Mercy Mental Health

MERCY MENTAL HEALTH

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Position title: / Associate Charge Nurse
Grade 3 / Employee name:
Entity/Group:
Business Unit/Department: / Mercy Mental Health Program
Werribee Community Care Units
131-135 Synnot St
Werribee. 3030
Tel: 9974 8111 / Hours of Employment / hours per fortnight 76
Position reports to: / CCU Manager / Date PD Updated: / September 2010
Position Purpose: / ·  To compliment and support the strategic direction and management of the CCU and to work with the Unit Manager and designated Team Psychiatrist in so doing.
·  To effectively respond to and manage the day to day operation of the CCU particularly in the absence of the Unit Manger.
·  To keep abreast of clinical trends and developments in clinical care and to promote excellence in clinical practice through client and carer centred care.
·  To provide leadership and support to the multidisciplinary treating team.
Qualifications: / ·  Registration as a Psychiatric Nurse with the Nurses Board of Victoria in Division 3 or Division 1 with approved post graduate qualifications in Psychiatric Nursing.
·  A current Victorian driver’s licence.
Resource management: / Total staff management (FTE):
Annual Operating Expenditure:
Annual Capital Expenditure:
Personal Competencies required /

Job Competencies Required

¨  Demonstrated commitment to ongoing professional development and keeping abreast with changes and developments in the provision of clinical care to adults with a severe mental illness. / ¨  Understanding of models of rehabilitation and recovery and their application to psychosocial rehabilitation of adults with a severe mental illness.
¨  Ability to accept direction and to work autonomously. / ¨  Ability to evaluate and respond to client needs through conducting relevant assessments and interventions in a professional manner.
¨  Good organisational and time management skills. / ¨  Ability to work as a mental health clinician within legislative frameworks - the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation pertaining to the provision of care to clients.
¨  Effective communication and interpersonal skills. / ¨  Demonstrated management and organisational skills within a multidisciplinary team.
¨  Consumer focused approach to service delivery and a commitment to the delivery of services that are sensitive and responsive to clients’ cultures, gender and family issues / ¨  Ability to actively collaborate and work with all members of a multi disciplinary team thereby utilising a team approach to clinical practice.
¨  Demonstrated commitment to the mission and values of the organization. / ¨  Adhere to the philosophy, policies, procedures and protocols of Mercy Health and Mercy Mental Health.
¨  Ability to be flexible, adaptable and able to contribute to the change process. / ¨  Computer literacy is essential - ability to use email, word processing and data storage applications as necessary.
¨  / ¨  Facilitate the professional development of other staff including the delivery of clinical supervision.
Key Result Areas / Key Activities / Standard Measures /
Demonstrates and upholds the Values and Mission of Mercy Health. / ·  Ensures the values of Mercy Health are incorporated into daily work practices.
·  Acts as a role model for other staff. / ·  Consistently shows compassion and provides support to staff and clients
·  Consistently friendly and hospitable to all.
·  Consistently shows respect and values each person’s dignity.
·  Communicates openly and honestly as an effective team member.
·  Seeks opportunities to be innovative for improvement.
Ensures Nursing Leadership within the Community Care Units. / ·  Assist the Unit Manager and designated Team Psychiatrist in facilitating the implementation of operational strategies in line with the strategic directions of Mercy Health and Mercy Mental Health as a whole.
·  Ensure staff working in the CCU are behaving and practicing effectively and efficiently.
·  Contributes to the ongoing service accreditation process. / ·  Program treatment and continuity is maintained.
·  Case management is provided to all CCU residents.
·  Clinical care provided adheres to all legal requirements and to the philosophy, policies, procedures and protocols of Mercy Health and Mercy Mental Health.
·  Evidenced in clinical handovers, team meetings and clinical reviews and in all other required documentation.
Ensures a client and carer focus for the provision of care to people with a mental illness. / ·  Undertake generic & nursing assessments.
·  Coordinate various treatment components with other professional staff
·  Collaborate with clients and carers in the development of all treatment plans.
·  Act as a role model in the provision of services that are client and carer focussed.
·  Monitor service standards and participates in review of work practices as required.
·  Has knowledge of MHAC “Complaints Policy” and incident reporting.
·  Provide group and individual therapy to clients. / ·  Evidence of collaboration in client documentation.
·  Reflected in clinical handover, review and multidisciplinary team meetings.
·  Reflected in treatment & recovery plans/ ISP
·  Client rights under the Mental Health Act are documented and maintained.
·  Knowledge of relevant Mental Health program protocols.
·  Decisions made at clinical meetings are actioned and documented.
·  Contribution to review of work practices.
·  Minimal client / carer complaints
·  Evidenced by group program records and clinical documentation.
Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of mental health, mental illness , mental health services and rehabilitation and recovery principles. / ·  Describe and recognise the signs and symptoms of mental disorders
·  Demonstrate an understanding of the natural history of mental disorders and the value of early intervention/relapse prevention
·  Describe the effects of serious mental health disorders and cognitive changes/disorders on human behaviour
·  Describe the effects of mental health disorders / substance abuse on the family and others
