POSITION DESCRIPTION - Austin Health

POSITION DESCRIPTIONPOSITION TITLE Social Worker Grade 2REPORTS TOAWARD/AGREEMENT/CONTRACTPOSITION TYPE e.g. RegisteredNurse Div 1, OccupationalTherapist Gr1, etc.HOURS PER WEEK 20.4Part Time, Fixed TermSub Acute Ambulatory and Post Acute CareServices Community Therapy ServicesAmbulatory Services Manager RTRCSocial Work Manager RTRCHealth Professional ServicesSocial Worker Grade 2Fixed Term Position: August 2010 – December 20101. ORGANISATIONAL CONTEXTAustin Health is one of Victoria’s largest health care providers.Comprised of Austin Hospital, Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and Royal TalbotRehabilitation Centre, Austin Health is a major teaching and research centre with numerousuniversity and research institute affiliations.Catering to diverse multicultural and veteran communities, Austin Health delivers vital statewideservices to Victorians and a vast array of specialty services to the people of Melbourne’snorth-eastern corridor in a safety-focussed, team-orientated and stimulating work environment.Austin Health ValuesThe Austin Health values play a critical role in shaping how we operate as an organisation.They influence our performance planning, recruitment, training and development, andrelationships with colleagues, work mates, our patients and their relatives and friends. TheAustin Health values set standard that we expect all staff to live up to in the way theyundertake their duties and responsibilities across the Hospital.Our Values:• IntegrityWe work in the spirit of collaboration and honesty to build effective workingrelationships across the whole organisation.• AccountabilityWe are transparent, responsible and build trust by fulfilling promises andcommunicating effectively.• RespectWe care about others and treat each other with consideration, equality and fairness.Revised October 2008

• ExcellenceWe continually strive to advance patient focused care through innovation, researchand effective stakeholder management.2. LOCAL WORK ENVIRONMENTRTRC is a specialist rehabilitation centre of international standard. RTRC provides acomprehensive and coordinated range of services to clients with a wide range of needs.These include programs for people with spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, orthopaedic,amputation, neurological conditions and multi-trauma.Vision Statement: RTRC is a leader in rehabilitation, meeting changing needs through expert,innovative and flexible services, which maximise the potential of service users and staff. Thesix Key Environment Themes of RTRC are:• Enabling and empowering people• Encouraging innovation• Facilitating high levels of professional performance• Attracting and promoting the best use of resources.• Providing flexible and accessible services responsive to client needs• Providing inspiring and committed leadership.Sub Acute Ambulatory Care (SACS) and Post Acute Care (PAC) Services are part of theDepartment of Health Independence Programs (HIP). The programs provide services thatextend the quality rehabilitation and community support services provided by Royal Talbot intothe community and support transition from hospital to home. The programs aim to providerehabilitation or services to patients in their home, community or at Royal Talbot RehabilitationCentre as required.The RTRC Sub Acute Ambulatory Care Services include the Outpatient and Rehabilitation InThe Home (RITH) programs and are known as Community Therapy Services.Outpatients: these people receive rehabilitation at Royal Talbot. 1-5 attendances per weekmay be offered.Rehabilitation In The Home: these people receive a comprehensive rehabilitation package thatin most instances allows them to return home from hospital early. Some people receive someof their therapy at home and some at Royal Talbot. The frequency of home based therapyand centre based attendance is negotiated between the therapist and patient.Post Acute Care: provides individually tailored packages of care for people discharged fromacute and sub-acute wards and from the Emergency Department. The aim of PAC is toprovide services to assist patients recuperate in their own home post discharge and tofacilitate independence or transition to continuing community care. Services include nursing,personal care, allied health, home help and respite.Austin Health currently employs more than 60 Social Workers who are structured into SocialWork Teams which are led by senior Social Work Team Leaders. This position is currentlylinked to the RTRC Rehabilitation Social Work Team. Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre offersa comprehensive range of rehabilitation services to the people of Victoria. The Social Workeris both an integral member of the rehabilitation team and of the broader team of SocialWorkers at RTRC and Austin Health.Social Workers strive to provide quality services which are client/consumer focussed, goaloriented and guided by defined Social Work practice standards and ongoing review andevaluation.Service delivery is pro-active and includes case finding, risk screening, service responsewithin defined timelines and regular service documentation. Timely communication and liaisonRevised October 2008

