This is an exciting opportunity to join the collegial Custodial Mental Health services (CMH), within Forensic Mental Health Services. CMH provides specialist mental health services to people in ACT Correctional and Juvenile Justice Centres who require mental health assessment and/or specialized treatment for a mental illness or disorder.

Forensic Mental Health Services (FMHS) is a unit of Mental Health, Justice Health, and Alcohol & Drug Services, Justice Health Services. FMHS provides mental health care across the lifespan and across a range of settings, including a centralised community health facility, youth and adult custodial facilities, off campus community liaison, court settings, and secure inpatient units. The care provided is underpinned by the National Principles for Forensic Mental Health Services. The service aims to provide collaborative care guided by principles of Recovery and involving the consumer, their carers and other key services.

FMHS is one service with three distinguishable, yet integrated service components as follows:

• Custodial Mental Health services (CMH) including:
  • CMH – Child and Adolescent at Bimberi Youth Justice Centre (CMH – CA)
  • CMH – Adult at the Alexander Maconochie Centre (CMH – A)
• Forensic Inpatient Mental Health Services (FMHIS)
• Dhulwa and Gawanggal Mental Health Units
• Forensic Community Mental Health Services (FCMHS) including:
  • FMHS Forensic Consultation and Intervention Service (FoCIS) including:
  • ACT Fixated Threat Assessment Centre (ACT FTAC)
  • FMHS Mental Health Court Assessment and Liaison Service (MHCALS)

This position is based at the AMC and may be in either the Assertive Response Team (ART) or the Clinical Management team depending on interest and experience. ART is a 7-day acute mental health service that operates between 08:30 and 18:00 hrs daily. Shifts include 08:30 to 17:00 or 10:30 to 19:00 hours. 4-7 weeks annual leave depending on roster. Weekends and public holidays attract penalty rates. Custodial and laundry allowance applies. Eligible applicants may also apply for post-graduate qualification allowance. (Please refer to the ACT Public Sector Nursing and Midwifery Enterprise Agreement 2023-2026 for a full account of employment conditions).

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

Under minimal direction of the Team Manager, Custodial Mental Health, you will be expected to provide high quality mental health assessment and care with support from a multidisciplinary team including; legislated induction screening, assessment and management of at-risk clients, and medication management to mental health clients within the ACT’s two correctional centres – the Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) and Bimberi Youth Justice Centre (BYJC). You will be required to work collaboratively with a team of clinical staff of nursing, medical, and allied health professionals, as well as a range of external agencies including JHS Custodial Health, community and inpatient mental health services, ACT Corrective Services, CYPS, and external agencies such as NGO’s. At this level you will be expected to have sound clinical assessment skills, a thorough knowledge of relevant policies and procedures, engage actively in clinical supervision and professional development, and contribute to quality and safety initiatives. You will be supported by a Clinical Nurse Consultant and report to the Team Manager, Custodial Mental Health. You will:

• Provide appropriate skilled clinical mental health nursing assessment and intervention to specialised client group/s with support in a custodial setting, and across the lifespan.
• Conduct crisis risk assessments and develop risk management plans for detainees at risk of self-harm and suicide.
• Liaise with carers and service providers to facilitate effective service provision. This includes the completion of comprehensive written handovers, referrals and reports including to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal and to community mental health teams.
• Undertake and provide clinical supervision and professional development activities including clinical supervision of registered nurses at RN1-2 and postgraduate students and participating in staff recruitment and orientation as required.
• Complete case notes and program records to standards required and meet reporting local and legislated standards for documentation and data collection requirements.
• Be actively involved in service development through membership of committees, participation in quality improvement initiatives and procedure development and review.
• Work within and with regard for mental health and other legislation relevant to the forensic setting.
• 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.

• Proven ability to work effectively and collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team
• Demonstrated advanced mental health assessment skills in the assessment of complex mental health presentations
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and respond to novel situations.
• Ability to communicate clinical concepts with influence, professionalism and sensitivity.
• Resilience and calm in the face of conflict, stress, or uncertainty.

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

Essential

• Be registered or eligible for general registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia under AHPRA

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

Essential

• Minimum 5 years full-time equivalent experience working as a Registered Nurse or post graduate qualifications
• Have an understanding of how the National Standards and Quality Health Service (NSQHS)indicators align with this role.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.

Desirable

• Experience of working in a custodial setting or community mental health service

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. Please address the selection criteria in a 2-page pitch:

1. Proven clinical competence in collaborative assessment, care planning, treatment and intervention for people at risk of suicide and self-harm and/or those with complex mental illnesses/dysfunction.
2. Effective communication skills, including an ability to engage effectively with complex clients, and produce high standard written handovers and reports to a professional audience.
3. Demonstrate a thorough working knowledge of mental health legislation and other legislation critical to working in a mental health service.
4. Demonstrated experience in conducting clinical research, quality improvement activities, training, teaching and clinical supervision.
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.

Manual handling	Frequency
Lifting 0 – 9kg	Never
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	Frequently
Sequential repetitive movements in a short amount of time	Never