The Decision Support Unit (DSU) is led by an Executive Group Manager reporting to the Chief Operating Officer within Canberra Health Services (CHS).

The DSU’s role includes:

- Promoting accountability to achieve strategic goals and building organisational capability to align Activity Based Funding (ABF) and Operational Planning

- provision of ICT Services for CHS

- provision of data quality

- provision of Health Information Services

- provision of decision support services to enable operational and non-operational planning and quality reporting.

Sub and Non-Acute Patient (SNAP) Officers work in consultation with clinical teams to accurately assign and report the care type that best describes the primary clinical management intention of a patient during their admission to hospital. Care types are assigned according to Australian National Subacute and Non-Acute Patient (AN-SNAP) classification rules. A patient may have one or more care type changes (Level of Care) changes during their hospital stay as the primary clinical purpose or treatment goal of the patient’s care changes. As CHS transitions to Activity Based Management timely care type changes are necessary for funding optimisation to ensure the financial sustainability of CHS. Care type changes also contribute to quality data for monitoring service activity, benchmarking, research and improving safety and quality.

Reporting directly to the Sub and Non-Acute Patient (SNAP) Team Manager within the Decision Support Unit (DSU), the SNAP Officers undertake and coordinate comprehensive assessments for all sub-acute and non-acute inpatients, including RUG-ADL, FIM, HoNOS65+ and Palliative Phases. These assessment results are mandatory to receive federal funding for sub and non-acute episodes.

Subacute services play an integral part within the health care continuum, supporting patients to maximise their independence and capabilities and, in doing so, minimise long-term health and community care needs. Sub-acute care focuses on care delivered from a multidisciplinary approach and as such promotes communication and facilitates consistent pathways from acute care to discharge.

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

Under limited direction you will perform care type changes, coordinate clinical assessments, and enter assessment results in the Digital Health Record system (DHR).

You will:

• Identify the overall nature of a clinical service being provided to an inpatient at Canberra Hospital and University of Canberra Hospital, applying the METeOR Health Standard ‘Hospital service-care type’ definition.
• Monitor, manage and coordinate ongoing assessment and documentation requirements for all sub-acute and non-acute patients within Canberra Hospital and the University of Canberra Hospital. Undertake and coordinate mandatory patient assessments using the prescribed tools.
• Liaise with treating clinical teams to assign a care type that is fitting for the patient, and perform appropriate evaluation, administrative and documentation processes.
• Provide education and support to clinical staff from all disciplines in the practices of care type changing and appropriate assessment requirements.
• Engage collaboratively with key stakeholders to manage and implement consistent business management processes across all clinical operational divisions as they relate to care type changes.
• Actively participate in professional development activities to optimize personal learning and effectiveness.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Ability to work autonomously and within a team.
• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet organisational needs.

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

Essential

• Registered or eligible for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).

Desirable

• Hold accreditation or be trained in the use of clinical assessment tools such as Functional Independence Measure (FIM), Resource Utilisation Groups – Activities of Daily Living (RUG-ADL), Palliative Care Phases and Health of the Nation Outcome Scales (HoNOS65+).
• Hold a current driver’s licence.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

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

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering With Consumers Framework and all other related frameworks.

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances.

• Pre-employment National Police Check.

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.

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

1. Experience in conducting standardised clinical assessments and evaluation of a patient’s physical and cognitive function, and an understanding of the care pathway for a patient’s hospital journey.
2. Demonstrated experience using computerised hospital information systems (e.g., DHR, CPF) and Microsoft Office.
3. Experience in communicating and negotiating complex and sensitive clinical issues to key stakeholders.
4. Demonstrated experience in working independently and as part of a team to achieve organisational goals.
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.

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 – 9kg	Frequently
Lifting 10 – 15kg	Never
Lifting 16kg+	Never
Climbing	Never
Running	Never
Reaching	Occasionally
Kneeling	Never
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