Senior Medical Officer (Mental Health)

Purpose of Position

To undertake the following duties as directed by the Network Clinical Director Mental Health:

Clinical Duties:

Provide assessment and management of mental health patients in the Inpatient Unit and at the community mental health locations that the Unit serves.  Participate in the on-call psychiatrist roster for the Mental Health Network, to provide: Consultation service (telephone) for medical practitioners of the Mental Health Network hospitals, and local GP’s if so required Assessment of Network Base Hospital Emergency patients. Note that this varies from site to site Provide clinical leadership and supervision to the multidisciplinary teams of the Mental Health Service  Participate in Privately Referred Non-Inpatient Initiative (PRNI) service provision (as required).

Academic Duties:

Research. Participation in ethically approved collaborative research projects is encouraged. Teaching and supervision of: Medical students; Residents Medical Officers (in accordance with PMC requirements); Psychiatric trainees (in accordance with MTEC and RANZCP requirements); GP Procedural Trainees in Mental Health (in accordance with North Coast GP Training requirements)

Medical Administrative Duties:

Participate in selection/credentials committees for the appointment of medical practitioners (as required).  Assist the Clinical Director in various appropriate administrative duties (eg medical staff rosters, deputising with respect to Mental Health Act requirements etc)

Clinical Governance and Quality Activities:

Assist the Clinical Director in the provision of clinical leadership and support to the multi-disciplinary clinical teams of the Network Mental Health Service.  Participate in clinical audit, Sentinel Event Reviews and Root Cause Analyses (as required).  Reporting of clinical adverse events (on occurrence).  Participate in Quality Improvement Projects (as required).  Notification of incidents, quality assurance, quality improvement and risk management in accordance with the standard contract of liability coverage.

An exciting opportunity has arisen within the Richmond Clarence Mental Health Network whereby we seek up to 2.5 FTE equivalent staff specialist psychiatrists (part-time to 0.7 FTE will be considered). The roles vary across a range of services including acute adult inpatient, acute community assessment, adult continuing community care and older person’s mental health. The service is moving through significant dynamic changes and improvement, with a strong focus on Trauma Informed Care and Recovery.  The service is part of the South Eastern Sydney RANZCP training network and is continuing to expand our training positions with the recent addition of a Child and Adolescent Advanced Trainee. There are excellent opportunities to expand your academic interests with strong ties with the Northern Rivers University of Rural Health and all service development ideas are enthusiastically welcomed. With an enviable climate, and rich local culture, together with the generous benefits afforded through the NSW Staff Specialist Award, there has never been a better time to make the move to the Northern Rivers.

Northern NSW Local Health District is committed to reconciliation and strongly encourages Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people to apply for this position, All applications from Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people will be viewed most favourably.  For help with your application to this role visit Stepping Up, our online recruitment resource for Aboriginal people.

Please note, to apply for this position you must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, or be able to independently, legally live and work in Australia.  For more information please see www.immi.gov.au

For more information on living and working in our beautiful region, visit Living on the North Coast

Selection Criteria

Registered or registrable with the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency as a Psychiatrist. Fellowship of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and/or other specialist recognition as provided for under the Health Insurance Act 1973 and/or other specialist recognition as provided for in the Staff Specialist (State) Award. Evidence of participation in CPD. Recency of practice in ECT with recency of training in ECT practice. Experience in clinical governance/quality activities. Approved as supervisor by RANZCP, or willingness to participate in training to be approved. Sophisticated knowledge of the NSW Mental Health Act. Ability to work in specialty areas of Older Persons Psychiatry and/or Consultation Liaison Psychiatry or willingness to develop skills towards same.