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Position overview

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focused on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centered care. It provides acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding region. More information can be found on the CHS website: https://www.health.act.gov.au/

Mental Health, Justice Health, Alcohol and Drug Services provides health services directly and through partnerships with community organizations. The services provided range from prevention and treatment to recovery and maintenance and harm minimisation. The participation of the people who use the service, including families and carers, is encouraged in all aspects of service planning and delivery. The Division works in partnership with a range of government and non-government service providers to ensure the best possible outcomes for clients.

The Division delivers services at a number of locations, including hospital inpatient and outpatient settings, community health centres, detention centres, other community settings including people’s home. These services include:

  • Adult Acute Mental Health Services
  • Adult Community Mental Health Services
  • Alcohol & Drug Services
  • Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
  • Justice Health Services
  • Rehabilitation and Specialty Mental Health Services

Adult Acute Mental Health Services incorporates the Adult Mental Health Unit (AMHU), the Mental Health Short Stay Unit (MHSSU), the Mental Health Unit 12B (12B MHU) and the Consultation Liaison (CL) Team across the Emergency Department and Canberra Hospital.

AMHU is a 40 bed inpatient unit for people experiencing moderate to severe mental illness. AMHU is a contemporary evidence-based service providing high quality mental health care, guided by the principles of Recovery. The service aims to provide collaborative care involving the consumer, their carers and other key services. MHSSU is a low dependency 6 bed inpatient unit in the Emergency Department for people requiring extended mental health assessment and or treatment initiation. 12B MHU is a 10 bed Low Dependency Mental health Unit

Key responsibilities

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

The Clinical Development Nurse (CDN) is responsible for clinical teaching and the development of nursing practice within a therapeutic environment. This position reports to the AAMHS Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) and will liaise with the CNC’s, managers, education providers, and other internal and external stakeholders in support of ongoing clinical education, preceptorship, mandatory skills assessment, and competency assessment processes for nurses working in the AAMHS.

You will be required to undertake professional development and supervision, participate in quality initiatives, and contribute to the multidisciplinary team processes.

  • Promote and support the clinical teaching of nurses within the workplace utilising adult learning principles and following practice standards and policies.
  • Provide and/or facilitate clinical education, reflective practice, preceptorship, clinical supervision, mandatory skills assessment, and competency assessment for nurses working in AMHU.
  • Participate in risk management, quality improvement, nursing practice review, clinical audit and clinical research activities.
  • Work collaboratively with colleagues and leaders and maintain in depth knowledge of legislation affecting nursing practice within the AAMHS.
  • Provide active input into the development and revision of clinical policy and practice manuals.
  • Facilitate and support staff development through clinically specific Self-Directed Learning packages, simulated learning scenarios and participate in continuing professional development appraisal.
  • Provide clinical education, preceptorship, clinical supervision, mandatory skills assessment, and competency assessment processes for nurses working in the AAMHS.
  • Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

Competencies

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

  • Accountable for the delivery of safe clinical practice and professional advice.
  • Work collaboratively with peers and others to create a positive practice environment that achieves best practice outcomes for recipients of healthcare services
  • Demonstrates advanced clinical and problem-solving skills and knowledge of contemporary nursing practice and theory.
  • Participate in developing, evaluating, and updating clinical service procedures, protocols, standards, and guidelines.

Qualifications

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).

Desirable

  • Hold or be working toward Post Graduate qualification in mental health nursing.
  • Certificate IV in Training and Assessment

Experience

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

Essential

  • Four (4) years (6840 hours) of post graduate hours of practice worked in direct or indirect roles (inclusive of 7 weeks annual leave per year)

Or

  • Completion of a relevant post graduate certificate (or working towards) and three (3) years (5130 hours) worked in direct or indirect roles

Or

  • Minimum of 2 yrs (1978 hours) RN experience if in possession of 2 or more years of prior EN experience within area of specialty

Desirable

Prior to commencement

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.

Important information

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.

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.

Key selection criteria

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

  1. Proven clinical competence within the relevant area of specialty and a commitment to preceptorship, clinical supervision and practice development.
  2. Application of adult learning principles to assist nurses in the assessment of their own learning needs and the assimilation and application of knowledge and skills and the evaluation of nursing outcomes.
  3. Demonstrated effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to communicate with influence
  4. Ability to work effectively within a multi-disciplinary team and work collaboratively with consumers, carers and internal and external stakeholders to maintain a therapeutic, recovery orientated, healthcare service.
  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.

Work environment description

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

Occasionally

Travel

Frequency

Frequent travel – multiple work sites

Occasionally

Frequent travel – driving

Occasionally

Physical demands

Frequency

Distance walking (large buildings or inter-building transit)

Frequently

Working outdoors

Occasionally

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

Occasionally

Exposure to Distressing Situations e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies; verbal abuse; domestic violence; suicide

Occasionally

Specific hazards

Frequency

Working at heights

Never

Exposure to extreme temperatures

Never

Operation of heavy machinery e.g. forklift

Never

Confined spaces

Occasionally

Excessive noise

Occasionally

Low lighting

Occasionally

Handling of dangerous goods/equipment e.g. gases; liquids; biological.

Occasionally

Slippery or uneven surfaces

Occasionally

Manual handling

Frequency

Lifting 0 – 9kg

Frequently

Lifting 10 – 15kg

Choose an item.

Lifting 16kg+

Occasionally

Climbing

Never

Running

Never

Reaching

Occasionally

Kneeling

Occasionally

Foot and leg movement

Occasionally

Hand, arm and grasping movements

Occasionally

Bending/squatting

Frequently

Bend/Lean Forward from Waist/Trunk twisting

Frequently

Push/pull

Frequently

Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time

Occasionally

Directorate: CHS

Division: Clinical Services, MHJHADS

Business Unit: Adult Acute Mental Health Services

Position number: P40426 & P52994

Position title: Clinical Development Nurse

Classification: RN2 (CDN)

Location: The Canberra Hospital

Reporting relationships: Direct Manager: AIMHS Clinical Nurse Educator Manager +1: Assistant Director of Nursing

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