Role Description
APPLICATIONS WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED BY A THIRD PARTY
Job ad reference: PCH203633 Closing Date: Thursday, 18 February 2016 Role title: Social Worker – Senior Classification: HP4
Status: Permanent Full Time Salary Range: $99 205 - $106 750 per
annum Unit/Department: Palliative Care Unit
Allied Health
The Prince Charles Hospital Hospital and Health
Service:
Metro North Hospital and Health Service
Contact name: Lisa Woolcock
Location*: Chermside Contact number: (07) 3139 5098
Online applications: www.smartjobs.qld.gov.au
* Please note: there may be a requirement to work at other facilities located across Metro North Hospital & Health Service About Metro North Hospital and Health Service
Metro North Hospital and Health Service (MNHHS) is an independent statutory body overseen by a Hospital and Health Board. It is the largest of 16 Hospital and Health Services in the Queensland Public Health system. It covers an area of 4157 square kilometres and serves a population approaching 900,000 people. MNHHS is unique in its composition in that two of its five hospitals are tertiary facilities that provide statewide super specialty services such as Heart and Lung Transplantation, Burns, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). Metro North HHS has a range of subacute, post acute, community based health services to support patient discharge and hospital avoidance as well as a number of residential facilities, Oral Health Services and a fully integrated Mental Health Service including both community and hospital based care.
Our Vision
MNHHS exemplifies compassionate, innovative and high quality health care, providing one hospital and health service for many.
Our Values
Respect
Teamwork
Compassion
Shared Responsibility
Our values support those of the Queensland Public Service of Customers first, Ideas into action, Unleash potential, Be courageous, and Empower people.
Please visit our website for additional information about MNHHS. http://www.health.qld.gov.au/metronorth/
About the Role
Context
The position reports to the Director of Social Work at the Prince Charles Hospital.
The Department of Social Work within the Prince Charles Hospital Health Service District provides comprehensive Social Work services as an integral part of its health care delivery system.
Purpose
The purpose of this role is to provide high level Social Work clinical services to the Palliative Care patient group to optimise psychosocial outcomes and to achieve maximum healthcare benefits for patients and families. The position is also required to be part of the on-call Social Work roster.
Key Accountabilities Clinical Practice:
1. Deliver high level Social Work clinical services in accordance with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) Code of Ethics and AASW professional practice standards to optimise the psychosocial outcomes, and to achieve maximum benefits from health care services to patients and their families/carers within the Palliative Care Service. This includes:
o Assessing the complex psychosocial needs of patients, families and caregivers to identify clinical risk appropriate to the patient group.
o Providing diverse and multiple clinical interventions commensurate with identified risk to maximise patient health and psychosocial outcomes.
o Applying high level advocacy in the healthcare system to address client need and ensure equity in access to services.
2. Undertake high level Social Work duties within the Palliative Care service with infrequent need for direct clinical practice supervision.
3. Integrate evidence based practice to design, implement and evaluate interventions and apply independent professional judgement and high level problem solving skills to a complex caseload to achieve positive outcomes which meet both individual client goals and organisational goals.
4. Identify and apply policy knowledge to support continuous improvement of service delivery within the Palliative Care service and contribute to the development of clinical practices, procedures and protocols that support the continuum of care, with minimal supervision.
Communication / Team Participation
5. Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team/s by effectively providing Social Work leadership to achieve optimal health outcomes for patients, families and caregivers.
6. Provide a high level of clinical education and advice to Social Workers and other clinicians caring for Palliative patients within the hospital and community organisations.
7. Collaborate in cross cultural liaison and consultation frameworks with government and non-government service providers (including Palliative Care Queensland, Hospice Care services) to sustain and improve health
outcomes for Palliative Care patients in the community.
Leadership / Work Unit Management
8. Contribute to the strategic direction of the Palliative Care unit through the participation in Palliative Care clinical management team meetings and planning activities.
9. Monitor and report on clinical practices and outcomes and collaboratively participate in initiating, planning and implementing quality and service improvement activities which contribute to practice standards of Social Work and enhance the delivery of clinical Social Work and multidisciplinary services within the Palliative Care service.
10. Actively maintain professional development and provide clinical advice to Social Work students and less experienced Social Work practitioners to ensure the maintenance of professional clinical standards within the Social Work department and Palliative Care service.
