POSITION DESCRIPTION

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1 POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION TITLE REPORTS TO AWARD/AGREEMENT/CONTRACT POSITION TYPE e.g. Registered Nurse Div 1, HOURS PER WEEK CATT/Triage Clinician Acute & Crisis Service Manager Professional supervision nominated RPN4 Registration with the Victorian Nurses Board in Division 1 or 3 and hold a current practising certificate. Post-graduate qualifications in nursing or related health field, or working towards this is desirable. A current Victorian drivers license is essential Registered Psychiatric Nurse Grade 3 40 with ADO 1. ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXT Austin Health is one of Victoria s largest health care providers. Comprised of Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre, Austin Health is a major teaching and research centre with numerous university and research institute affiliations. Catering to diverse multicultural and veteran communities, Austin Health delivers vital state-wide services to Victorians and a vast array of specialty services to the people of Melbourne s northeastern corridor in a safety-focussed, team-orientated and stimulating work environment. The new 400 bed Austin Hospital Tower opened mid 2005 and further redevelopment is underway. Austin Health Values The Austin Health values play a critical role in shaping how we operate as an organisation. They influence our performance planning, recruitment, training and development, and relationships with colleagues, work mates, our patients and their relatives and friends. The Austin Health values set standard that we expect all staff to live up to in the way they undertake their duties and responsibilities across the Hospital. Our Values: Integrity We work in the spirit of collaboration and honesty to build effective working relationships across the whole organisation. Accountability We are transparent, responsible and build trust by fulfilling promises and communicating effectively. Respect We care about others and treat each other with consideration, equality and fairness. Excellence We continually strive to advance patient focused care through innovation, research and effective stakeholder management.

2 2. LOCAL WORK ENVIRONMENT (Role of the department including any special features of the workplace and relationships) Austin Health s Mental Health Clinical Service Unit (MH CSU) provides a comprehensive range of integrated inpatient and community based services and aims to provide an optimal level of care to meet the needs of mental health consumers in our local communities. North East Area Mental Health Service (NEAMHS) Child & Adolescent Mental Health Service Adult Specialist Services Veteran Services Department of Clinical and Health Psychology Psychiatry Training/Education Programs Research NEAMHS is comprised of the following services: North East Mental Health Triage Service (NEMHTS) The North East Mental Health Triage service provides a telephone based, first point of contact for mental health assistance. The NEMHTS provides telephone and face to face triage assessment from 8:30am to 19:00pm. A primary function of mental health triage is to ascertain and prioritize service response based upon: Need Risk Urgency Current treatment plans for identified consumers (if any) Following from the above, the Triage clinician will make a referral to the appropriate internal service i.e. NECATS, NECCS, PHMH, YEPS or to external service provider as indicated. Mental Health Triage also undertakes face-to-face assessment for consumers who present to the North East Community Mental Health Service seeking assistance and facilitating an appropriate service response. North East Crisis Assessment & Treatment Service (NECATS) The CATT/Triage Service is an integrated service located at Austin Health. It consists of an outreach community based team, psychiatric triage and works in conjunction with the Emergency Department and the Mental Health Service/CSU more broadly. The NECATS provides a mobile, responsive and accessible assessment service and intensive community based treatment to consumers experiencing a serious psychiatric illness in acute crisis as an alternative to hospitalisation. NECATS is a 24 hour 7 days a week service. A 24-hour enhanced crisis assessment and treatment service also operates within the Emergency Department of Austin Health. North East Mobile Support & Treatment Service (NEMSTS) The NEMSTS is a mobile outreach service for consumers living in the municipalities of Nillumbik and Banyule. The target client group have a long-standing and persistent psychiatric illness whose needs cannot be met by traditional community mental health centres or other community based rehabilitation services. The service provides an assertive service to consumers with significant mental illness and psychosocial disabilities. Assertive and intensive case management by the team aims to assist the consumer to live and function at their optimum level in the community. Consumers are involved in a number of treatment programs which aim to encourage acceptance of their illness and enhancement of living and social skills. The service operates between 8.00am.and 9.30pm.Monday to Friday and 8.30am.to 5.00pm on weekends and public holidays. North East Continuing Care Service (NECCS)

