Position overview

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is focussed on the delivery of high quality, effective, person-centred care. We provide acute, sub-acute, primary and community‐based health services, to the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website.

We are committed to workforce diversity and creating an inclusive workplace.

We are seeking suitably qualified physicians who are passionate about providing holistic and evidence-based care in a well-supported, multi-disciplinary general medicine hospital environment.

There are currently vacancies in both the Acute Medical Unit (AMU), and the General Medicine Department. Successful applicants may have the opportunity to work across one or both areas.

The AMU is a short-stay ward and unit for adults, designed to deliver timely, evidenced-based and holistic care during the admission phase of medical inpatient care.  The AMU provides early senior medical and multidisciplinary input for patients that require admission under internal medicine units.  It also allows further work up of patients with acute undifferentiated medical conditions in a non-Emergency Department (ED) clinical space.  The AMU is physician-led and has dedicated medical, nursing, allied health and support staff to ensure patients begin their hospital journey with a comprehensive management plan.

The Department of General Medicine manages patients with a diverse range of multiple active co-morbidities or undifferentiated illnesses under the age of 80 years that require ongoing inpatient, ward-based hospital care. We are a busy inpatient service with consultation and outpatient clinic responsibilities.

Applicants should have had training and experience in Acute and General Medicine or relevant medical sub-specialty.  The successful applicant will work in a multidisciplinary clinical environment with a team of nursing, allied health and medical staff, including Advanced and Basic Physician Trainees.

The position holder is expected to operate within the Public Sector Management Act (1994), the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct and the professional requirements specified by the appointee’s Specialist College.

Key responsibilities

Under limited direction of the Divisional Clinical Director you will:

• Have accountability for the day-to-day operations of the service and endeavour to ensure that clinical, strategic and key performance indicators are met.
• Provide competent and efficient clinical management of general medical inpatients relevant to the specific area of employment.
• Attend and contribute to medical and multidisciplinary handover sessions, clinical and business meetings.
• Contribute to the clinical governance of the relevant unit by undertaking clinical audit activities, clinical pathway development and demonstrate an active commitment to best clinical practice.
• Contribute to quality assurance, research and postgraduate teaching activities as required.
• Actively engage in quality and safety activities and model of care development for the Department and the Division.
• Contribute to general medicine outpatient clinics relevant to the specific area of employment.
• Contribute to the on-call and after-hours roster.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification which contribute to the operation of the organisation.

About you

CHS is committed to workforce diversity and to creating an inclusive workplace. As part of this commitment, we welcome applications from all diversity groups. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability and people who identify as LGBTQIA+ are particularly encouraged to apply.

Competencies

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

In addition to meeting the core competencies for the applicant to be recognised as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (RACP), or relevant speciality accreditation, the preferred candidate will have:

• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet clients’ needs.
• A commitment to practicing holistic medicine that considers and is sensitive to a patient’s unique psychological, spiritual and socioeconomic background.
• Ability to liaise effectively with staff at all levels and across disciplines.

In addition to a commitment to work, health and safety (WH&S) and contributing to the CHS positive patient focus displaying behaviours consistent with the organisational values of Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind.

Qualifications

Mandatory

• Be registered or eligible for registration as a medical practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner’s Regulation Agency, with no conditions, undertakings or reprimands.
• Fellow of the RACP (Preferably with General Medicine specialisation) or alternative relevant specialty accreditation.
• Not be the subject of an unresolved scope of clinical practice review of by a Medical Dental Appointments Advisory Committee or a current inquiry by AHPRA.
• The successful applicant will need to be available for weekend and after -hours work.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks
• 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.
• Fulfill the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering with Consumers Framework and all other related frameworks.

Desirable

• Post-graduate qualifications or training in clinical teaching, research and/or quality& safety processes in a health setting.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) and Australian Council of Healthcare Standards (ACHS) clinical indicators align with this role

Experience

Mandatory

• Demonstrated clinical training and recent work experience in an adult medical inpatient setting, managing both acute and ambulatory patients.
• Demonstrate a strong commitment to governance, research, teaching or operational system management processes.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively in a multi-disciplinary team environment in a clinical setting.
• Excellent communication and inter-personal skills.
• Effective teaching skills.
• An understanding of the principles of clinical governance and how they apply in an adult medical inpatient setting.

Desirable

• Demonstrated experience in clinical research and/or teaching is highly desirable.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks

For Senior Specialist we will also expect that you:

1. Have demonstrated advanced clinical experience outlined in a CV that clearly and comprehensively outlines the applicant’s professional history.
2. Have been employed at the equivalent of a Specialist Band 5 for a period of at least three years.
3. Have demonstrated their advanced ability to provide leadership to their colleagues through either clinical or administrative means.
4. Have gained demonstrable advanced experience and attained such ability in the relevant speciality that is acceptable to CHS, to justify a recommendation for advancement to Senior Specialist by the Review Panel.
5. Be able to demonstrate their ability to undertake duties and responsibilities deemed by CHS as those expected of a Senior Specialist.
6. Be able to demonstrate that they are performing at a level consistent with this competency framework.

Please note prior to commencement successful candidates will be required to:

• Undergo a pre-employment National Police Check.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Medical and Dental Appointments Advisory Committee (MDAAC) credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for medical professionals.

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.
• Approval for second job will need to be submitted annually. Commitment to second job must not impact on the agreed clinical duties of the specialist at Canberra Hospital.
• Adherence to agreed attendance hours including agreement to annual job planning for clinical operational requirements is required.
• It is expected that the successful applicant will have a track record as a successful member of a clinical team and demonstrate a strong commitment to teaching at all levels including medical, nursing and allied health professional staff and students. There is opportunity to be involved in teaching at the Australian National University Medical School.

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.

What you require (key selection criteria)

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

Please apply online by submitting a copy of your CV along with a cover letter responding to the below Selection Criteria:

1. Proven clinical experience, skills and attributes that will complement those of the general medical unit team to provide evidence-based person-centred care, along with a demonstrated commitment to the maintenance and further development of these skills.
2. Demonstrated high-level communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to provide leadership and work as a team member in a multidisciplinary environment.
3. Demonstrated commitment to teaching, training and research at all levels and for all staff including Medical Officers, Nursing, Allied Health and public as required.
4. Demonstrated commitment to clinical governance relevant to the practice of acute hospital medicine including but not limited to audits, research, education and training.
5. Demonstrated 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.

Where possible include specific relevant examples of your work.

For consideration at the Senior Specialist level, you will require the above and: 

1. Clinical: Show advanced clinical expertise in their speciality area, which may include the ability to work without supervision, as recognised by their peers.
2. Safety and Quality: Provide leadership through:
   1. a demonstrated ability to be effective in leading safety and quality activities, including experience relevant to specialist college accreditation
   2. providing senior medical input to the safety and quality activities of the medical unit and clinical division, and
   3. participating actively in specialist college accreditation, as overseen by the Australian Medical Council.
3. Teaching: Provide senior input using demonstrated experience in the development and provision of teaching and training at CHS and services in the surrounding region.
4. Research: Undertake speciality-specific research and/or have relevant publications of research in a respected health or medical journal.
5. Administrative functions: Support the medical unit director in the administration of the unit and provide senior medical input to the development of policies and practices of the unit.

Senior Specialist applicants must also provide two detailed supporting statements from referees including:

1. A supporting statement from the relevant medical unit director or equivalent, attesting to:
   1. the applicant’s ability to work at a senior level in the relevant unit or department,
   2. compliance with CHS policy and guidance documents, and
   3. behaviour consistent with CHS’ values
2. A supporting statement from a second referee who is a Senior Specialist.

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.