The Occupational Medicine Unit (OMU) forms part of the clinical support services portfolio, under the direction of the Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery. The OMU staff provide a range of services including compliance checks against the CHS occupational assessment, screening, and vaccination procedure, risk assessment and counselling for staff involved with blood and bodily fluid exposures, as well as a clinical response to outbreaks, including pandemic preparedness.

Under broad guidance of the CNC, staff are responsible for stakeholder engagement, including education and training of CHS staff. The role requires you to build effective relationships with health care professionals across CHS to embed national best practice initiatives and optimise strategies and pathways within the remit of the service.

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

Main responsibilities of this position:

• Assess existing and incoming CHS staff vaccination records, providing necessary recommendations for screening and vaccination requirements.
• Deliver appropriate serology testing and vaccinations with a client focused approach according to relevant guidelines, regulations and best practice procedures.
• Undertake comprehensive risk assessment and develop management plans for staff following any Blood and Body Fluid Exposure (BBFE), including counselling to health care workers and source person including ongoing monitoring.
• Assist in the development and ongoing review of policies and standard operating procedures for staff screening, immunisation, fit testing, blood and body fluid exposure and infectious disease outbreaks.
• Maintain the OMU staff immunisation database and electronic records, with attention to detail, ensuring the integrity of the data is maintained.
• Conduct particulate filter respirator fit testing, including evaluation of the fit testing program and quality improvement projects.
• Collaborate to enable the effective delivery of high quality and timely OMU services by ensuring personal accountability and responsibility for assigned work, providing guidance and support, and developing skills and capabilities.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation

Specific competencies include but are not limited to the following.

• Practices independently/autonomously.
• Assume accountability and responsibility for own actions and delegation of duties, as required
• Apply evidence-based guidelines to achieve positive outcomes, is an active participant within the multidisciplinary work unit, and provides leadership in clinical decision making.
• Accountable for the delivery of safe clinical practice and professional advice.
• Adhere to established guidelines, protocols, procedures, standards, policies, and legislation.
• Ability to manage confidential and sensitive information whilst working towards achieving positive outcomes for people who access the service.
• Ability to respond to and prioritise competing requests in a calm and efficient manner while also maintaining high work standards and accuracy.

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

Essential

• A tertiary qualification in nursing.
• Be registered or have applied for registration as a Registered Nurse with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Be a nurse immuniser
• Hold a current driver’s licence

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Standards and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• Post graduate qualifications in a relevant field

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

Essential

• Minimum four years recent full time equivalent post registration experience.
• Be a nurse immuniser
• Hold a current driver’s licence

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.
• 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 understanding of the occupational requirements relating to screening and vaccination of health care workers.
2. Clinical competence with regard to immunisation and venepuncture for serological testing.
3. Proven knowledge and understanding of the occupational requirements including:
   • Vaccine preventable diseases.
   • Importance of a respiratory protection and transmission of respiratory pathogens.
   • Blood and body fluid exposure management, including risk assessment, counselling and management plan development for the exposed healthcare worker and source person.
4. Demonstrated effective time management skills and the ability to communicate effectively within a multidisciplinary environment, providing a client-focused service to achieve outcomes, meet deadlines and adapt to changing priorities.
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	Never
Frequent travel – driving	Never

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	Never
Unpredictable People e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries	Occasionally
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	Never

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