390 Victoria Street
Darlinghurst NSW 2010
Telephone02 8382 1111
Facsimile02 9332 4142

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST, ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY MANAGEMENT

ALCOHOL AND DRUG SERVICE

ST VINCENT’S HOSPITAL SYDNEY

POSITION DESCRIPTION

POSITION TITLE: / Occupational Therapist – Assertive Community Management (ACM)
DEPARTMENT: / Rankin Court Treatment Centre, Alcohol and Drug Service
AGREEMENT: / In accordance with the named NSW (Non Declared) Affiliated Health Organisations Professional and Associated Staff Agreement
CLASSIFICATION: / Level 1/2
CAPABILITY LEVEL: / Level 2
REPORTS TO: / Team Leader, ACM → Nurse Unit Manager, Rankin Court Treatment Centre (through to) Service Manager, Alcohol and Drug Service
Professionally to the Head of Department, Occupational Therapy
STATUS: / Permanent Full Time
HOURS: / 38 hours per week
DIRECT REPORTS: / Nil
KEY RELATIONSHIPS (INTERNAL): /
  • Alcohol and Drug Service management
  • Team Leader, ACM
  • Inner City Health Service providers
  • Director, Allied Health
  • Manager, Occupational Therapy
  • St. Vincent’s Health Network

KEY RELATIONSHIPS (EXTERNAL): /
  • Other members of the ACM team, including clinicians at South Eastern Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD) and Sydney Local Health District (SLHD)
  • Primary care providers
  • Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)

KEY RESPONSIBILTY: /
  • The provision of high quality evidence-based interventions for individuals who use alcohol and other substances.
  • To target individuals who have severe substance dependence and highly complex needs, but who do not meet the eligibility criteria for admission into the Involuntary Drug and Alcohol Treatment (IDAT) program.
  • Focus on the longer term needs of the complex individual who is negatively impacted by alcohol or other substance use.
  • Work towards meaningful engagement of individuals, supporting living skills development and building (health and wellbeing) protective factors.
  • An assertive approach will be utilised that will actively tailor and facilitate access to the range of supports and individual may need for longer term wellbeing.

LOCATION: / Sydney (Darlinghurst) or as determined by the Employer, and other facilities participating in the ACM as needed.
POSITION PURPOSE
The Occupational Therapist will work as part of the St. Vincent’s Hospital Sydney SVHS Alcohol and Drug Service (ADS) and form part of a wider ACM program. The ACM program operates across South East Sydney Local Health District (SESLHD), Sydney Local Health District (SLHD) and SVHSas a broader community program. This position will be managed solely through SVHS but it will require working together with Clinician’s from SESLHD, SLHD and SVHS to provide coordinated clinical care to the individuals engaged with the ACM program.
The Occupational Therapist will work with other clinicians to target those individuals who experience multiple and complex needs orientated towards either stabilisation and reintegration, or the disability management to treat a severe cognitive impairment. This role will ensure high level service to targeted individuals using an assertive approach.
The Occupational Therapist will support individuals to manage basic aspects of daily life to increase each individual’s independence, including:
  • completing home assessments,
  • running activities which develop the individual’s skillset to live independently,
  • developing coping strategies for those with mental illness, and
  • engaging with family to support the client.
The Occupational Therapist will work with other clinicians toward the goal of reducing preventable hospital presentations for substance use issues, improving access to longer-term treatment and support for clients, improving general health, nutrition and social functioning, and reducing the risk of relapse through the establishment of prevention strategies.
ST VINCENT’S HEALTH AUSTRALIA: IDENTITY
Our organisational values are relevant to all positions. All employees are required to consistently demonstrate behaviours that support the Mission, Vision and Values of St Vincent’s Health Australia and promote an ethical environment in accordance with the St Vincent’s Health Australia Code of Conduct.
OUR MISSION
As a Catholic health and aged care service provider, our mission is to bring God’s love to those in need through the healing ministry of Jesus. We are especially committed to people who are poor and vulnerable.
We draw on the talents of our people and collaborate with others who share our vision and values to continue the pioneering spirit of Mary Aikenhead and the Sisters of Charity. We are committed to providing compassionate and innovative care, enabling hope for those we serve.
OUR VISION
To lead transformation in health care inspired by the healing ministry of Jesus.
OUR VALUES
Our values, based on the Gospels, reflect the healing ministry of Jesus, and act as a point of reference for our decision making which is fundamental to our catholic identity. Our values provide direction as to the type of organisation we aspire to be and the kind of behaviours we regard as appropriate to help achieve our aspirations. Our values underpin all that we do and are demonstrated through our everyday actions, giving our mission and vision life.
Compassion: Caring for others with an openness that affirms life and healing
Justice: Acting with courage and fairness in pursuit of what is right and just
Integrity: Ensuring our actions and decisions are grounded in our values, reflecting both honesty and authenticity
Excellence: Demonstrating a passionate commitment to continuous improvement and innovation
OUR CARE
Our Care is:
  • Provided in an environment underpinned by our mission and values
  • Holistic and centred on the needs of each patient and resident
  • High quality, safe, and continuously improved to ensure best practice
  • Innovative and informed by current research using contemporary techniques and technology
  • Delivered by a team of dedicated, appropriately qualified people who are supported in a continuing development of their skills and knowledge
  • Committed to a respect for life in accordance with the Gospels

MISSION AND CATHOLIC IDENTITY
  • Promote the mission, vision and values of St Vincent’s Health Australia, the St Vincent’s Health Australia Code of Conduct, and ensure these principles are effectively integrated in all areas of responsibility
  • Actively contribute to the development of a positive organisational culture, aligned to the mission and values of St Vincent’s Health Australia.
  • Participate in in formation programs to ensure a clear understanding of the ministry and how the changing needs and environment of the Healthcare sector may impact on the delivery of the St Vincent’s Health Australia Mission.