·  Demonstrate a knowledge of current psychiatric diagnosis and classification systems
·  Demonstrate a knowledge of current treatment modalities in mental health care
·  Demonstrate a knowledge of current models of rehabilitation and recovery. / ·  Participation and contribution to mental health activities including clinical handover, clinical review.
·  Documentation in client file reflects current knowledge and understanding.
·  Able to complete all clinical assessments as required.
·  Documentation in client files provides an accurate and objective account of client’s mental state, issues, assessments and treatment.
·  Evidence-based practices implemented to improve patient care.
·  Utilises specialist and other mental health services appropriately
·  Applies principles of recovery and rehabilitation to the psychosocial rehabilitation of adults with a severe mental illness.
Ensure that effective lines of communication are maintained both internally and with external agencies. / ·  Promotes a proactive approach to communication
·  Establishes effective and appropriate patterns of communication with clients, carers, colleagues, management and external agencies.
·  Attends both internal and external meetings as necessary.
·  Provides support to staff and others as required. / ·  Keeps staff well informed and working harmoniously.
·  Demonstrates supportive behaviour for colleagues.
·  Staff behave in accordance with organisational values.
·  Interpersonal conflict is minimised and if unavoidable is resolved in an appropriate manner.
·  Accurate documentation is initiated and maintained.
Professional practice complies with ethical and legal frameworks. / ·  Adheres to all relevant professional ethical guidelines, standards of practice, legal requirements and registration acts.
·  Demonstrates knowledge of Section 120 (a) of the Mental Health Act. / ·  Demonstrates thorough knowledge and application of the provisions of the Mental Health Act of Victoria and other relevant legislative regulations.
·  Up to date with and comply with Mercy Health policies and the Mercy Mental Health protocols.
·  Client rights to safety, privacy, confidentiality and autonomy are documented and maintained.
·  All communication (verbal, written and electronic) regarding patient information meets requirements of Section 120 A of the Mental Health Act.
·  Recognises and support the rights of clients and their families as evidenced in documentation
·  Completes required documentation in a thorough and timely manner.
Works within a multidisciplinary team framework / ·  Ensures a comprehensive assessment of client at CCU.
·  Assists and advises other disciplines.
·  Ensures that consumers have access to a variety of to a variety of evidence based interventions that promote rehabilitation and recovery.
·  Utilises resources to provide holistic care for clients.
·  Utilise research and evaluation to identify areas for improvement in service delivery
·  Contribute knowledge and perspective to the Multi – disciplinary team.
·  Recognise and respect the knowledge and skills of other professions and apply the principles of teamwork.
·  Provides case management to allocated clients. / ·  Identification of client strengths, needs and goals is obtained through involvement of the multi-disciplinary team to assist, recommend and advise.
·  Maintain own ability to provide relevant discipline-specific interventions
·  Utilise Clinical Review and Team meetings to aid in evaluating care and treatment.
·  Provide support to other team members and their clients.
·  Individual Service Plans
·  Treatment Plans
·  Outcome Measures
·  Clinical presentations and minimum 3/12 reviews.
·  Relapse Management Plans
·  Discharge plans and documentation as per protocols.
·  Documentation in client file.
Contributes to the Professional development of other staff. / ·  Facilitate the professional development of other staff including the delivery of clinical supervision.
·  All students receive comprehensive education, preceptorship & supervision whilst on placement at the CCU
·  Ensures all new staff receive comprehensive orientation. / ·  Evidence of Clinical Supervision provision.
·  Evidence of mentoring/ preceptoring of students on rosters and in diary.
·  Completion of evaluations and assessments.
·  Positive feedback from ongoing student’s placement evaluations.
·  Positive feedback from CCU staff.
Professional Development / ·  Participate in professional development activities to develop and keep keeping abreast with changes and developments in the provision of clinical care to adults with a severe mental illness.
·  Reflect in daily clinical practice, the learnings gained through professional development activities.
·  Participate in clinical and managerial supervision. / ·  Documented evidence of attendance and participation in MMH and external professional development training programs. Identify own role in mental health team.
·  Recognises limitations in knowledge and expertise and seeks expert advice/ supervision, as appropriate.
·  Maintains attendance records for clinical/ managerial supervision.
·  Maintains confidentiality in relation to client, staff & environmental issues.
·  Accepts feedback from colleagues, supervisors and consumers regarding clinical and ethical practice and changes practice as appropriate.
·  Maintains required annual competencies
·  Utilises research and evaluation to identify areas for improvement in service delivery.
Takes reasonable care to protect the health and safety of themselves, fellow staff and others in the workplace. / ·  Complete incident reports
·  Elect and support health and safety representatives
·  Contribute to risk assessments
·  Participate in training and meetings regarding safety
·  Annual vaccinations / ·  Reports hazards, near misses and injuries immediately
·  Uses personal protective equipment
·  Comply with risk management policies and procedures and instruction
·  Attend all safety meetings and training sessions
Employee’s Signature: / Date:
Print Name:
Line Manager Signature: / Date:
Print Name:

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