The Social Work and Psychology Department is a contemporary evidence-based service comprised of around 18 FTE social workers and social work assistants who provide high quality inpatient and outpatient care at North Canberra Hospital. The Department provides care and support to patients and families across critical and acute inpatient areas and specialised outpatients settings, including medical and surgical areas, intensive care unit, the emergency department, maternity and hospital in the home.

The Social Work Allied Health Assistant (advanced AHA 3) is expected to have a general understanding of issues that impact the psychosocial well-being of patients and their family/carer, including adjustment to changes in health, ageing and disability. The role promotes positive client outcomes through the provision of high-quality clinical and non-clinical services across a range of areas working in a multidisciplinary team.

Under limited supervision, the Social Work Allied Health Assistant plays a key role in the implementation of referrals and provision of practical supports as a component of the social work intervention. Allied Health Assistants work under a task delegation model from Social Workers in the team, have clinical supervision from one dedicated Social Worker and are accountable to the Director of Social Work and Psychology.

The Social work AHA3 will receive limited supervision, is competent within their discipline, exercises initiative and judgement, requires limited guidance and is expected to plan and complete work independently. Supervision is provided on an agreed basis and/or as required for unusual or complex to highly complex situations for which there are no documented precedents.

The work of an AHA3 may be subject to progress checks but 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.

1. Depending on the level of experience of the SW AHA, under the direction and supervision of or limited direction and supervision of the Social Worker you will perform Social Work Allied Health Assistant duties.
   • Facilitate the implementation of social work interventions, such as making referrals, providing information and practical resources as directed by a Social Worker.
   • Provide accurate and timely verbal reports to the social worker regarding the client’s progress.
   • Work effectively and collaboratively with the multi-disciplinary team.
   • Communicate and liaise with patients/clients, families and service providers.
   • Contribute to the evaluation of clinical processes to ensure effective and efficient person-centred care.
2. Maintain accurate clinical records of client contact in the health file.
3. Perform administrative tasks, as required, including maintaining statistical records, developing team resources and taking minutes in clinical case conferences.
4. Operate a variety of Microsoft and Business applications including Excel, Word and Outlook
5. Participate in Quality Improvement programs / projects, accreditation and annual performance management processes as required.
6. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

• Aptitude to work in a healthcare environment.
• Flexibility and adaptability to accommodate change.
• Good verbal communication skills including the ability to communicate well with patients, families and treating teams.
• Good written communication skills, including the ability to document clinical notes.
• High standard of ethical practice in line with CHS and AASW standards, such as maintaining patient confidentiality and making sound decisions.
• Ability to manage a workload, under direction of a social worker.
• Critical and self-reflection, including the ability to learn from situations and problems.
• Problem solving and negotiation skills.

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

Essential

• Relevant Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance, and preferably the successful completion of an Allied Health Assistant Social Work skill set or prepared to undertake, or recognised equivalent (such as partial completion of relevant tertiary qualifications, eg Social Work).

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

• Minimum of 3 years’ relevant experience for an AHA3.
• Computer literacy skills.
• Driver’s licence (not mandatory for all areas).

Desirable

• Experience working in a health or a hospital setting.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to 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.
• 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.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work on a roster and shutdown.

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. Understanding of basic social work theoretical principles and support systems and ability to implement social work interventions and other clinical and non-clinical duties, or ability to develop these skills, under the direction of a Social Worker.
2. Demonstrated interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with a wide range of people and promote team engagement and good written skills.
3. Demonstrated or ability to develop effective organisational skills, including an ability to plan, set and prioritise competing workloads, complete assigned tasks in a timely manner, work autonomously and problem solve.
4. Demonstrated ability to provide administrative support and to use a variety of computer programs including Microsoft Office and medical record systems.
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	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	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	Frequently

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	Occasionally
Running	Occasionally
Reaching	Occasionally
Kneeling	Occasionally
Foot and leg movement	Occasionally
Hand, arm and grasping movements	Occasionally
Bending/squatting	Occasionally
Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting	Occasionally
Push/pull	Occasionally
Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time	Occasionally

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

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