Newsletter: 341/2017 Date: 28 August 2017 Distribution: All public health members Dubbo Contact: Your HSU Organiser Mental Health FACT Team Dubbo Dear Member, The HSU has been notified that the Mental Health Unit in Dubbo is implementing a new team, the Mental Health Flexible Assertive Community Treatment Team (or FACT team). Attached are three position descriptions for newly created positions. They are: Social Worker Psychologist Occupational Therapist Please review the three position descriptions and respond with any queries or concerns to your organiser Zelda Giblett on zelda.giblett@hsu.asn.au or phone 0409 316 733, by close of business 11 September 2017. Should there be any concerns raised by members that cannot be answered by the mental health unit, the HSU will request a Union-Specific Consultative Committee (USCC) meeting to address the concerns of members. The Union is also seeking expressions of interest from members to attend USCC meetings should this occur. Please distribute this newsletter to your work colleagues for their information. Not a member of the HSU? Now is time to join and have your say! You can join online at www.hsu.asn.au/join or call 1300 HSU NSW and join over the phone. A union s effectiveness and negotiation power depends upon the strength and density of its membership base. Join your work colleagues today by becoming a member of the Health Services Union and help us to continue to protect and improve your working life. In unity, Gerard Hayes Secretary, HSU NSW/ACT
Reference Number : 385955 Recruitment Type Position Number : 666348 Position Title : Cost Centre : Organisation unit : Location : Facility : Advertised Award/Classification Registration/ Licence Requirements : Vaccination Category : General Recruitment POSITION DESCRIPTION Social Worker Mental Health Flexible Assertive Community Treatment Team Cost Centre Code % MHS DBO Flexible Assertive Community Treatment 831320 100 NSW Health Service - Western NSW Local Health District Dubbo Mental Health and Drug Alcohol Health Professionals (state) Award / Social Worker Level 1/2 Category A Employment Screening Check National Criminal Record Check : Working With Children Background Check : Working With Aged Care Check : Yes Yes No Responsible To : This position is operationally responsible to the Team Leader Community Mental Health Special Programs, Dubbo. Responsible For : This position has no staff reporting to it. Purpose Of Position : The Social Worker within this team carries out a range of care mental health care including case management and care coordination, as well as specific social work interventions including advocacy, linkages and partnerships, biopsychosocial therapies and assessments, social skills training and community access, group work and family therapy. Mental Health Assertive Community Treatment services are delivered by multidisciplinary teams who provide ongoing recovery oriented assessment and treatment, aimed at improving the quality of life for people with severe, complex and persistent mental health needs requiring intensive intervention in a community setting. Assertive Community Treatment services are delivered via mobile outreach into people s homes as much as possible. The service has an early intervention and prevention focus to assist people to manage crisis situations and reduce the need for lengthy inpatient stays. A strong emphasis is placed on psycho-education, vocational rehabilitation, consultation, collaboration and coordination with other key services and health care providers. Assertive Community Treatment clinicians provide a comprehensive range of assessments and treatments for people who have a severe and persistent mental illness and/or are significantly affected by mental health problems. Clinical functions also include: specialist consultation and liaison services across a variety of settings (e.g. GPs, primary health, mental health residential
facilities, mental health inpatient settings, community managed organisations); capacity building such as education and training activities with key services, carers and communities; and mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention activities. Assertive Community Treatment clinicians also have a role in hospital admission and discharge processes, and provide consultation / liaison style services to identified consumers during inpatient treatment in mental health inpatient settings. Ability to provide outreach to smaller communities across the Dubbo service area is a requirement of this job. Demonstrated commitment to Western NSW LHD philosophy of Living Well Together that sets expectations of our staff behaviour and the care we will provide, and demonstrates our commitment to person-centred care. Display behaviours that support our Core Values, as well as personal and professional accountability that is transparent, goal-driven and connected to purpose. Clinical 1. Provide timely, safe and comprehensive specialist mental health assessments on adults with severe, complex and persistent mental illness and/or disorders, both within the community mental health facility, or in community settings such as consumer s homes. 2. In consultation with the extended hours Acute and Continuing Care Team, perform mental health acute care assessments and interventions as required with consumers managed by the Assertive Community Treatment Team. This may involve liaison with the Mental Health Emergency Care Services, emergency departments, police and ambulance services, GPs and treating Psychiatrists and families and carers. 3. Actively promote the physical health of the adult population by ensuring timely access to medical assessment, metabolic monitoring, drug and alcohol assessment, and promotion of healthy lifestyles (such as diet and exercise). 4. Following assertive / intensive case management models and contemporary evidence based practice, provide comprehensive individual and group clinical interventions reflecting ethical and evidence based best practice to community consumers and their families/carers, to assist the consumer and family/carer to gain, regain or retain social and emotional wellbeing. 5. In collaboration with consumers, carers, GPs and other health care providers such as community managed organisations, and adhering to national practice guidelines for recovery oriented mental health services, develop and coordinate the implementation of recovery oriented care plans for individuals requiring services. Care plans are to be monitored and updated regularly, and discussed with the team and treating psychiatrist during regular case review and care planning meetings. 6. Provide leadership in coordinating with any number of care providers in the planning and Key Accountabilities : delivering of care for consumers of the mental health and drug and alcohol service, to enable people to establish, re-establish or reclaim a hopeful and meaningful life in the community. 