3 The NECCS provides assessment, treatment and care to consumers in their local community through the provision of direct care services, case management, health promotion activities and community development. The service operates during business hours. North East Primary Mental Health Team (NEPMHT) The NEPMHT is a multi disciplinary team of mental health clinicians. It represents a partnership between Austin Health and other health and mental health agencies in Banyule and Nillumbik. The team provides support to Primary Care Providers (e.g. GP s, Community Health Centre staff) located in Banyule and Nillumbik and can offer mental health assessments, consultation and liaison as well as individual and group interventions to the clients of these service providers. North East Youth Early Psychosis Service (NEYEPS) YEPS is a new service that will provide case management to young people aged years and will offer support to their families and carers. The service will offer both assertive outreach and evidenced based, individual and group treatment programmes. There will be the capacity to offer some out of hours clinical support. North East Acute Psychiatry Unit (NEAPU) The Acute Psychiatric Unit is a 30-Bed Unit comprising 3 distinct programs: 1. Acute Adult In-patient Program (19 Beds), which offers in-patient, services to NEAMHS catchment-area residents. 2. Eating Disorders In-patient Program (9 Beds). The program covers the areas of Northern Metro, Eastern metro and Hume regions of Victoria. 3. Parent-Infant In-patient Program (6 Beds) is a unit for mothers with mental health problems with their babies up to 12 months of age. The program covers the areas of Northern Metro, Eastern metro and Hume regions of Victoria. North East Secure Extended Care Unit (NE SECU) Secure Extended Care Unit is a 25-bed facility providing secure inpatient treatment and care for people with severe symptomatology and associated behavioural disturbance who require an extended period of sustained treatment and rehabilitation or treatment and care in a contained environment. Potential SECU clients are typically difficult to engage in treatment with behaviours that, in the absence of a stable, structured environment, can put themselves and the community at risk. Staff may be redeployed within any program component of the Mental Health Clinical Service Unit. 3. POSITION OBJECTIVE (Primary purpose and key performance objective) The Grade 3 Registered Psychiatric Nurse is recognised as an experienced clinician within the CATT/Triage service and as such provides excellence in clinical practice and care of clients. The incumbent will require a comprehensive knowledge of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation, together with well-developed interpersonal skills and a demonstrated ability to consult effectively with clients, carers, family members and other professionals. 4. POSITION REQUIREMENTS (Main duties and other specific requirements, activity and end result/outcome, regularly performed) Position specific Under the guidance of the Acute & Crisis Service Manager, Nurse Practitioner(s), RPN-5, RPN-4 s and in conjunction with other team members provides the highest quality direct mental health clinical care to people presenting to CATS, Triage and ED. Applies sound clinical knowledge and an in-depth understanding of contemporary psychiatric nursing practices to ensure quality clinical outcomes are achieved Screens referrals, in consultation with the RPN 4, Nurse Practitioner(s), or Acute & Crisis Service Manager as necessary in complex cases, people experiencing psychiatric crisis, to determine suitability for intensive community intervention or suitability for inpatient admissions

4 Screens referrals to the CATT/Triage service to determine suitability for service and priority for CAT/Triage Service response Undertake initial mental state & risk assessment of referrals from the community and the Austin Emergency Department and develops acute management plans for patients as and when required Documenting all assessments, referrals and triage type contacts in prescribed forms, formats and systems as per local policies Prioritise issues requiring attention and communicate those priorities appropriately to ensure all requests for services are dealt with in a timely and efficient manner as defined by DHS Mental Health Triage Scale Demonstrated responsiveness to requests/referrals from General Practitioners, Private Psychiatrists, Drug & Alcohol agencies and the Police, consumers and carers. Arrange and utilize interpreter services where required As required, discuss/review referrals and outcomes with medical officer/consultant psychiatrist and use appropriate back up mechanisms such as the line manager and after hours medical support Effective implementation of Early Discharge Management (EDM) strategies including attendance at inpatient clinical reviews and other times as required and provision of optimal communication with inpatient services. Provide supervision to RPN3 nurses and Grade 2 allied health staff, as required. Assist in the local policy development, planning, monitoring and evaluation of NECATS service delivery. Provides advice, support and education to ED staff in relation to mental health assessment and psychiatric nursing care Participates in meetings as required with ED staff to review and evaluate the quality of service delivery. Participate in meetings as required with consumers and carers to review and evaluate the quality of service delivery. Contributes to the development and documentation of policies and procedures for the assessment and treatment of consumers who present to ED. Participates in the development of collaborative links with key external agencies (eg police, drug & alcohol services, community health centres, GPs, private psychiatrists, forensic services). Provide feedback to referring agency/person. If appropriate ensure family/significant others are fully briefed about outcomes Participation in ongoing quality service and evaluation programs Contribute to policies and the development of local quality plans Contribute to the process for ensuring that the Mental Health Quality Plan is undertaken and met Maintain clinical records and reports in client confidential files in accordance with Austin HIS, MHCSU and local policy & guidelines

