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.

The Cardiothoracic Surgery Service is comprised of a dedicated team of surgeons, anaesthetists, allied health professionals, nursing staff, and administrative staff. Surgeons working in this service perform both cardiac and thoracic surgery. This team works in close collaboration with cardiologists, cardiac rehabilitation teams and medical oncologists. The team provide high quality care to patients across all phases of the patient journey from outpatient appointments, surgery, the post-operative inpatient recovery phase, and the post-operative rehabilitation phase. The Cardiothoracic Surgery Service is supported by unaccredited registrars and junior medical officers.
The Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit contributes to the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac Surgery and Thoracic Surgeons’ Cardiac Surgery Database Program.

There is an expectation that the successful applicant will maintain accountability for their own practice standards and education. 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. The Unit Director’s performance, accountability and responsibilities will be routinely assessed by the Clinical Director Division of Surgery through an Individual Strength Engagement and Development Plan (Learning and Development Plan).

Key responsibilities

Under limited direction of the Unit Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Clinical Director of Surgery you will:

• Provide specialist cardiothoracic surgical services to inpatients and outpatients working collaboratively with all members of the multidisciplinary team to provide high quality and safe person-centred care.
• Coordinate and contribute to the daytime and on call/after-hours roster, in conjunction with other specialists, at a frequency required to cover the roster throughout the year. This includes the daytime and on call/after-hours roster.
• Coordinate and contribute to multidisciplinary education and training and actively participate in the training of junior medical staff including interns, resident medical officers, and registrars within the Division.
• Actively engage in clinical governance to ensure services are high quality and safe, adhere to the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards and participate in relevant committees and meetings including regular audit meetings.
• Develop, implement, review, and update new best practice service models in alignment with CHS strategic priorities.
• Strive for continuous professional development and undertake research relevant to the science and/or clinical practice of the specialty.
• Utilise the Digital Health Record and health information systems to enable the provision of safe and timely access to services.
• Undertaking other duties as appropriate, within the level of classification and the approved scope of clinical practice, to 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

To be successful in this position, it is expected that the successful candidate will include but are not limited to the following attributes:

• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate and manage change;
• A responsive approach to meeting the needs of patients and the organisation.
• A strong focus on person centred care and commitment to quality outcomes.
• Ability to work constructively and positively in a team, with staff at all levels and across disciplines.

Qualifications

Essential

• Be registered or be eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), with no conditions, undertakings, or reprimands.
• Hold Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons or an equivalent higher specialist qualification.
• Not be the subject of an unresolved scope of clinical practice review of by Medical Dental Appointments Advisory Committee or a current inquiry by AHPRA.
• Be granted a Scope of Clinical Practice through the Medical Dental Appointments Advisory Committee
• Obtain a Compliance Certificate from OMU (Occupational Medicine Unit) relating to assessment, screening & vaccination processes against specified infectious diseases.

Desirable

• 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.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering for Exceptional Care Framework and all other related frameworks.

Experience

• Clinical experience that corresponds with the required qualifications and key selection criteria listed in this duty statement.
• 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.

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 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.
• Be available for weekend and/or after-hours work. - Requirements for fractional on-call will be subject to clinical operational requirements and will be negotiated at the time of appointment on an individual basis.
• 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.

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 extensive experience in the practice of cardiothoracic surgery, with commitment to the maintenance and further development of skills applicable to this specialty:
2. Proven high-level communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to provide leadership and work as a team member in a multidisciplinary environment.
3. Demonstrated understanding of clinical governance and the ability to engage in quality assurance, audit and service improvement initiatives/projects.
4. Demonstrated commitment to research and the provision of teaching at all levels, including medical, nursing, scientific and allied health professional staff, both postgraduate and undergraduate.
5. Demonstrated understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety 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.