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.

We are committed to workforce diversity and creating an inclusive workplace.

The Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit (GEHU) is well established with 14 consultant medical staff, sub-specialty Fellows and Advanced Trainees.

Canberra Hospital provides secondary and tertiary referral services for gastroenterology and liver disease, and is the hub for continuing medical education, quality assurance, teaching and research in these specialties within the ACT and southern NSW regions.

Canberra Hospital is the major teaching hospital of the ANU Medical School and has well-developed postgraduate teaching programs and a state-of-the-art medical library. There are excellent opportunities for collaborative research.

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

Insert description

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.

Key responsibilities

Under limited direction of the Divisional Clinical Director you will:

• Manage inpatients and outpatients referred to the GEHU Service including timely triaging, consultation, diagnosis, reporting and treatment and in doing so, promote a commitment to high quality, customer service principles, practices and attributes.
• Contribute to the on call/after hours and weekend roster, in conjunction with other specialists, at a frequency required to cover the roster throughout the year set by the Director of GEHU.
• Conduct GEHU outpatient clinics including general gastroenterology, and special interests that may include pancreatobiliary and advanced endoscopy, hepatology, inflammatory bowel disease, and/or functional gut disorders in keeping with the GEHU requirements set by the Director of GEHU to maintain a robust clinical service to the territory and surrounding regions.
• Initiate and manage clinical governance systems within the Department by practicing evidence-based medicine, participating in clinical audit and morbidity and mortality review and contributing to the review and maintenance of policies and guidelines.
• Contributing to direct inpatient care, patient consultation requests from other units and timely ward rounds to ensure patient management is safe, optimal and expedited.
• Assist the Unit Director to ensure appropriate clinical governance mechanisms are in place for the Department.
• Participate and actively contribute to all departmental educational meetings and training and contribute to the education and training of the clinical team (in particular, actively participate in the supervision and training of junior medical staff including interns, resident medical officers and registrars).
• Actively engage in quality and safety activities, service redesign, and model of care development for the Department and the Division.
• Contribute to the education and training of students attending ANU Medical School, junior medical staff, postgraduate trainees and other members of the clinical team during the provision of clinical care and contribute to research in areas of medical interest related to the clinical practice or science of Gastroenterology.
• Promote a collaborative approach to care that enables all members of the clinical team to feel respected and valued and optimises patient care and treatment outcomes.
• 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

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

In addition to meeting the core competencies for Gastroenterologists to be recognised as a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians (FRACP) in Gastroenterology, the preferred candidate will have:

• Adaptability and flexibility to accommodate change and provide responsive services to meet patients’ needs.
• Displays critical thinking skills and forms sound conclusions based on evidence and sound judgement.
• Effective 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.
• Experience in the practice of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of drive.
• Good understanding of the principles of quality and safety to deliver exceptional care.

In addition to a commitment to work, health and safety (WH&S) and contributing to the CHS positive patient focus displaying behaviours consistent with the organisational values of Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind.

Qualifications

Mandatory

• Be registered or eligible for registration as a medical practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner’s Regulation Agency, with no conditions, undertakings or reprimands (AHPRA).
• Hold a Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of Physicians (FRAGP) 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.
• The successful applicant will need to be available for rostered after hours and on call work.
• Hold a current driver’s license
• 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.
• Fulfill the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance Framework, Partnering with Consumers Framework and all other related frameworks.

Desirable

• A proven track record in clinical or lab-based research and publications.
• A dedicated Interventional Endoscopy fellowship.
• 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.

Experience

Mandatory

• At least 12 months’ fellowship with the Royal Australian College of Physicians (FRAGP) with evidence of high-level performance.

Desirable

• Subspeciality interest in IBD, hepatology, functional gut disorders or advanced endoscopy.
• 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.
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Medical and Dental Appointments Advisory Committee (MDAAC) 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.
• 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.

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.

Please apply online by submitting a copy of your CV along with a cover letter responding to the below Selection Criteria:

1. Sound clinical experience in the practice of gastroenterology & hepatology and gastrointestinal endoscopy and ability to manage the required caseload and case mix, and to practice safe medicine.
2. Demonstrated commitment to the maintenance and further development of skills in the speciality, including involvement in further education and continuing professional development.
3. High level communication and interpersonal skills and demonstrated ability to provide leadership and work as a team member in a multidisciplinary environment. It is expected that the successful applicant will have a track record as a successful member of a clinical team.
4. Demonstrated strong commitment to teaching at all levels including medical, nursing and allied health professional staff, and evidence of prior experience in supervision and teaching, or relevant skills and interest in supervision and teaching.
5. Demonstrated understanding of, and commitment to, all aspects of clinical governance relevant to the specialty.
6. Demonstrated interest in research and preferably some ability to plan, conduct and supervise medical research in a relevant clinical or scientific area.
7. Demonstrates a commitment to work, health and safety (WH&S) and the positive patient experience and displays behaviour consistent with ACT Health’s values of Care, Excellence, Collaboration and Integrity.
8. Recent experience as a consultant within a tertiary referral hospital which included direct supervision of GI advanced trainees and on-call commitments.
9. Demonstrates understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, work, health and safety (WH&S) 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.