5 Provide statistical and administrative records as required Generic Abide by Austin Health corporate policies and practices as varied from time to time. Participate in Austin Health performance review program as required. Undertake not to reveal to any person or entity any confidential information relating to patients and employees, policies, processes and dealings and not to make public statements relating to the affairs of Austin Health without prior authority of the Chief Executive Officer. Participate in the emergency incident response activities, as defined within the Emergency Response Manual, as and when required, at the direction of management. 5. KEY SELECTION CRITERIA (Key skills, qualifications, knowledge and behavioural attributes, together with physical requirements, necessary for performance of the role) Registration certificate issued by the recognised professional regulatory body. Registration from the Nurses Board of Victoria in Division 3 or Division 1 with current practising certificate. Relevant post-graduate qualifications or working towards same Two years post registration experience is essential. Well developed skills and knowledge in community nursing, including crisis intervention, telephone consultation, referral, mental state and risk assessment, treatment and care planning. Relevant knowledge and demonstrated skills in crisis intervention for people in psychiatric crisis. Knowledge of community psychiatric nursing principles and practice. Sound knowledge of the Mental Health Act (1986) and other relevant legislation and policies. Ability to work collaboratively with clients experiencing psychiatric illness and disability, their families and carers, as part of a multi-disciplinary team Possess and demonstrates a commitment to high levels of customer service, both internal and external to Austin Mental Health. A valid driver s licence. Essential for Performance of the Position A commitment to Austin Health values: Integrity, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. Applies sound clinical knowledge and an in-depth understanding of contemporary mental health nursing practice to ensure quality clinical outcomes are achieved. Screens referrals to the CATS/Triage service to determine suitability for service and priority for CAT/Triage Service response for people experiencing psychiatric crisis who require an intensive service. Screens referrals, in consultation with the RPN 4(s), Nurse Practitioner(s), or Acute & Crisis Service Manager in complex cases, to determine suitability for inpatient admissions Conducts assessments of clients referred to the CATS/Triage Service and develops acute management plans for patients.

6 Participates in clinical review processes, quality improvement initiatives and statistical data collection. Implements, monitors and reviews acute management plans as part of clinical caseloads. Ensures that the process of transfer and/or discharge of care are undertaken in a timely and effective manner, including written and verbal communication to all relevant parties. Ensures, by effective time management, patient care activities are performed within stated time frames/deadlines for reports and other relevant documentation are met. Eligible to be registered with the relevant professional board i.e. Nurses Board of Victoria, APA, ASW, OT Relevant qualifications appropriate to mental health i.e. psychiatric endorsement with the Nurses Board of Victoria, Clinical Masters of Psychology etc. A commitment to Austin Health values: Integrity, Accountability, Respect and Excellence Desirable but not essential for Performance of the Position 6. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION (Other information to be made known to persons interested in appointment to this position) The person will undertake professional supervision with a designated RPN4 Pre-Existing Injury Prior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose full details of any pre-existing injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in this position. 7. DOCUMENT REVIEW DETAILS Date Position First Documented (if known): / / Date of this Position Description Review: / / Signature of Manager: Date: / / Signature of Employee: Date: / / Austin Health promotes a healthy work environment and is progressively moving toward achievement of an entirely smoke free environment. Smoking is no longer allowed in any Austin Health building or vehicle or on the grounds of Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. Whilst smoking is still allowed in designated outdoor areas at Austin Hospital, this site will become totally smoke free on 1 July 2009.