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.

Mental Health, Justice Health, and Alcohol and Drug Services (MHJHADS) provides support to children, youth and adults via inpatient and outpatient settings, community health centres, justice health facilities and other community settings, including people’s homes. MHJHADS aims to be socially inclusive and operate within a recovery-focused and/or harm minimisation approach.

• Forensic Mental Health Services (FMHS) provides services to:
• Alexander Maconochie Centre (AMC) adult correctional centre via Acute Response and Case Management Teams in the Custodial Mental Health settings,
• Bimberi Youth Justice Centre (BYJC) and;
• Dhulwa Mental Health Unit (DMHU), a secure mental health unit with 10 acute and 15 subacute beds.

Key responsibilities

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

The successful candidate will have specialist experience in Forensic Psychiatry and high-level skills relevant to both inpatient and community services, including custodial mental health skills. Under limited direction of the Clinical Director, you will:

• Provide direct psychiatric services in a variety of settings, including the provision of ECT services.
• Teach and supervise psychiatry trainees and medical students.
• Provide high level clinical leadership to multi-disciplinary teams and in particular:
  • - Provide expert opinion and consultation on clinical work
  • - Participate in the development, implementation and ongoing review of the recovery plans for persons using the service.
• Liaise and collaborate with medical practitioners, consumers, carers, voluntary, government and non-government agencies concerned with patient care.
• Participation in administration and clinical governance activities and the after-hours roster as required.
• Undertake other duties appropriate to this level of classification, which may require movement within or between service areas, to assist in the overall 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:

• Effective and high-quality communication skills and the ability to develop and maintain networks across Canberra Health Services and with external parties.
• Ability to work within multi-disciplinary and management teams and adapt quickly to a changing environment, including managing confidential and sensitive information.
• Displays critical thinking skills and forms defensible conclusions based on evidence and sound judgement.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet consumers needs.

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.

Qualifications

Essential

• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Hold a Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) or an equivalent higher specialist qualification.
• Relevant Certificate of Advanced Training in Forensic Psychiatry and/or Graduate Diploma or Masters in Forensic Psychiatry or a commitment to work towards these qualifications.

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act 2015 and other relevant legislation is desirable.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.
• 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.
• Has completed the relevant training to administer ECT services, or willingness to complete training. The successful applicant will be required to participate in the ECT roster.

Experience

Essential

• Several years’ work experience in a similar role and role environment

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of 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.

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.
• Obtain and maintain 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.

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.

1. Proven experience in the provision of specialist mental health care in a prison, youth detention centre, court, inpatient, community and other applicable settings with a demonstrably strong commitment to working with consumers, carers and key community stakeholders including GPs.
2. Demonstrated commitment to the maintenance and further development of skills applicable to the area of specialization, including involvement in further education and quality assurance activities.
3. Demonstrated capacity to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, whilst providing leadership in clinical care, systems and MDT management and participating in the mandatory requirement of medical officers within the Division.
4. Demonstrated commitment to the provision of teaching at all levels, including medical, nursing, scientific and allied health professional staff, both postgraduates and undergraduates.
5. Demonstrates 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 examples of your work.

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.