7. Provide specialist consultation / liaison services to key partner organisations managing the adult group, such as hospitals, mental health residential care facilities, acute and non-acute mental health inpatient facilities, community managed organisations, housing, employment agencies and GPs. 8. In partnership with Health Services and mental health residential care facilities, participate in the specialist assessment, care planning and treatment of those experiencing severe and persistently challenging behaviours related to mental illness or disorders. This may involve short term case management and coordination of existing care services. 9. Provide targeted services to those people transitioning to community settings from long term care in a psychiatric inpatient facility or community mental health residential setting, or those who are at risk of experiencing lengthy inpatient admissions in either an acute or non-acute mental health inpatient facility. 10. Regularly attend and actively participate in specialist clinical review and care planning meetings within the adult community mental health stream, including providing succinct and professional presentations of new assessments to the team, and regular review of all ongoing consumers. 11. To ensure continuity of care, attend and participate in inpatient case review meetings, as required, when a case managed consumer has been admitted to either the inpatient service or mental health step up/down facilities. Professional 12. Build and maintain close working partnerships with key stakeholders such as health services, community managed organisations, mental health residential facilities, housing, employment agencies, GPs, Primary Health Networks and consumers and carers. 13. Provide specialist education and in-service activities to other members of the multidisciplinary mental health team, and key partner organisations around discipline specialties as required. 14. Regularly attend and participate in local team business meetings. 15. Regularly attend and participate in regional and district wide clinical stream meetings and staff development sessions, either face to face or via videoconferencing. 16. Participate in regular clinical supervision with appropriate clinical supervisor as negotiated with the Team Leader. 17. Participate in annual performance review with the Team Leader and/or the appropriate clinical leader. 18. Promote the field of mental health and drug and alcohol and your profession by providing supervision for undergraduate students. 19. Develop and maintain high-level speciality knowledge and skills in the field of mental health drug and alcohol, by engaging in continuous professional development activities that include attendance at relevant conferences and educational programs, attendance at discipline specific meetings and continually engaging in individual reading and research.
20. Under the guidance of the Team Leader and District Clinical Professional Lead, participate in activities which facilitate the ongoing improvement and development of a quality and specialist service. 21. Under the guidance of the Team Leader and District Clinical Professional Lead, participate and engage in benchmarking activities to continually align services with other assertive community treatment services across the state. 22. Record all required clinical activity data via the appropriate and relevant systems and processes in the designated time frames. All staff are expected to take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others, that they comply with any reasonable instruction that is given them and with any reasonable policies/procedures relating to health or safety in the workplace, as well as notifying any hazards/risks or incidents to their managers. Challenges/Problem Solving : Prioritise competing demands. Manage complex clinical cases within existing resource constraints. Remain flexible, open and composed in difficult situations. Work within best practice framework and acknowledge resource constraints. Maintain personal resilience and mental wellbeing while working with emotionally challenging and complex situations. Develop and utilise networks with community support agencies across a vast geographical area. Maintain respectful, professional relationships in an area where professional disagreement may be expected. Negotiate intra and inter-agency differences for the best client outcomes Provide clinical and safe outreach services to smaller rural and remote communities from a regionally based clinical hub. Communication : Maintain concise and accurate client and other records according to the requirements of the Health Service. Ensure that reports required are prepared and dispatched to the relevant personnel. Ensure accurate data is collected for the department and submitted monthly. Abide by the policies related to the use of information technology. Be a member of a local and district multi-disciplinary team and attend team, discipline and clinical meetings, participating in decision-making in line with policy. Effectively engage and work with vulnerable and at risk populations, such as low socioeconomic, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and those with complex co-morbidities. Communicate effectively at a high level with a broad range of stakeholders face to face, over the telephone and over video-conferencing technology. Decision Making : Decision making is guided by Western NSW Local Health District policies and procedures, NSW Health Policy Directives, Information Bulletins and Guidelines, relevant legislation. Make appropriate decisions based upon educational and vocational assessment and evidence based practice guidelines. Consult with the multidisciplinary team and/or other appropriate senior staff member regarding difficult clinical decisions or ethical dilemmas. Selection Criteria : Staffing : Selection Criteria 1) Relevant tertiary qualifications in Social Work and a Current licence to drive in NSW. 2) Demonstrated experience in the delivery of successful assertive mental health and drug and alcohol services. 3) Demonstrated current clinical knowledge and comprehensive understanding of contemporary mental health and drug and alcohol issues. 4) Demonstrated high level communication and negotiation skills (written & verbal), and ability to actively contribute to clinical care planning processes in a team setting. 5) Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team. 6) Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with a range of key stakeholders eg GP s, community managed organisations, inpatient & community MHDA teams, consumers & carers. 7) Demonstrated understanding of the principles of recovery and psychosocial rehabilitation in mental health. 8) Demonstrated understanding of effective approaches in providing mental health and drug and alcohol outreach services to smaller communities. This position does not manage staff.
