Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Services (MHJHADS) provides support to children, youth and adults through inpatient and outpatient settings, community health centres, justice health facilities and other community settings, including people’s homes. We partner with our health care consumers, their family, carers, government, and community organisations to ensure that they receive the best possible care during their treatment and recovery.

MHJHADS services include:

• Adult Community & Older Persons Mental Health Services
• Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services (AIMHS)
• Alcohol & Drug Services (ADS)
• Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
• Justice Health Services (JHS)

Adult Inpatient Mental Health Services (AIMHS) encompasses the Adult Mental Health Unit (AMHU), 12B Mental Health Unit, the Mental Health Short Stay Unit, the Neurostimulation Therapy Suite, the Adult Mental Health Rehabilitation Unit (AMHRU), the Adult Mental Health Day Service (AMHDS), Banksia, Acacia, and the Mental Health Consultation Liaison (MHCL) services. These services are delivered across Canberra Hospital (TCH), University of Canberra Hospital (UCH), and North Canberra Hospital (NCH).

The AHA will aid and support the allied health team in the delivery of allied health services to consumers, under the supervision of an allied health professional. The AHA does not make clinical assessment or clinical judgment in this role; however, they will be expected to recognise a change in consumer function and status and the possible impact on the planned program.

The position will report operationally to the Allied Health Manager alongside the HP4 Clinical Lead over the program area. Professional governance of this position will come from the Assistant Director of Allied Health, Director of Allied Health, MHJHADS.

A Level 2 Allied Health Assistant will fulfill the duties under the direct or indirect supervision of an Allied Health Professional.

A Level 3 Allied Health Assistant will provide the duties under limited direction of the Allied Health Team Manager and Allied Health Clinical Lead.

These duties include;

1. Work flexibly and effectively as part of the allied health team, providing support to all members of the allied health team within the scope of practice and training of the individual.
2. Provide safe, effective assistance to people with moderate to severe mental health issues, receiving care within the AMHU/MHSSU/Ward 12B Mental Health Unit. This includes assisting with the therapeutic group programs and having capacity to recognise a change in consumer function and status and the possible impact on the planned program.
3. Provide therapeutically beneficial assistance to people receiving care within the AMHU/MHSSU/Ward 12B Mental Health Unit, including assisting with transport/transfers to other services or units, assisting with the ongoing maintenance of allied health equipment, and assisting to supply appropriate equipment and referrals, under the direction of the supervising allied health professional, and within the scope of practice and training of the individual.
4. Coordinate assistance regarding access to relevant services and supports and support the discharge planning process.
5. Have good communication skills to liaise effectively with other health professionals, consumers, families/carers, colleagues and other service providers, including an ability to promptly complete clinical documentation meeting data collection requirements.
6. Participate in the implementation of clinical governance activity, quality improvement projects, research programs, and health promotion in areas relevant to the service.
7. Participate in clinical supervision, continuing professional development, and performance appraisal and development.
8. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

• Experience and competence in working with people who may display aggressive, challenging, distressed or unpredictable behaviour.
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team and adapt quickly to a changing environment.
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries when responding to consumer and family/carer expectations.
• Planning and organisational skills with a high degree of initiative.
• Ability to respond to and prioritise competing requests in a calm manner while also maintaining high work standards and accuracy.
• Administration skills to be able to provide quality work outputs.

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

Essential

• Level 2 Allied Health Assistant – Certificate III in Mental Health or Allied Health Assistance or equivalent and working towards achieving a Certificate IV qualification in Mental Health or have a recognised workplace equivalent qualification at a Certificate IV or higher qualification in a relevant field.
• Level 3 Allied Health Assistant – Certificate IV in Mental Health or Allied Health Assistance or a recognised workplace equivalent qualification at a Certificate IV or higher qualification in a relevant field.
• Registration under the ACT Working with Vulnerable People Act 2011.
• A current driver’s licence.

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

The successful applicant will be appointed to the relevant level 2 or 3 allied health assistant position increment based on their qualifications and experience.

• Level 2 Allied Health Assistant - A minimum of 12 months paid, professionally relevant experience.
• Leve 3 Allied Health Assistant – A minimum of 3 years professionally relevant experience in a related/relevant organization/service.

Desirable

• Prior experience working within an inpatient mental health environment.
• 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.

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. Sound understanding of the knowledge and skills required to assist people with moderate to severe mental health illness or mental disorder.
2. An ability and demonstrated commitment to work under the supervision of allied health professionals, performing a variety of tasks, including assisting with therapeutic interventions/programs for people with a mental illness or mental disorders.
3. Sound verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills, demonstrated by the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of people including consumers, carers, and staff in a team environment.
4. Demonstrated problem solving skills, time management skills and ability to be flexible and priorities workload under minimal supervision.
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.

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	Frequently
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	Occasionally
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	Frequently

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

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 - 9kg	Frequently
Lifting 10 - 15kg	Occasionally
Lifting 16kg+	Never
Climbing	Never
Running	Never
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	Never
Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift	Never
Confined spaces	Never
Excessive noise	Never
Low lighting	Never
Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.	Never
Slippery or uneven surfaces	Never