POSITION DUTIES
  • Provide comprehensive consultative occupational therapy services including detailed assessment and identifying individuals’ occupational participation strengths and needs using standardised and non-standardised assessments, and interviewing techniques to individuals and their family affected with alcohol and substance use.
  • Provide consultation on occupational therapy issues to the multidisciplinary team
  • Participate in case reviews, team meetings, advanced clinical problem solving and decision making, and discharge planning/transfer of care meetings for allocated caseload.
  • Liaise and maintain network links with government and non-government organisations so as to promote consumer access to, and utilisation of, existing community resources.
  • Assisting the client with managing basic aspects of daily life and increasing their independence.
  • Liaising with other agencies and facilitating coordination with relevant bodies to ensure the highest quality service is given to all clients.
  • Participating in specialist clinical reviews and multidisciplinary case conferences, using clinical problem solving and decision making skills.
  • Participating in home visits to clients, including assessing for appropriate equipment and minor modifications that may be needed, and educating about cognitive strategies.
  • Fulfilling the client advocacy role by ensuring clients and significant others are informed and understand the plan of care.
  • Ensuring that an individual’s eligibility for admission to the program is assessed appropriately by clinicians, and that once admitted the client is provided with or given access to, all ACM funded services.
  • Ensuring that the occupational therapy service delivery adheres to current ADS policies and best practice standards.
  • Be responsible for assertively managing several ACM program clients at any one time, including case management and care coordination.
  • Managing clients through the program, including but not limited to booking appointments, and supporting clients to attend scheduled appointments.
  • Assessing the appropriate services required for the client (such as housing).
  • Connecting clients with appropriate services.
  • Assisting clients with administrative requirements, such as filling out forms that are relevant to therapy/social requirements, e.g. housing, Centrelink, NDIS.
  • Contributing to the Guardianship process as needed.
  • Maintains own professional development, skills and awareness of interventions and treatment options.
  • Liaising with relevant external organisations and agencies to facilitate provision of the occupational therapy service in area of practice.
  • Ensuring accurate recording of interventions in patient medical records.
  • Recording accurate statistics as required by the SVHS and the Ministry of Health.
  • Collecting routine outcome measures as requested by the service.
  • Supervision of students as needed.

COMPLIANCE
  • Ensure compliance across all relevant standards of accreditation and legislative requirements within areas of responsibility or as delegated by the CEO, St Vincent’s Health Network Sydney.
  • Ensure facilities operate at all times in compliance with the Catholic Health Australia Code of Ethical Standards for Catholic Health and Aged Care Services in Australia and relevant legislation.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant legislation, standards and industrial instruments.
  • Operate within the delegated responsibilities and authorities as set by St Vincent’s Health Australia
  • Ensure relevant personal qualification, registrations and memberships are maintained at the required level.
  • Ensure that employees are compliant with mandatory training requirements.
  • Current immunity status that complies with the Assessment, Screening& Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases - Policy Directive Immunisation history complies with NSW Health Policy Directive PD2011_005

INCUMBENT CAPABILITY REQUIREMENTS
The incumbent shall possess and demonstrate the following core capabilities:
CAPABILITY / DEMONSTRATED BEHAVIOUR
PERSONAL / Personal Effectiveness / Manages Own Performance – Operates within policies and regulations in line with the mission and values
Learning Agility / Continuous Learning – Is open to learning new skills and ideas and applies these in the workplace
OUTCOMES / Patient/ Resident Centred / Patient Conscious – Responds to patients as individuals while delivering care according to prescribed guidelines
Innovation and Improvement / Responds To Problems – Solves immediate problems on own tasks and is open to change
STRATEGY / Driving Results / Achieves Goals – Completes allocated tasks to prescribed standards and timeframes
Organisational Acumen / Understands Work Area – Understands role of own department and related departments
PEOPLE / Working With and Managing Others / Monitors Self – Modifies own behaviour and work style to be most effective
Collaboration / Team player – Cooperates with team members to deliver team goals
SELECTION CRITERIA
  • Personal integrity and demonstrated commitment to the Philosophy, Mission and Values of Mary Aikenhead Ministries and St Vincent’s Health Australia.
  • Recognised Degree/Diploma in Occupational Therapy and Current Australian Occupational Therapy registration (AHPRA).
  • Demonstrated knowledge and post graduate clinical experience equivalent to level 2, in the assessment of client function, formulation of treatment goals, and implementation of treatment strategies and evaluation of outcomes in a drug and alcohol and/or mental health context.
  • Demonstrated ability to work autonomously and with minimal direct supervision, and in a multi-disciplinary team environment.
  • Demonstrated effective time management skills and ability to prioritise competing workloads within a complex environment
  • Understanding of harm reduction and strength based approaches in working with people affected with substance use and experience in facilitation of therapeutic groups.
  • Current and unrestricted NSW Drivers Licence.
  • Demonstrated effective communication and interpersonal skills and computer literacy in MS applications, email and an electronic medical record such as CHIME.

EMPLOYEE DECLARATION
I have read this position description, I understand the position requirements and position demands checklist and agree that I can fulfil these requirements to the standards outlined. I am not aware of any reason, which might interfere with my ability to perform the inherent position requirements and position demands of this position
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