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 Unit Director, General Paediatrics provides strategic, clinical and operational leadership for General Paediatric services within Canberra Health Services. The role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of safe, high-quality, evidence-based care across acute paediatric services, while driving service innovation, workforce capability, and clinical governance.

As a key member of the Women, Youth and Children leadership team, the position works in partnership with nursing, allied health and executive colleagues to deliver integrated, person-centred services aligned to CHS priorities. The role balances senior clinical practice with leadership responsibilities, contributing to the development of a contemporary, sustainable paediatric service.

The Unit Director for General Paediatrics is a 2-year appointment that attracts a Managerial Allowance Level 2 and is supported by a Deputy Director role.

Note: The Unit Director for General Paediatrics is not responsible for operational leadership of CHS Community Paediatrics, which is the remit of the Unit Director for Community Paediatrics. However, the Unit Director for General Paediatrics may provide professional leadership and support to this role.

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:

• Provide strategic leadership, planning and evaluation for General Paediatrics, including maintaining clinical oversight of service delivery and participation in relevant clinical rosters, including on-call and after-hours.
• Ensure effective clinical and corporate governance, including risk management, audit, workforce planning, performance management, service innovation and financial oversight.
• Contribute to cross-divisional planning and develop and maintain strong relationships with key internal departments, including critical care, medical and surgical subspecialties, in additional to developing key partnerships with referral centres and stakeholders.
• Provide leadership and management of medical staff, including recruitment, performance management, workforce planning and wellbeing.
• Demonstrate advanced clinical practice, professional judgement, and patient-centred, evidence-based clinical practice, including engagement in research and quality improvement.
• Lead and deliver education, research, supervision and mentoring of staff, and promote a strong culture of teaching, reflective practice and continuous learning for both senior and junior staff.
• Undertake additional senior duties consistent with the role.
• Maintain accountability for service performance, benchmarking, financial management, outcomes and workforce effectiveness.

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 Paediatrics,  to be recognised as a Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP), 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 Paediatrics.
• 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.

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

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 Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP)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.

Desirable

• Postgraduate qualifications in health management, leadership or administration, or working towards, or a desire to undertake.
• 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

• Extensive clinical experience in General Paediatrics at a senior level.
• Extensive post-fellowship experience demonstrating advanced specialist capability and independent clinical practice.
• Demonstrated leadership and management qualities, with experience in advisory and leadership responsibilities, or management of a clinical unit, service or program.
• Experience in clinical governance, quality improvement and risk management.
• Demonstrated ability to contribute to service planning, evaluation and system improvement initiatives.
• Proven experience working in multidisciplinary teams and complex health systems

Desirable

• 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.
• 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. Proven experience as a General Paediatrician with exceptional clinical skills in inpatient and outpatients Paediatrics. Leadership and management skills, and the ability to manage and work collaboratively both internally and externally.
2. A strong understanding of health systems and clinical governance, including risk management, benchmarking, audit, workforce planning, performance management, resource management, and financial oversight.
3. Highly developed communication skills, an ability to think strategically and a demonstrated ability to lead and manage service development and system improvement in an evolving health system.
4. Lead and deliver education, training, supervision and mentoring of staff and promote a culture of safety, teaching, reflective practice and continuous learning.
5. Leads and promotes a culture of safety, quality and patient-centred care through adherence to relevant standards, Work Health and Safety requirements and continuous improvement. Consistently role models behaviours aligned with CHS values of Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind.

Where possible include specific relevant 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.