Budget : This position does not manage a budget. Financial Delegation: As per WNSWLHD Delegations Manual, this position does not have financial delegation. Physical Demands JOB DEMANDS CHECKLIST Sitting - remaining in a seated position to perform tasks Standing - remaining standing without moving about to perform tasks Walking - Floor type: even / uneven / slippery, indoors / outdoors, slopes Running - Floor type: even / uneven / slippery, indoors / outdoors, slopes Bend/Lean Forward from Waist - Forward bending from the waist to perform tasks Trunk Twisting - Turning from the waist while sitting or standing to perform tasks Kneeling - remaining in a kneeling posture to perform tasks Squatting / Crouching - Adopting a squatting or crouching posture to perform tasks Leg / Foot Movement - Use of leg and / or foot to operate machinery Climbing (stairs/ladders) - Ascend / descend stairs, ladders, steps Lifting / Carrying - Light lifting & carrying: 0-9 kg Lifting / Carrying - Moderate lifting & carrying: 10-15 kg Lifting / Carrying - Heavy lifting & carrying: 16kg & above Reaching - Arms fully extended forward or raised above shoulder Pushing / Pulling / Restraining - Using force to hold / restrain or move objects toward or away from the body Head / Neck Postures - Holding head in a position other than neutral (facing forward) Hand & Arm Movements - Repetitive movements of hands and arms Grasping / Fine Manipulation - Gripping, holding, clasping with fingers or hands Work At Heights - Using ladders, footstools, scaffolding, or other objects to perform work Driving - Operating any motor powered vehicle Sensory Demands Sight - Use of sight is an integral part of work performance e.g. Viewing of X-Rays, computer screens Hearing - Use of hearing is an integral part of work performance e.g. Telephone enquiries Smell - Use of smell is an integral part of work performance e.g. Working with chemicals Taste - Use of taste is an integral part of work performance e.g. Food preparation Touch - Use of touch is an integral part of work performance Psychosocial Demands Distressed People - e.g. Emergency or grief situations Aggressive & Uncooperative People - e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness Unpredictable People - e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries Restraining - involvement in physical containment of patients / clients Exposure to Distressing Situations - e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies Environmental Demands Dust - Exposure to atmospheric dust Gases - Working with explosive or flammable gases requiring precautionary measures Fumes - Exposure to noxious or toxic fumes Liquids - Working with corrosive, toxic or poisonous liquids or chemicals requiring PPE Hazardous substances - e.g. Dry chemicals, glues Noise - Environmental / background noise necessitates people raise their voice to be heard Inadequate Lighting - Risk of trips, falls or eyestrain Sunlight - Risk of sunburn exists from spending more than 10 minutes per day in sunlight Extreme Temperatures - Environmental temperatures are less than 15C or more than 35C Confined Spaces - areas where only one egress (escape route) exists
Slippery or Uneven Surfaces - Greasy or wet floor surfaces, ramps, uneven ground Inadequate Housekeeping - Obstructions to walkways and work areas cause trips and falls Working At Heights - Ladders / stepladders / scaffolding are required to perform tasks Biological Hazards - e.g. exposure to body fluids, bacteria, infectious diseases As the incumbent of this position, I confirm I have read the Position Description and Job Demands Checklist, understand its content and agree to work in accordance with the requirements of the position. Employee Name: Employee Signature Date: Manager's Name: Manager's Signature Date:
Reference Number : 384901 Recruitment Type Position Number : Position Title : Cost Centre : Organisation unit : Location : Facility : Bulk Recruitment POSITION DESCRIPTION Psychologist Mental Health Flexible Assertive Community Treatment Team, Dubbo Cost Centre Code % MHS Community Support - DBO 830562 100 Western NSW Local Health District Dubbo Mental Health and Drug Alcohol Award Classification : Health and Community Employees Psychologists (State) Award-Psychologist Registration/ Licence Requirements : Vaccination Category : Psychologist Employment Screening Check National Criminal Record Check : Working With Children Background Check : Working With Aged Care Check : A Yes Yes No Responsible To : This position is operationally responsible to the Team Leader Community Mental Health Special Programs, Dubbo Responsible For : Responsible for the provision of clinical services within the Mental Health Assertive Community Treatment model. Mental Health Assertive Community Treatment services are delivered by multidisciplinary teams who provide ongoing recovery oriented assessment and treatment, aimed at improving the quality of life for people with severe, complex and persistent mental health needs requiring intensive intervention in a community setting. Assertive Community Treatment services are delivered via mobile outreach into people s homes as much as possible. The service has an early intervention and prevention focus to assist people to manage crisis situations and reduce the need for lengthy inpatient stays. A strong emphasis is placed on psycho-education, vocational rehabilitation, consultation, collaboration and coordination with other key services and health care providers. Assertive Community Treatment clinicians provide a comprehensive range of assessments and treatments for people who have a severe and persistent mental illness and/or are significantly affected by mental health problems. Clinical functions also