occurs with clients/consumers and their families, members of the Austin Health staff team andcommunity service providers as relevant to the client/consumer’s needs and consent.3. POSITION OBJECTIVE1. Perform the duties of this position efficiently to the standards of the Austin HealthSocial Work Service and Community Therapy Services (CTS) includingparticipating in the Austin Health performance appraisal program2. Provide comprehensive Social Work services to RTRC CTS clients and theirfamilies3. Actively participate in the ongoing development of Social Work, CTS and RTRCservices, teaching and training and research4. POSITION REQUIREMENTSPosition specific1. ClinicalProvide timely and effective clinical Social Work services, including:• Comprehensive psycho social assessment and service intervention with clientsand families• Crisis support, short term counselling and casework to clients and their families,including education, service linkage and supports to facilitate community living• Sensitive advocacy• Comprehensive case management of designated clients• Co-ordinate and facilitate information and planning meetings for clients andtheir families• Participate in the ongoing development and maintenance of client educationand service information materials• Participate in Social Work team service delivery cover of Social Work staffabsences, including participation in duty cover roster systems, as negotiatedwith the Ambulatory Services Manager2. Administrative• Complete timely and accurate Patient UR documentation and requiredstatistical data entry• Participate in Social Work and CTS team meetings/ working parties/committeesas required• To record daily statistical data on the computerised Allied Health statisticsprogram• Participate in the development of the CTS program policies and procedures3. Quality Improvement, Teaching and Research• Adhere to all Occupational Health and Safety policies and procedures• Initiate and participate in Social Work and CTS quality improvement andresearch activities• Strive towards continuous service improvement by evaluating the outcomes ofservice delivery• Participate in the teaching of Social Work students and students of otherdisciplines3. Occupational Health and SafetyRevised October 2008

• To be aware of Occupational Health and Safety issues including the maintenanceof a safe, clean and tidy work environment, Fire safety awareness, emergencyevacuation procedures, CPR, infection control policies and procedures, safeequipment operation, appropriate clothing and footwear.• To comply with Austin Health guidelines regarding adverse events and reporting ofincidents.• To maintain a safe work environment by reporting any incidents or unsafe workpractices, sites or equipment.• To ensure that a Risk Assessment has been completed prior to entering a client’shome for the first time.4. Professional Development• Receive and participate in regular Social Work supervision and performanceappraisal reviews• Participate in the Social Work, Ambulatory Care professional developmentactivities and ongoing professional education as relevant to the enactment ofthis positionGeneric• Abide by Austin Health corporate policies and practices as varied from time to time.• Participate in Austin Health performance appraisal program as required.• Undertake not to reveal to any person or entity any confidential information relating topatients and employees, policies, processes and dealings and not to make publicstatements relating to the affairs of Austin Health without prior authority of the ChiefExecutive Officer.• Participate in the emergency incident response activities, as defined within the EmergencyResponse Manual, as and when required, at the direction of management.• To perform other duties as required5. KEY SELECTION CRITERIAEssential for Performance of the Position* A commitment to Austin Health values: Integrity, Accountability, Respect andExcellence.• Possession of a degree or diploma in Social Work which allows for eligibility of theAustralian Association of Social Workers (AASW)• Comprehensive knowledge of health, disability and adjustment issues for a diversegroup of rehabilitation clients and their families/significant others• Ability to work flexibly and conjointly with staff from other disciplines as part of a clientfocussed interdisciplinary rehabilitation team working in the community• Ability to successfully promote and implement comprehensive case management withclients• Advanced casework and counselling skills, including conflict and crisis management,education, service linkage• Advanced written and verbal communication skillsRevised October 2008

• Well developed workload and time management skills• Commitment to client centred care• A current Victorian Driver’s Licence• Proficient keyboard and IT skills in MS Word and PowerPointDesirable but not essential for Performance of the Position• Experience in student teaching/supervision• Demonstrated innovative service delivery approaches and achievements• Demonstrated skills in research/project design• Experience in working in a community setting• Knowledge or understanding of the Health Independence Program Guidelines andVINAH reporting requirements.6. OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATIONPre-Existing InjuryPrior to any person being appointed to this position it will be required that they disclose fulldetails of any pre-existing injuries or disease that might be affected by employment in thisposition.This position is subject to a satisfactory police check.7. DOCUMENT REVIEW DETAILSDate Position First Documented (if known):____/____/____Date of this Position Description Review:__31__/__12__/_2009Signature of Manager:Date: ____/____/____Signature of Employee:Date: ____/____/____Austin Health promotes a healthy work environment and is progressively moving towardachievement of an entirely smoke free environment. Smoking is no longer allowed in anyAustin Health building or vehicle or on the grounds of Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital andRoyal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre. Whilst smoking is still allowed in designated outdoor areasat Austin Hospital, this site will become totally smoke free on 1 July 2009.Revised October 2008