Safety and Quality
Relevant to the position, participate in the ongoing education, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of safety and quality initiatives relevant to The National Safety and Quality Health Services Standards and the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS) Evaluation and Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP).
Mandatory qualifications/Professional registration/Other requirements
A tertiary degree (or equivalent) qualification in Social work as recognised by the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
Appointment to this position requires proof of qualification and eligibility for Membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) as a Social Worker.
Overseas qualified Social Work candidates require a “certificate of eligibility” letter from the AASW to confirm their eligibility for membership of AASW. Overseas qualified applicants should include such evidence with their application to be considered for shortlisting in the selection process.
This position requires the incumbent to operate a “C” Class motor vehicle, and an appropriate Queensland licence endorsement to operate this type of vehicle is a mandatory requirement. Proof of this endorsement must be provided before commencement of duty.
How you will be assessed
You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate the following key capabilities, knowledge and experience.
Within the context of the responsibilities described above under Key Accountabilities, the ideal applicant will be someone who can demonstrate the following:
Demonstrated high level knowledge, expertise and skill in clinical Social Work practice, theoretical perspectives, social systems, legislation and policies relevant to healthcare obtained through relevant tertiary education.
Demonstrated ability to effectively participate in Social Work and multidisciplinary teams under the clinical practice supervision of more senior practitioners and to communicate, negotiate and advocate across teams, the organisation and external agencies.
Demonstrated ability to provide clinical leadership and clinical supervision to junior staff and students.
Demonstrated ability to initiate, plan and evaluate service improvement initiatives.
How to apply
Please provide the following information to the panel to assess your suitability:
1. A short statement (maximum 2 pages) on how your experience, abilities, knowledge and personal qualities would enable you to achieve the key accountabilities and meet the key skills requirements.
2. Your current CV or resume, including referees. You must seek approval prior to nominating a person as a referee. Referees should have a thorough knowledge of your work performance and conduct, and it is preferable to include your current/immediate past supervisor. By providing the names and contact details of your referee/s you consent for these people to be contacted by the selection panel. If you do not wish for a referee to be contacted, please indicate this on your CV or resume.
3. Submit your application online via www.smartjobs.qld.gov.au by the closing date.
4. Please note that hand delivered applications will not be accepted.
Additional Information
Applications will remain current for 12 months or for the duration of the vacancy.
Future vacancies of a temporary, full time and part time nature may also be filled through this recruitment process.
Health Care Workers in Queensland Health whose occupation poses a potential risk of exposure to blood or body fluids must be immunised against Hepatitis B according to the National Health and Medical Research Council Australian Immunisation Handbook and the Queensland Health Infection Control Guidelines.
Pre-employment screening, including criminal history and discipline history checks, may be undertaken on persons recommended for employment. Roles providing health, counselling and support services mainly to children will require a Blue Card, unless otherwise exempt.
Applicants may be required to disclose any pre-existing illness or injury which may impact on their ability to perform the role. Details are available in section 571 of the Workers’ Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003. (http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/fair-and-safe-work/workers-compensation-and-rehabilitation/)
Applicants will be required to give a statement of their employment as a lobbyist within one (1) month of taking up the appointment. Details are available at
http://www.psc.qld.gov.au/publications/assets/policies/lobbyist-disclosure-policy.pdf
Employees who are permanently appointed to Queensland Health may be required to undertake a period of probation appropriate to the appointment. For further information, refer to Probation HR Policy B2
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/qhpolicy/docs/pol/qh-pol-197.pdf.
All relevant health professionals, who in the course of their duties formulate a reasonable suspicion that a child or youth has been abused or neglected in their home/community environment, have a legislative and a duty of care obligation to immediately report such concerns to Child Safety Services, Department of Communities.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
HP6 Director, Social Work
(1 FTE)
HP5 Internal Medicine Social Work Lead (1FTE)
(1 FTE)
HP5
Cancer Care ,Critical Care, Surgical Services and Palliative Care
Social Work Lead (1 FTE)
HP5 Heart/ Lung Social Work Lead (1FTE)
HP4 (5.6 FTE)
HP4 (6.0 FTE)
HP4 (4.0 FTE)
HP3 (2 FTE)
HP3 (3 FTE)
HP3 (2.0 FTE) HP4
Clinical Educator (1 FTE)
HP 4 Child Liaison Officer
(1FTE)
A03 (0.5FTE)