Purpose Of Position : include: specialist consultation and liaison services across a variety of settings (e.g. GPs, primary health, mental health residential facilities, mental health inpatient settings, community managed organisations); capacity building such as education and training activities with key services, carers and communities; and mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention activities. Assertive Community Treatment clinicians also have a role in hospital admission and discharge processes, and provide consultation / liaison style services to identified consumers during inpatient treatment in mental health inpatient settings. Ability to provide outreach to smaller communities across the Dubbo service area is a requirement of this job. The Psychologist with this team carries out a range of core mental health care including case management and care coordination, as well as specific psychological interviention including cognitive and psychological assessments, CBT, ACT, psychoeducation, family therapy and other psychological therapies as appropriate. Demonstrated commitment to Western NSW LHD philosophy of Living Well Together that sets expectations of our staff behaviour and the care we will provide, and demonstrates our commitment to person-centred care. Display behaviours that support our Core Values, as well as personal and professional accountability that is transparent, goal-driven and connected to purpose Key Accountabilities : Clinical 1. Provide timely, safe and comprehensive specialist mental health assessments on adults with severe, complex and persistent mental illness and/or disorders, both within the community mental health facility, or in community settings such as consumer s homes. 2. In consultation with the extended hours Acute and Continuing Care Team, perform mental health acute care assessments and interventions as required with consumers managed by the Assertive Community Treatment Team. This may involve liaison with the Mental Health Emergency Care Services, emergency departments, police and ambulance services, GPs and treating Psychiatrists and families and carers. 3. Actively promote the physical health of the adult population by ensuring timely access to medical assessment, metabolic monitoring, drug and alcohol assessment, and promotion of healthy lifestyles (such as diet and exercise). 4. Following assertive / intensive case management models and contemporary evidence based practice, provide comprehensive individual and group clinical interventions reflecting ethical and evidence based best practice to community consumers and their families/carers, to assist the consumer and family/carer to gain, regain or retain social and emotional wellbeing. 5. In collaboration with consumers, carers, GPs and other health care providers such as community managed organisations, and adhering to national practice guidelines for recovery oriented mental health services, develop and coordinate the implementation of recovery oriented care plans for individuals requiring services. Care plans are to be monitored and updated regularly, and discussed with the team and treating psychiatrist during regular case review and care planning meetings. 6. Provide leadership in coordinating with any number of care providers in the planning and delivering of care for consumers of the mental health and drug and alcohol service, to enable people to establish, re-establish or reclaim a hopeful and meaningful life in the community. 7. Provide specialist consultation / liaison services to key partner organisations managing the adult group, such as hospitals, mental health residential care facilities, acute and non-acute mental health inpatient facilities, community managed organisations, housing, employment agencies and GPs. 8. In partnership with Health Services and mental health residential care facilities, participate in the specialist assessment, care planning and treatment of those experiencing severe and persistently challenging behaviours related to mental illness or disorders. This may involve short term case management and coordination of existing care services. 9. Provide targeted services to those people transitioning to community settings from long term care in a psychiatric inpatient facility or community mental health residential setting, or those who are at risk of experiencing lengthy inpatient admissions in either an acute or non-acute mental health inpatient facility. 10. Regularly attend and actively participate in specialist clinical review and care planning meetings within the adult community mental health stream, including
providing succinct and professional presentations of new assessments to the team, and regular review of all ongoing consumers. 11. To ensure continuity of care, attend and participate in inpatient case review meetings, as required, when a case managed consumer has been admitted to either the inpatient service or mental health step up/down facilities. Professional 12. Build and maintain close working partnerships with key stakeholders such as health services, community managed organisations, mental health residential facilities, housing, employment agencies, GPs, Primary Health Networks and consumers and carers. 13. Provide specialist education and in-service activities to other members of the multidisciplinary mental health team, and key partner organisations around discipline specialties as required. 14. Regularly attend and participate in local team business meetings. 15. Regularly attend and participate in regional and district wide clinical stream meetings and staff development sessions, either face to face or via videoconferencing. 16. Participate in regular clinical supervision with appropriate clinical supervisor as negotiated with the Team Leader. 17. Participate in annual performance review with the Team Leader and/or the appropriate clinical leader. 18. Promote the field of mental health and drug and alcohol and your profession by providing supervision for undergraduate students. 19. Develop and maintain high-level speciality knowledge and skills in the field of mental health drug and alcohol, by engaging in continuous professional development activities that include attendance at relevant conferences and educational programs, attendance at discipline specific meetings and continually engaging in individual reading and research. 20. Under the guidance of the Team Leader and District Clinical Professional Lead, participate in activities which facilitate the ongoing improvement and development of a quality and specialist service. 