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.

Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Services (MHJHADS) offers compassionate, recovery-focused care for youth and adults across Canberra. Whether in hospitals, community centres, justice facilities, or even at home, MHJHADS provides specialised support tailored to each stage of life—from children and adolescents to older adults. Services include inpatient psychiatric care, community outreach, and harm minimisation programs, all designed to meet complex mental health needs with dignity and respect.

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) provides specialist inpatient and community based mental health assessment and treatment services for children and adolescents experiencing moderate to severe mental illness/disorder with significant functional impairment, associated complex needs and risk. CAMHS also governs several specialist MHJHADS services including:

• CAMHS Acute Services
  • CAMHS Hospital Liaison Team  (CAMHS HLT)
  • At Home Intensive Treatment  Team (AHITT)
  • Child and Adolescent Unit  (CAU)
  • CAMHS Day Program
• CAMHS Community Teams
  • CAMHS North and South
  • Single Point of Access (SPA)
  • Adolescent Mental Health  Outreach Service (AMOS)
  • The Cottage Program
  • CAMHS Dialectical Behaviour  Therapy (DBT) Program
• Specialist Youth Mental Health Outreach (SYMHO)
• Perinatal and Infant Mental Health Consultation Service (PIMHCS)
• Eating Disorders Program
• Eating Disorders Residential Treatment Centre
• Intellectual Disability Service

The successful applicant will have specialist experience in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and high-level skills relevant to both inpatient and community services and be willing to work across MHJHADS as needed. The successful applicant will also be expected to participate in the mandatory administrative, governance and training requirements of medical officers within the Division. Emphasis on recovery focus and person-centred care are essential.

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:

Under limited direction of the Clinical Director, you will have specialist experience in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and high-level skills relevant to both inpatient and community services, you will:

• Provide direct psychiatric services in a variety of settings;
• 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 practitioner, consumers, carers, voluntary and government and non-government agencies concerned with patients care;
• Participate in administration and clinical governance activities and the after-hours roster as required;
• 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 Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to be recognised as a Fellow of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatry (RANCP), 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;
• Good understanding of the principles of quality and safety to deliver exceptional care.
• In addition, 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.

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 Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists (RANZCP) or an equivalent higher specialist qualification and evidence of satisfactory participation on the RANZCP Continuing Professional Development Program is mandatory.
• Has completed the relevant Certificate of Advanced Training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and/or a minimum of two years’ experience working professionally in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
• Not be the subject of an unresolved scope of clinical practice review by Medical Dental Appointments Advisory Committee (MDAAC) 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.
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Desirable

• The successful applicant will have the option to participate in the ECT roster, pending training and qualifications.
• 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.
• Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in alignment to the CHS Exceptional Care and all other related frameworks

Experience

Mandatory

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

Desirable

• Knowledge of the Mental Health Act 2015 and other related legislation
• 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 - Requirements for fractional on-call will be subject to clinical operational requirements and will be negotiated at the time of appointment on an individual basis;
• 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 in the provision specialist mental health care in an inpatient and community setting with a demonstrated strong commitment to working with consumers, carers and key community stakeholders including General Practitioners.
2. Demonstrated knowledge of current developments and practices in the area of specialisation, with the ability to apply these to clinical care, research, training and professional development.
3. Demonstrated high level of communication and interpersonal skills, including an ability to provide mentorship, and liaise within the health system and with external agencies.
4. Demonstrated ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, whilst providing leadership in clinical care, systems and MDT management and participating in the mandatory requirements of medical officers within the Division.
5. Demonstrated strong commitment to the importance and provision of teaching of staff at all levels, including medical, nursing, scientific and allied health professional staff, both postgraduate and undergraduate.
6. 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 relevant examples of your work.

For consideration at the Senior Specialist level, you will need to address the above and: 

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.