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.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified medical graduates with Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians who have or are eligible for medical specialist registration with the Medical Board of Australia.

Infectious Diseases provides specialist inpatient, outpatient and Hospital in the Home care to patients with infectious diseases including, but not limited to, serious bacterial infections, prosthetic joint infections, long-term antibiotic use, splenectomy. Infectious Diseases supervises three advanced trainee positions for registrars and assists in the training of a fourth.

The successful applicant will be expected to have a role in undergraduate teaching and assessment within the Australian National University Medical School and be regularly involved in education and training of medical students and junior medical staff. The successful applicant will also be expected to be active in clinical and/or basic research, quality assurance activities and continuing medical education.

Key responsibilities

Under limited direction of the Clinical Director of Medicine, you will:

• Provide clinical infectious diseases services comprising inpatient care and consultation, outpatient clinics, hospital in the home care, attendance at clinical meetings, and telephone advice
• Provide specialist advice pertaining to participating regularly in the antimicrobial stewardship program
• Provide specialist infectious disease advice pertaining to infection prevention and control (including outbreak control), disease surveillance activities, staff health and occupational exposure management
• Active engagement in educational activities related to infectious disease medicine including under-graduate and post-graduate education through the Australian National University Medical School
• Active contribution to the quality improvement and research activities of the Infectious Diseases department including policy and procedure development, attendance, and presentation of research at major national and international meetings, and supervision of research projects of junior medical staff
• Supervision of allocated medical students and junior medical officers (interns, resident medical officers, and registrars), including the provision of feedback and appraisals
• Equitable participation with other specialists in the department’s after-hours on-call and weekend rosters
• Undertaking other duties, within approved clinical scope of practice, as required by the Director of Infectious Diseases, Canberra Hospital
• To be available to perform these duties at Canberra Hospital and North Canberra Hospital as required; and in the case of telephone advice, to affiliated NSW hospitals within the surrounding region
• 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

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

• High level communications skills, with demonstrated capability to effectively communicate with senior executive staff across the organisation and external stakeholders.
• A demonstrated record of achievement in implementing organisational strategies to enhance service delivery and business functions.
• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of initiative and drive.
• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and be responsive to meet needs.

Qualifications

Essential

• Be registered or be eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians and/or equivalent specialist qualification, including sub-specialty training in Infectious Diseases; and eligible for registration as an Infectious Diseases Specialist with the Medical Board of Australia.
• 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.
• Have an understanding of how the National Standards and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Desirable

• Experience as an IBD consultant at a teaching hospital.
• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

• 2-5 years’ work experience in a similar role and role environment
• Prior experience in teaching both undergraduate and post graduate students
• 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.

Desirable

• Prior experience in antimicrobial stewardship programs will be highly desirable
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

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. Demonstrated commitment to continuing education, teaching at under-graduate and post-graduate levels, research, and evidence-based clinical practice in the inpatient, outpatient and hospital in the home settings.
2. Strong interest and experience in quality improvement activities and clinical governance; including in infection prevention and control and antimicrobial stewardship.
3. Excellent interpersonal, oral and written communication skills with the ability to play a lead role in a cross-cultural work environment as an active member of a multi-disciplinary team.
4. 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.

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.