21. Under the guidance of the Team Leader and District Clinical Professional Lead, participate and engage in benchmarking activities to continually align services with other assertive community treatment services across the state. 22. Record all required clinical activity data via the appropriate and relevant systems and processes in the designated time frames. All staff are expected to take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others, that they comply with any reasonable instruction that is given them and with any reasonable policies/procedures relating to health or safety in the workplace, as well as notifying any hazards/risks or incidents to their managers. Challenges/Problem Solving : Prioritise competing demands. Manage complex clinical cases within existing resource constraints. Remain flexible, open and composed in difficult situations. Work within best practice framework and acknowledge resource constraints. Maintain personal resilience and mental wellbeing while working with emotionally challenging and complex situations. Develop and utilise networks with community support agencies across a vast geographical area. Maintain respectful, professional relationships in an area where professional disagreement may be expected. Negotiate intra and inter-agency differences for the best client outcomes Provide clinical and safe outreach services to smaller rural and remote communities from a regionally based clinical hub. Communication : Maintain concise and accurate client and other records according to the requirements of the Health Service. Ensure that reports required are prepared and dispatched to the relevant personnel. Ensure accurate data is collected for the department and submitted monthly. Abide by the policies related to the use of information technology. Be a member of a local and district multi-disciplinary team and attend team, discipline and clinical meetings, participating in decision-making in line with policy. Effectively engage and work with vulnerable and at risk populations, such as low socio-economic, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and those with complex comorbidities. Communicate effectively at a high level with a broad range of stakeholders face to face, over the telephone and over video-conferencing technology.
Decision Making : Decision making is guided by Western NSW Local Health District policies and procedures, NSW Health Policy Directives, Information Bulletins and Guidelines, relevant legislation. Make appropriate decisions based upon educational and vocational assessment and evidence based practice guidelines. Consult with the multidisciplinary team and/or other appropriate senior staff member regarding difficult clinical decisions or ethical dilemmas. Selection Criteria : Staffing : Selection Criteria Relevant tertiary qualifications in the field of Psychology and current registration with AHPRA, and a current unrestricted drivers licence (recognised in Australia) Demonstrated experience in the delivery of successful assertive mental health and drug and alcohol services Demonstrated current clinical knowledge and comprehensive understanding of contemporary mental health and drug and alcohol issues Demonstrated high level communication and negotiation skills (written & verbal), and ability to actively contribute to clinical care planning processes in a team setting Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with a range of key stakeholders eg GP s, community managed organisations, inpatient & community MHDA teams, consumers & carers Demonstrated understanding of the principles of recovery and psychosocial rehabilitation in mental health Demonstrated understanding of effective approaches in providing mental health and drug and alcohol outreach services to smaller communities N/A Budget : N/A Financial Delegation: N/A Physical Demands JOB DEMANDS CHECKLIST Sitting - remaining in a seated position to perform tasks Standing - remaining standing without moving about to perform tasks Walking - Floor type: even / uneven / slippery, indoors / outdoors, slopes Running - Floor type: even / uneven / slippery, indoors / outdoors, slopes Bend/Lean Forward from Waist - Forward bending from the waist to perform tasks Trunk Twisting - Turning from the waist while sitting or standing to perform tasks Kneeling - remaining in a kneeling posture to perform tasks Squatting / Crouching - Adopting a squatting or crouching posture to perform tasks Leg / Foot Movement - Use of leg and / or foot to operate machinery Climbing (stairs/ladders) - Ascend / descend stairs, ladders, steps Lifting / Carrying - Light lifting & carrying: 0-9 kg Lifting / Carrying - Moderate lifting & carrying: 10-15 kg Lifting / Carrying - Heavy lifting & carrying: 16kg & above Reaching - Arms fully extended forward or raised above shoulder Pushing / Pulling / Restraining - Using force to hold / restrain or move objects toward or away from the body Head / Neck Postures - Holding head in a position other than neutral (facing forward) Hand & Arm Movements - Repetitive movements of hands and arms Grasping / Fine Manipulation - Gripping, holding, clasping with fingers or hands Work At Heights - Using ladders, footstools, scaffolding, or other objects to perform work Driving - Operating any motor powered vehicle
