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 minimization. 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.

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

At this level it is expected that you will provide, under limited supervision, high quality clinical nursing, skills and care to achieve sound outcomes for people with mental illness.

It is also an expectation that you will provide mental health care through assessments and treatments, working closely with other health professionals, carers, and agencies. Use recovery-focused approaches that respect each person’s values and rights. Deliver care that follows policies, laws, and the Mental Health Act. Help monitor care quality, support student nurses, and take part in training, supervision, and professional development. Contribute to improving services and carry out other duties that support the team and organization.

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

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Provide appropriate clinical interventions and clinical assessment to people with complex mental health needs consistent with the National Mental Health Standards.
• Liaise with the multidisciplinary treating team, community teams, General Practitioners, carers, and other agencies with regard to the person’s care.
• Actively apply recovery orientated practices and interventions in a way that acknowledges the dignity, culture, values, beliefs, and rights of individuals and or groups.
• Provide high quality patient care supportive of endorsed policies and procedures working within the requirements of the Mental Health Act 2015, other relevant legislation.
• Undertake as an active team member the monitoring and evaluation of the quality of care provided and ensure support and orientation is provided to student nurses.
• Participate in clinical governance systems, quality improvement initiatives, clinical supervision, mandatory training, continuing professional development and performance management.
• 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.

Essential

• Relevant tertiary qualifications and 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.

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

Essential

• The successful applicant will need to be available to work on a seven day a week roster filling morning, evening, and night shifts.

Desirable

• Recent experience working as a Registered Nurse in an acute mental health facility
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering With Consumers Framework and all other related frameworks.
• Current driver’s licence

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.
• 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.

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

1. What clinical skills and attributes can you bring to Adult Acute Mental Health Services?
2. What areas of mental health nursing you are most passionate about and why?
3. How do you successfully communicate and collaborate with colleagues, patients and their families in your daily practice?
4. Evidence of commitment to professional development and on-going education activities.
5. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience. Displays behavior consistent with CHS’s values of reliable, progressive, respectful and kind.

To Apply:

Please apply online by submitting a copy of your CV along with a maximum of 2-page response to the Selection Criteria, listed in the Position Description.

Appointments will be based on response to selection criteria only.

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	Occasionally
Lifting 16kg+	Occasionally
Climbing	Never
Running	Occasionally
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