An exciting opportunity exists to join the team in the Department of Paediatrics as an RN Level 2 within the Paediatric Forensic Medical Service. You will contribute to the strategic direction and clinical governance of Paediatric Services.

The Division of Women, Youth and Children (WYC) offer a range of primary, secondary and tertiary services across the acute and community-based sectors. The Centenary Hospital for Women and Children (CHWC) is a tertiary centre providing specialised paediatric (non-tertiary) and neonatology services for the ACT and surrounding regional areas.

The Department of Paediatrics provides general medical and surgical paediatric inpatient and outpatient services including limited subspecialty services. This includes a Child and Adolescent Short Stay Service that includes a Paediatric Day Unit and Hospital in the Home.

The Paediatric Forensic Medical Service is an acute medical service that provides forensic medical and assessments for children, young people and their families following allegations of child abuse and neglect.

The service operates under an integrated medical, nursing and psychosocial model and provides:

• Forensic and medical assessments following allegation of acute child sexual and/or physical abuse, or criminal neglect. This includes further investigations, such as imaging, laboratory investigations and consultation with specialist services.
• A comprehensive health assessment for a child who may be a victim of Fabricated or Induced Illness.
• Expert opinion associated with medical assessments conducted by CHS.
• Expert medico-legal/coroners reports associated with medical assessments conducted by the PFMS.
• Advice on acute child protection medical issues to statutory authorities.
• Health screening services when a child enters out of home care provided by nursing team, support and consultation to other divisions and units within CHS and other health professionals on paediatric forensic medical issues.
• Psychosocial support for the parent/s of a child having a medical assessment and/or following the forensic assessment on a referral basis.
• Referral to short-medium term counselling.
• Follow up to complete the medical assessment if required.

PFMS is operational Monday to Friday between the hours of 0830 – 1700.

Reporting to:

Operational Manager: Clinical Nurse Manager, Paediatric Outpatient Department

Clinical Lead: CNC, Paediatric Forensic Medical Service (RN 3.1)

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

Under limited direction of the CNC for PFMS, you will:

1. Provide comprehensive nursing assessment, planning and delivery of care, for children and young people who are referred to the PFMS. This includes using high level communication, advocacy and knowledge within a family partnership model.
2. Work cooperatively and in partnership with the Clinical Nurse Consultant, Clinical Nurse Manager, Paediatricians, allied health, and nursing staff to ensure safe and effective delivery of services.
3. Promote a commitment to continuous professional development and education, acting as a role model for and source of specialty knowledge, and contribute to the development and delivery of education.
4. Promote effective clinical governance, risk management and the implementation of continuous improvement to create a safe environment that provides high quality, patient centred care in accordance with professional standards and legislation.
5. In collaboration with the PFMS CNC and CNM, demonstrate leadership and promote staff wellbeing, in the immediate response to challenging events, with involvement in debriefing consultations as required.
6. In collaboration with the nursing and midwifery leadership team, contribute to the development, implementation and evaluation of policies, guidelines and standards to build an environment of excellence in care, and to support a culture of continuous quality improvement.
7. Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation, including working in the Paediatric Outpatient Department under the direction of the CNM where necessary.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Refined leadership skills, including capacity to build cohesive high performing teams
• Organisational skills, including the capacity to simultaneously manage and prioritise multiple issues, demonstrate a high degree of drive.
• An ability to work respectfully in partnership with a range of stakeholders including consumers
• Comfort working with families experiencing vulnerability; including demonstrated understanding of trauma informed practice, child abuse and neglect, and social determinants of health.
• Resilience and adaptability in a dynamic health environment

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

Essential

• Be registered or be eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Minimum 3 years relevant experience (Paediatric or Forensic nursing).
• 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

Desirable

• Post Graduate qualifications in Paediatric Nursing or Forensic Nursing
• Post Graduate qualifications in Management and/or Leadership
• Have an understanding of how the National Standards and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role as detailed in the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering With Consumers Framework and all other related frameworks.

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

Essential

• A minimum 4 years’ full time equivalent work experience in acute care nursing
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Desirable

• Prior experience in paediatrics or forensic nursing will be highly desirable
• 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.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.

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. Proven ability to perform at an advanced level of Nursing practice within Paediatrics to deliver contemporary nursing services for children, young people and their families.
2. Proven record of behaviour and attitude consistent with professional standards and professional development of self, strong mentorship, and development of others.
3. Demonstrated strong organisational and communication skills in the co-ordination of expert clinical care. Proven effective and collaborative communication skills with the interdisciplinary team and key stakeholder engagement to achieve positive patient excellent along the child/family journey.
4. Proven ability to support clinical service improvements through quality improvement, risk management and research activities.
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	Occasionally

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

Physical demands	Frequency
Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit)	Occasionally
Working outdoors	Never

Psychosocial demands	Frequency
Distressed People e.g. Emergency or grief situations	Occasionally
Aggressive & Uncooperative People e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness	Occasionally
Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries	Occasionally
Restraining e.g. involvement in physical containment of clients/consumers	Occasionally
Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide	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

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