Sensory Demands Sight - Use of sight is an integral part of work performance e.g. Viewing of X-Rays, computer screens Hearing - Use of hearing is an integral part of work performance e.g. Telephone enquiries Smell - Use of smell is an integral part of work performance e.g. Working with chemicals Taste - Use of taste is an integral part of work performance e.g. Food preparation Touch - Use of touch is an integral part of work performance Psychosocial Demands Distressed People - e.g. Emergency or grief situations Aggressive & Uncooperative People - e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness Unpredictable People - e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries Restraining - involvement in physical containment of patients / clients Exposure to Distressing Situations - e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies Environmental Demands Dust - Exposure to atmospheric dust Gases - Working with explosive or flammable gases requiring precautionary measures Fumes - Exposure to noxious or toxic fumes Liquids - Working with corrosive, toxic or poisonous liquids or chemicals requiring PPE Hazardous substances - e.g. Dry chemicals, glues Noise - Environmental / background noise necessitates people raise their voice to be heard Inadequate Lighting - Risk of trips, falls or eyestrain Sunlight - Risk of sunburn exists from spending more than 10 minutes per day in sunlight Extreme Temperatures - Environmental temperatures are less than 15C or more than 35C Confined Spaces - areas where only one egress (escape route) exists Slippery or Uneven Surfaces - Greasy or wet floor surfaces, ramps, uneven ground Inadequate Housekeeping - Obstructions to walkways and work areas cause trips and falls Working At Heights - Ladders / stepladders / scaffolding are required to perform tasks Biological Hazards - e.g. exposure to body fluids, bacteria, infectious diseases As the incumbent of this position, I confirm I have read the Position Description and Job Demands Checklist, understand its content and agree to work in accordance with the requirements of the position. Employee Name: Employee Signature Date: Manager's Name: Manager's Signature Date:
Reference Number : 384888 Recruitment Type Position Number : 666349 Position Title : Cost Centre : Organisation unit : Location : Facility : Bulk Recruitment POSITION DESCRIPTION Occupational Therapist Mental Health Flexible Assertive Community Treatment Team, Dubbo Cost Centre Code % MHS MHCEP Community MH Rehab Pgm - DBO - MHCE 831320 100 Western NSW Local Health District Dubbo Mental Health and Drug Alcohol Award Classification : NSW Health Service Health Professionals (State) Award-Occupational Therapist Lvl 2 Registration/ Licence Requirements : Vaccination Category : Employment Screening Check National Criminal Record Check : Working With Children Background Check : Working With Aged Care Check : Occupational Therapist A Yes Yes No Responsible To : This position is operationally responsible to the Team Leader Community Mental Health Specialist Programs, Dubbo Responsible For : This position has no staff reporting to it. Mental Health Assertive Community Treatment services are delivered by multidisciplinary teams who provide ongoing recovery oriented assessment and treatment, aimed at improving the quality of life for people with severe, complex and persistent mental health needs requiring intensive intervention in a community setting. Assertive Community Treatment services are delivered via mobile outreach into people s homes as much as possible. The service has an early intervention and prevention focus to assist people to manage crisis situations and reduce the need for lengthy inpatient stays. A strong emphasis is placed on psycho-education, vocational rehabilitation, consultation, collaboration and coordination with other key services and health care providers. Assertive Community Treatment clinicians provide a comprehensive range of assessments and treatments for people who have a severe and persistent mental illness and/or are significantly affected by mental health problems. Clinical functions also
Purpose Of Position : include: specialist consultation and liaison services across a variety of settings (e.g. GPs, primary health, mental health residential facilities, mental health inpatient settings, community managed organisations); capacity building such as education and training activities with key services, carers and communities; and mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention activities. Assertive Community Treatment clinicians also have a role in hospital admission and discharge processes, and provide consultation / liaison style services to identified consumers during inpatient treatment in mental health inpatient settings. Ability to provide outreach to smaller communities across the Dubbo service area is a requirement of this job. The Occupational Therapist within this team carries out a range of core mental health care including case management and care coordination, as well as specific occupational therapy work including finctional assessment, ADL and living skills training, vocational rehabilitation, motivational interviewing, goal setting, routine development and scheduling and family/carer engagement and family based therapy. Demonstrated commitment to Western NSW LHD philosophy of Living Well Together that sets expectations of our staff behaviour and the care we will provide, and demonstrates our commitment to person-centred care. Display behaviours that support our Core Values, as well as personal and professional accountability that is transparent, goal-driven and connected to purpose. Key Accountabilities : Clinical 1. Provide timely, safe and comprehensive specialist mental health assessments on adults with severe, complex and persistent mental illness and/or disorders, both within the community mental health facility, or in community settings such as consumer s homes. 2. In consultation with the extended hours Acute and Continuing Care Team, perform mental health acute care assessments and interventions as required with consumers managed by the Assertive Community Treatment Team. This may involve liaison with the Mental Health Emergency Care Services, emergency departments, police and ambulance services, GPs and treating Psychiatrists and families and carers. 3. Actively promote the physical health of the adult population by ensuring timely access to medical assessment, metabolic monitoring, drug and alcohol assessment, and promotion of healthy lifestyles (such as diet and exercise). 4. Following assertive / intensive case management models and contemporary evidence based practice, provide comprehensive individual and group clinical interventions reflecting ethical and evidence based best practice to community consumers and their families/carers, to assist the consumer and family/carer to gain, regain or retain social and emotional wellbeing. 