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 Division of Cancer & Ambulatory Support (CAS) provides specialist services within a comprehensive cancer centre and related specialist services. The division operates from a purpose-built Cancer Centre forming part of Canberra Hospital. Facilities include a large radiation oncology department, day therapy units for haematology and medical oncology, dedicated clinic space, and a soon to be competed research hub, wellbeing centre and oncology pharmacy. Two purpose-built wards for inpatient care are adjacent to the cancer centre. The Division has a strong commitment to research and training including clinical trials.

The role is for a Senior Specialist in a relevant specialist field who will be appointed permanently to one of the clinical departments. In addition to the clinical duties, the Clinical Director will hold responsibilities as the clinical leader of the Division. The clinical, non-clinical and managerial time will be negotiated with the Executive Director of CAS.

The Clinical Director has a key leadership role within the Division and across CHS. As a member of the CAS executive team the Clinic Director works collaboratively to achieve our strategic priorities and provide exceptional health care to our patients from the ACT and surrounding region. The Clinical Director provides key input into the Division’s focus of providing high quality and safe clinical care underpinned by training at all levels, clinical and translational research and governance.

The Unit Directors of the following departments report to the Clinical Director:

• Clinical Haematology
• Dermatology
• Immunology
• Medical Oncology
• Palliative Care
• Radiation Oncology
• Rheumatology

The appointee will be expected to represent the Division both within CHS and externally in a range of strategic and planning forums. A key role is to ensure medical engagement with the service, and to oversee the development of a strategic medical workforce plan.

Key responsibilities

Under limited direction of the Executive Director CAS, you will work collaboratively with the Director of Nursing, the Unit Directors within the Division and across CHS to achieve strategic objectives. The Clinical Director has a key leadership role in workplace culture and building high performance teams. You will:

• Provide clinical services in your specialist field as part of the clinical department of which you are a member, including inpatient and outpatient services, and participation in on-call rosters.
• Across the Division, provide high level clinical leadership into service development, service redesign and model of care development to ensure that services are high quality, sustainable, safe and that service delivery targets are met.
• Provide leadership and high-level input into the ongoing development of the research of the Division across all domains, including clinical trials, translational research and health services research. Facilitate partnerships and collaboration with other services and academic institutions to enhance the research and training programs.
• Ensure appropriate clinical governance mechanisms are in place and that services adhere to the National Safety and Quality Health Standards.
• Participate in resource management and stewardship in collaboration with other members of the Division’s leadership team.
• Provide expert clinical advice and input into Ministerial briefs, coronial briefs, business case submission and complaint resolution as required.
• Support the Unit directors in matters of medical performance management including promoting hospital wide strategies such as Speaking up for Safety to promote patient safety.
• Develop strategic workforce plans in collaboration with the Unit Directors to ensure conditions exist that support recruitment, retention and medical workforce development.
• Represent the Division in internal and external forums and committees and work collaboratively with external strategic partners.
• 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:

• Strong organisational, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate, and manage, change and provide responsive services to meet the needs of clients and the organisation.
• A strong focus on person centred care and a commitment to quality outcomes.
• Ability to liaise effectively with staff at all levels and across disciplines.
• An ability to have difficult conversations in a respectful manner.

Qualifications

Essential

• Be registered or be eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), with no conditions, undertakings, or reprimands.
• Eligible to be appointed as a senior staff specialist in one of the clinical departments within the Division of Cancer and Ambulatory Support.
• 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) 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

• Several years’ work experience in a similar role and role environment
• 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.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required.
• 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.

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 clinical experience as a staff specialist with the ability to provide evidence-based, person-centred care, and a demonstrated ability to manage clinical, nonclinical, and managerial duties.
2. Demonstrated ability to lead systems that support clinical governance, quality and safety, and the management of human, financial and operational resources to ensure high quality, safe and sustainable clinical services.
3. Demonstrated strong commitment to the development of a research, teaching and learning orientated multidisciplinary work environment within a tertiary teaching hospital.
4. Demonstrated high-level leadership, communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to develop highly performing multidisciplinary teams and a positive workplace culture.
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.