Clinical Nurse Consultant - AOD Hospital Liaison
Job No:
14354
Location:
Dandenong, Melbourne, VIC
About the Organisation
Southern Health is Victoria’s largest metropolitan health service located across south eastern Melbourne, uniquely integrating in one organisation primary, secondary and tertiary health services, as well as world-renowned research and teaching facilities.
It serves a core population of over 866 000 people or 21% of the city's population, who depend on the service for all aspects of their public health care needs, with the services drawn upon by a greater population of 1.235 million or 32% of Melbourne. Southern Health also has a wider official specialist referral role for greater Melbourne, regional Victoria and interstate in such specialties as paediatrics, cardiology, transplants and neonatal intensive care with extensive university affiliations.
Over 12,000 staff work at 46 sites across south eastern metropolitan Melbourne, including the major hospital facilities of Monash Medical Centre Clayton and Moorabbin, Dandenong Hospital, Casey Hospital, the Kingston Centre and Cranbourne Integrated Community Care Centre, and extensive community health facilities throughout the region.
South East Alcohol and Drug Services (SEADS) is a service within the Mental Health Program of Southern Health. SEADS is committed to improving the health and quality of life of individuals, families, and communities by providing holistic alcohol and other drug services.
SEADS employs approximately 68 EFT staff and has a budget of $7 million. SEADS provides a wide range of services including Withdrawal (Residential, outpatient and home based), Primary Care including Pharmacotherapy, Outreach, Needle Syringe Program, Hospital Liaison/Addiction Medicine Unit in both Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital, Dual Diagnosis, ABI and a broad range of Community programs including Counselling to both Voluntary and Forensic clients.
SEADS also has a Koori Liaison staff member and programs for Vietnamese and Cambodian clients. An extensive Youth program including supported accommodation is also provided. These services are provided from 4 main sites and several sites, where SEADS is co-located. The Dual Diagnosis Service, ABI Service and the Withdrawal Unit are regional Statewide services
About the Opportunity
Southern Health has a fantastic opportunity for a Clinical Nurse Consultant - AOD Hospital Liaison to join the Addiction Medicine Unit which is a service provided by SEADS. The organisation is working on a Nurse Practitioner model to work in the drug and alcohol field.
The Addiction Medicine Unit is an alcohol and drug specialty hospital liaison consultation service. The main objective of this unit is to reduce the presentations of patients to the emergency departments. The team consists of part-time Addiction Medicine physicians, a registrar and a nurse based in the two health facilities of Monash Medical Centre and Dandenong Hospital.
Reporting to the Program Manager - Addiction Medicine Unit, you will provide consultative assistance to clinical staff to ensure that patients with an alcohol or other drug issue presenting to hospital for acute medical or psychiatric treatment are provided with continuity of care from admission through to discharge.
Duties and Responsibilities
Some of your duties will include:
- Providing comprehensive medical and mental health screening and assessments in the Emergency Department and other wards and departments when patients are identified as having a drug and/or alcohol issue;
- Delivering Brief Intervention therapy as appropriate to patients to promote behavioural change;
- Exploring other treatment options for patients not requiring acute medical management and referring as appropriate to SEADS and other community services;
- Providing advice to medical and nursing staff on the management of withdrawal and/or stabilisation as well as assisting with the management of challenging behaviours associated with drug and alcohol use;
- Providing support and information to family, friends and significant others effected by a patient’s alcohol or drug use; and
- Providing adequate follow-up either by linking patients into the Addiction Medicine OP clinic or with the appropriate SEADS and or other community after care services.
In order to be successful in this role you will be a Registered Nurse Division 1 or 3 in the state of Victoria, with experience in the alcohol and drug sector. You will also have gained or be working towards post graduate (minimum diploma) qualifications.
Southern Health is seeking an individual with a demonstrated ability to undertake full AOD assessment including physical and mental health examination, the ability to differentiate between normal, variation of normal and abnormal findings in a clinical assessment, a broad understanding of the dimensions of withdrawal and pharmacotherapy, experience in counselling and knowledge of a range of “best practice” interventions for AOD clients and a knowledge and understanding of the AOD service sector.
The successful candidate will have strong computer skills, including a high level of understanding of the Microsoft Office suite and e-mail/electronic diary (preferably Group Wise). You will have sound experience of crisis management, case management, treatment planning and case work and an ability to work through the practices of harm minimisation/reduction philosophies, as well as experience in the development and delivery of staff training sessions. A positive, enthusiastic and creative approach will allow you to succeed in this role.
Importantly, Southern Health is seeking candidates with a genuine commitment and passion for working with people experiencing alcohol & drug problems in a non-judgmental and holistic manner.
You will be able to work independently, as well as the ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary and multicultural team. Having excellent interpersonal and communication skills will be valuable, along with your ability in resolving conflicts in a successful manner. The successful candidates will hold a current driver's license and be willing to consent to a police background check.
Benefits
Working for an industry leader will provide you with ample professional development opportunities. You will benefit from working with a wide range of professional staff e.g. doctors, specialists, OTs etc and be able to 'soak up' a lot of further experience!
Southern Health has an in-house professional supervision program which will enable you to fast track your career. You will be provided with excellent managerial support from leaders who are dedicated to employee development.
Your hours will be Monday to Friday, 8:30am - 4:30pm, with no weekend work or on call duties!
The successful applicants will also be rewarded with a competitive salary equivalent to Level 4B (Year 1) plus super, salary sacrifice options and tools of the trade in order to do your job properly.
Most important of all, you will receive the job satisfaction from assisting people alcohol and drug dependency.