5. In collaboration with consumers, carers, GPs and other health care providers such as community managed organisations, and adhering to national practice guidelines for recovery oriented mental health services, develop and coordinate the implementation of recovery oriented care plans for individuals requiring services. Care plans are to be monitored and updated regularly, and discussed with the team and treating psychiatrist during regular case review and care planning meetings. 6. Provide leadership in coordinating with any number of care providers in the planning and delivering of care for consumers of the mental health and drug and alcohol service, to enable people to establish, re-establish or reclaim a hopeful and meaningful life in the community. 7. Provide specialist consultation / liaison services to key partner organisations managing the adult group, such as hospitals, mental health residential care facilities, acute and non-acute mental health inpatient facilities, community managed organisations, housing, employment agencies and GPs. 8. In partnership with Health Services and mental health residential care facilities, participate in the specialist assessment, care planning and treatment of those experiencing severe and persistently challenging behaviours related to mental illness or disorders. This may involve short term case management and coordination of existing care services. 9. Provide targeted services to those people transitioning to community settings from long term care in a psychiatric inpatient facility or community mental health residential setting, or those who are at risk of experiencing lengthy inpatient admissions in either an acute or non-acute mental health inpatient facility. 10. Regularly attend and actively participate in specialist clinical review and care
planning meetings within the adult community mental health stream, including providing succinct and professional presentations of new assessments to the team, and regular review of all ongoing consumers. 11. To ensure continuity of care, attend and participate in inpatient case review meetings, as required, when a case managed consumer has been admitted to either the inpatient service or mental health step up/down facilities. Professional 12. Build and maintain close working partnerships with key stakeholders such as health services, community managed organisations, mental health residential facilities, housing, employment agencies, GPs, Primary Health Networks and consumers and carers. 13. Provide specialist education and in-service activities to other members of the multidisciplinary mental health team, and key partner organisations around discipline specialties as required. 14. Regularly attend and participate in local team business meetings. 15. Regularly attend and participate in regional and district wide clinical stream meetings and staff development sessions, either face to face or via videoconferencing. 16. Participate in regular clinical supervision with appropriate clinical supervisor as negotiated with the Team Leader. 17. Participate in annual performance review with the Team Leader and/or the appropriate clinical leader. 18. Promote the field of mental health and drug and alcohol and your profession by providing supervision for undergraduate students. 19. Develop and maintain high-level speciality knowledge and skills in the field of mental health drug and alcohol, by engaging in continuous professional development activities that include attendance at relevant conferences and educational programs, attendance at discipline specific meetings and continually engaging in individual reading and research. 20. Under the guidance of the Team Leader and District Clinical Professional Lead, participate in activities which facilitate the ongoing improvement and development of a quality and specialist service. 21. Under the guidance of the Team Leader and District Clinical Professional Lead, participate and engage in benchmarking activities to continually align services with other assertive community treatment services across the state. 22. Record all required clinical activity data via the appropriate and relevant systems and processes in the designated time frames. All staff are expected to take reasonable care that their actions do not adversely affect the health and safety of others, that they comply with any reasonable instruction that is given them and with any reasonable policies/procedures relating to health or safety in the workplace, as well as notifying any hazards/risks or incidents to their managers. Challenges/Problem Solving : Prioritise competing demands. Manage complex clinical cases within existing resource constraints. Remain flexible, open and composed in difficult situations. Work within best practice framework and acknowledge resource constraints. Maintain personal resilience and mental wellbeing while working with emotionally challenging and complex situations. Develop and utilise networks with community support agencies across a vast geographical area. Maintain respectful, professional relationships in an area where professional disagreement may be expected. Negotiate intra and inter-agency differences for the best client outcomes Provide clinical and safe outreach services to smaller rural and remote communities from a regionally based clinical hub. Communication : Maintain concise and accurate client and other records according to the requirements of the Health Service. Ensure that reports required are prepared and dispatched to the relevant personnel. Ensure accurate data is collected for the department and submitted monthly. Abide by the policies related to the use of information technology. Be a member of a local and district multi-disciplinary team and attend team, discipline and clinical meetings, participating in decision-making in line with policy. Effectively engage and work with vulnerable and at risk populations, such as low socio-economic, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and those with complex comorbidities. Communicate effectively at a high level with a broad range of stakeholders face to face, over the telephone and over video-conferencing technology.
