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 Surgery is responsible for supporting inpatient and outpatient surgical services to the ACT and surrounding region. This includes supporting the Surgical Bookings and Pre-Admission Clinic, Peri-operative Services, Day Surgery Unit and Extended Day Surgery Unit, specialist surgical ward areas, Pain Management Unit, medical and nursing outpatient services, ACT Trauma Service, Intensive Care Unit, Capital Region Retrieval Service and the Trauma and Orthopaedic Research Unit.

Under broad direction and as a member of the Paediatric Surgery Department, the successful candidate will provide tertiary services to patients of NSW and the ACT, with respect to management of paediatric surgical conditions. The successful candidate will participate in the provision of acute and non-acute paediatric surgical services, including acute surgical presentations, and in-patient and outpatient surgical services. They will also provide support to other disciplines and departments within CHS and the wider paediatric community with regards to acute paediatric surgical services.

A performance assessment will be conducted within three months following commencement of employment. At least every twelve months, a performance review will be undertaken that includes expectations in respect of management responsibilities, quality improvement and clinical governance activities, post graduate and undergraduate teaching activities, continuing education, research, health outcomes.

CHS maintains strong research links with the ANU, University of Canberra, and the Australian Catholic University. The hospital has well developed post graduate teaching programs. A fully equipped medical library is available on site with a large collection of hard copy and online journals and textbooks. Candidates may be considered for conjoint positions at the ANU at an academic level commensurate with their qualifications and experience. Academic positions are held for the duration of the candidate’s CHS employment and will be subject to regular performance reviews. No remuneration is attached to the university position.  The employee will be responsible to the university on academic matters and to CHS for clinical/ research matters. For more information about to conjoint positions with the ANU please contact Professor Paul Fitzgerald, Director, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology ANU College of Health and Medicine (EA - Cheryl Morse: cheryl.morse@anu.edu.au).

Medical Staff at CHS enjoy excellent conditions. Our Enterprise Agreement is available at https://www.health.act.gov.au/careers/applying-work-us/enterprise-agreements. 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. In general, the numeration package offered is very competitive compared to other states and territories across Australia and New Zealand and the package can be negotiated based on the level of experience.

Key responsibilities

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

• Provide tertiary level acute and non-acute inpatient and outpatient paediatric surgical services to patients of NSW and ACT, including elective outreach services. This may include, but is not limited to, outpatient and inpatient consultations, endoscopic, laparoscopic, open surgery, acute trauma, thoracic and gastro-intestinal surgery including inflammatory bowel disease.
• Co-ordinate and participate in the in-hours and after-hours roster including the Paediatric Surgery on-call roster.
• Coordinate and contribute to multidisciplinary education and training and actively participate in the training and supervision of medical students and medical staff (including interns, resident medical officers and registrars and fellows) within the Department and Division of Surgery.
• Actively engage in clinical research and clinical governance to ensure services are high quality, evidence based, safe and adhere to the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards. This includes but is not limited to participating in relevant committees and meetings including regular audit meetings, morbidity and mortality meetings.
• Develop, implement, review, and update best practice service models working in a multidisciplinary team to support the delivery of timely, high quality and sustainable paediatric surgical services.
• Utilise digital health and health information systems to enable the provision of safe and timely access to services.
• Participate in continuous professional development as required by the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) both in theoretical knowledge and practical skills and provide evidence when requested.
• 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

In addition to meeting the core competencies the preferred candidate will be:

• An excellent communicator, possessing high level oral and written interpersonal skills, with patients, students, other health professionals and the public.
• Highly interested in and committed to teaching medical students, interns, residents, registrars and nurses, and committed to maintaining personal professional development.
• Adaptable and flexible to accommodate change in an acute environment.
• Proficient in the performance and education of technical skills required to manage the critically ill child.

Qualifications

Essential

• Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons with experience in tertiary care of paediatric surgical conditions.
• Registered or eligible for registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA), with no conditions, undertakings or reprimands.
• Current paediatric advanced life support.

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

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

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 extensive experience in the provision of tertiary care of paediatric surgical conditions with a demonstrated commitment to the maintenance and further development of skills in this area. A focus on Paediatric Surgical acute care delivery and trauma management must also be exhibited.
2. Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to all aspects of clinical governance including conducting and leading research and audits in relevant areas of practice.
3. Demonstrated commitment to the maintenance and further development of skills applicable to the area of Paediatric Surgery, including involvement in continuing medical education.
4. A strong commitment to the importance and delivery of teaching at all levels, including medical, nursing, scientific and allied health professional staff, both postgraduate and undergraduate.  Experience in teaching in the simulated learning environment is essential and further qualifications in this area are highly desirable.
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.

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.