sharing their knowledge and practices.
• As a Professional, demonstrate commitment to safety and quality in healthcare through ethical practice, high standards of professional behaviour, accountability, and management of their own physical and mental health.

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

Essential

• Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance or equivalent.
• Current Australian Driver license.

Desirable

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

Specific requirements include but are not limited to the following.

Essential

• A minimum of 3 years working professionally as an Allied Health Assistant in a relevant area is required.

Desirable

• Previous experience working in palliative care.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

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.

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.
• Successful applicants may be required to be available for weekend, on call and/or rotation roster and work flexibly across services, locations and programs.

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.

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Proven knowledge of the role and scope of practice of an Allied Health Assistant in a home-based and inpatient (hospice) setting, and ability to independently carry out programs under the indirect supervision of an AHP in a community setting.
2. Good verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrated by the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people including patients, carers, and staff in a team environment. Ability to communicate with clients who have communication and/ or cognitive deficits.
3. Demonstrates effective organisational skills, including an ability to plan, set and prioritise competing workloads including the ability to provide administrative support and to monitor therapy equipment and stores using a variety of computer programs.
4. An understanding of, or experience in engaging in activities designed to ensure the provision of safe and high-quality service provision.
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.

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.

Administrative	Frequency
Telephone use	Frequently
General computer use	Frequently
Extensive keying/data entry	Occasionally
Graphical/analytical based	Occasionally
Sitting at a desk	Frequently
Standing for long periods	Frequently

Psychosocial demands	Frequency
Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations	Frequently
Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness	Frequently
Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries	Frequently
Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers	Never
Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide	Occasionally

Physical demands	Frequency
Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit)	Frequently
Working outdoors	Occasionally

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 - 9kg	Frequently
Lifting 10 - 15kg	Frequently
Lifting 16kg+	Occasionally
Climbing	Never
Running	Occasionally
Reaching	Frequently
Kneeling	Frequently
Foot and leg movement	Frequently
Hand, arm and grasping movements	Frequently
Bending/squatting	Frequently
Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting	Frequently
Push/pull	Frequently
Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time	Frequently

Travel	Frequency
Frequent travel – multiple work sites	Frequently
Frequent travel – driving	Frequently

Specific hazards	Frequency
Working at heights	Never
Exposure to extreme temperatures	Occasionally
Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift	Never
Confined spaces	Occasionally
Excessive noise	Never
Low lighting	Occasionally
Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.	Never
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Occasionally