Decision Making : Decision making is guided by Western NSW Local Health District policies and procedures, NSW Health Policy Directives, Information Bulletins and Guidelines, relevant legislation. Make appropriate decisions based upon educational and vocational assessment and evidence based practice guidelines. Consult with the multidisciplinary team and/or other appropriate senior staff member regarding difficult clinical decisions or ethical dilemmas. Selection Criteria : Staffing : Selection Criteria Relevant tertiary qualifications in the field of Occupational Therapy and current registration with AHPRA, and a current unrestricted drivers licence (recognised in Australia) Demonstrated experience in the delivery of successful assertive mental health and drug and alcohol services Demonstrated current clinical knowledge and comprehensive understanding of contemporary mental health and drug and alcohol issues Demonstrated high level communication and negotiation skills (written & verbal), and ability to actively contribute to clinical care planning processes in a team setting Ability to work independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain effective partnerships with a range of key stakeholders eg GP s, community managed organisations, inpatient & community MHDA teams, consumers & carers Demonstrated understanding of the principles of recovery and psychosocial rehabilitation in mental health Demonstrated understanding of effective approaches in providing mental health and drug and alcohol outreach services to smaller communities N/A Budget : N/A Financial Delegation: N/A Physical Demands JOB DEMANDS CHECKLIST Sitting - remaining in a seated position to perform tasks Standing - remaining standing without moving about to perform tasks Walking - Floor type: even / uneven / slippery, indoors / outdoors, slopes Running - Floor type: even / uneven / slippery, indoors / outdoors, slopes Bend/Lean Forward from Waist - Forward bending from the waist to perform tasks Trunk Twisting - Turning from the waist while sitting or standing to perform tasks Kneeling - remaining in a kneeling posture to perform tasks Squatting / Crouching - Adopting a squatting or crouching posture to perform tasks Leg / Foot Movement - Use of leg and / or foot to operate machinery Climbing (stairs/ladders) - Ascend / descend stairs, ladders, steps Lifting / Carrying - Light lifting & carrying: 0-9 kg Lifting / Carrying - Moderate lifting & carrying: 10-15 kg Lifting / Carrying - Heavy lifting & carrying: 16kg & above Reaching - Arms fully extended forward or raised above shoulder Pushing / Pulling / Restraining - Using force to hold / restrain or move objects toward or away from the body Head / Neck Postures - Holding head in a position other than neutral (facing forward) Hand & Arm Movements - Repetitive movements of hands and arms Grasping / Fine Manipulation - Gripping, holding, clasping with fingers or hands Work At Heights - Using ladders, footstools, scaffolding, or other objects to perform work
Driving - Operating any motor powered vehicle Sensory Demands Sight - Use of sight is an integral part of work performance e.g. Viewing of X-Rays, computer screens Hearing - Use of hearing is an integral part of work performance e.g. Telephone enquiries Smell - Use of smell is an integral part of work performance e.g. Working with chemicals Taste - Use of taste is an integral part of work performance e.g. Food preparation Touch - Use of touch is an integral part of work performance Psychosocial Demands Distressed People - e.g. Emergency or grief situations Aggressive & Uncooperative People - e.g. drug / alcohol, dementia, mental illness Unpredictable People - e.g. Dementia, mental illness, head injuries Restraining - involvement in physical containment of patients / clients Exposure to Distressing Situations - e.g. Child abuse, viewing dead / mutilated bodies Environmental Demands Dust - Exposure to atmospheric dust Gases - Working with explosive or flammable gases requiring precautionary measures Fumes - Exposure to noxious or toxic fumes Liquids - Working with corrosive, toxic or poisonous liquids or chemicals requiring PPE Hazardous substances - e.g. Dry chemicals, glues Noise - Environmental / background noise necessitates people raise their voice to be heard Inadequate Lighting - Risk of trips, falls or eyestrain Sunlight - Risk of sunburn exists from spending more than 10 minutes per day in sunlight Extreme Temperatures - Environmental temperatures are less than 15C or more than 35C Confined Spaces - areas where only one egress (escape route) exists Slippery or Uneven Surfaces - Greasy or wet floor surfaces, ramps, uneven ground Inadequate Housekeeping - Obstructions to walkways and work areas cause trips and falls Working At Heights - Ladders / stepladders / scaffolding are required to perform tasks Biological Hazards - e.g. exposure to body fluids, bacteria, infectious diseases As the incumbent of this position, I confirm I have read the Position Description and Job Demands Checklist, understand its content and agree to work in accordance with the requirements of the position. Employee Name: Employee Signature Date: Manager's Name: Manager's Signature Date: