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.

This position is for a Staff Specialist or Senior Staff Specialist in Sexual Health for the Canberra Sexual Health Center (CSHC) Unit Director. The Unit Director role is offered on a three-year tenure, with the possibility of extension subject to meeting ongoing performance expectations. The Unit Director role attracts a Level 1 Managerial Allowance.

An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Sexual Health Specialist to lead and manage a multidisciplinary health team in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). 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 ACT and surrounding regions. More information can be found on the CHS website. Canberra Sexual Health Centre (CSHC) provides clinic-based care as well as an outreach program in nonclinical settings. The clinical care work spans sexually transmissible infections, HIV and gender health. The CHS Adult Gender Service provides care to adolescents aged 16 plus and adults and is embedded within the sexual health team. CSHC has a strong philosophy of teamwork, evidence-based practice and continuing professional development, which is supported by a weekly in-service program. CSHC is an accredited site for Advanced Training in Sexual Health Medicine, Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

The Unit Director, the Clinical Nurse Consultant, the Assistant Director of Nursing and the Business Manager work in partnership to ensure high quality outcomes for the people who use the sexual health service. In addition, they collaborate with other departments to ensure high-quality outcomes for the people who use services across the Division.

In conjunction with the Executive and Clinical Directors, Division of Medicine, the appointee will be expected to provide a high level of clinical leadership to ensure that allocated resources are managed to meet all service delivery targets. A key role will be to ensure medical engagement with the service, and to efficiently manage medical staff recruitment, performance, placement and leave arrangements. The appointee will be expected to represent the Sexual Health Centre both internally and externally in a range of strategic and planning forums.

It is expected that approximately 60% of the Unit Director’s time will be allocated to their substantive clinical service delivery role, approximately 20% to non-clinical duties, and approximately 20% to managerial duties. The final proportions to be worked in each role will be determined by negotiation with the Executive and Clinical Directors, Division of Medicine. Once the Unit Director role ceases, time spent in clinical service delivery will increase to approximately 80% of time.

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

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following Under limited direction of the Divisional Clinical Director you will:

• Manage and provide clinical services to clients and participate in the on-call rosters for the Sexual Health Centre including weekends and after hours and participate in the Canberra Sexual Health Centre clinical meetings.
• Provide clinical direction, leadership, planning and evaluation of a multidisciplinary Sexual Health service; this includes oversight of protocols for care, provision of expert clinical opinion and effective clinical risk management (particularly in complex and sensitive cases), and ensuring that service delivery targets are met.
• Initiate and manage clinical governance systems within the Sexual Health Centre 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.
• Actively engage in quality and safety activities, education, clinical research, service redesign, and model of care development for the Department and the Division.
• Identify and contribute to the professional development and training requirements for all clinical staff within the Department and the Division (i.e., medical, nursing, allied health) and ensure that these requirements are met.
• In collaboration with the Clinical Director, Division of Medicine, ensure timely recruitment of senior and junior medical staff and effective line management of medical staff, including rostering, leave planning and performance management.
• In collaboration with the CHS Psychology Professional lead, ensure timely recruitment of psychologist staff and effective line management of psychology staff, including rostering, leave planning and performance management.
• Actively participate in budget planning and financial management with other members of the Division’s leadership team, and provide input into Ministerial briefs, coronial briefs, and complaint resolution, 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

In addition to meeting the core competencies to be recognised as a Fellow of the Australasian College of Emergency Medicine, (FACEM), 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 judgements
• 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 Sexual Health Medicine.
• Strong organisational skills with a high degree of personal drive
• A good understanding of the principles of quality and safety to deliver exceptional care

Qualifications

Essential

• Be registered as a medical practitioner with the Australian Health Practitioner’s Regulation Agency, with no conditions, undertakings or reprimands (AHPRA).
• Fellowship of the Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine.
• S100 HIV prescriber.

Desirable

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

Experience

Essential

• Experience in medical leadership in a similar role and environment
• Knowledge of the RACP Australasian Chapter of Sexual Health Medicine training and accreditation requirements.

Desirable

• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, Clinical Governance 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:

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances.

• 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.

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 clinical experience in the practice of Sexual Health with demonstrated ability to manage the varied case mix and to provide evidence-based, person-centred care, and a commitment to the maintenance and further development of these skills.
2. Proven ability to lead systems that support clinical governance, quality and safety, and the management of human, financial and operational resources.
3. Demonstrated high-level communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to provide leadership while working as a team member in a multidisciplinary environment.
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.
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.