Position Description
Position Definition /Position: / Refugee Health Nurse
Agreement: / Nurses and Midwives (Victorian Public Health Sector) (Single Interest Employers) Enterprise Agreement 2012-2016
Classification: / Dependant on qualifications & experience
Position reports to: / Primary Care Manager
Effective date: / February 2014
Approved by: / Chief Executive Officer
Organisational Context /
Plenty Valley Community Health (PVCH) provides primary healthcare, social and psychological support services to people of all ages, focusing on the growing outer northern metropolitan area of Melbourne.
Our services have a strong focus on treatment, prevention, early identification, rehabilitation and maximization of independent living skills.
PVCH is a major provider of primary healthcare in our region and is committed to establishing a well-integrated primary healthcare service that is accessible to people in the City of Whittlesea and neighbouring metropolitan and rural municipalities.PVCH partners with General Practitioners, Hospitals, the three levels of government, local agencies and community members to achieve an effective universal primary healthcare system.
PVCH is a registered Community Health Centre and a Company Limited by Guarantee. It is funded by government grants and other self-managed revenue activities. It is governed by a Board of Directors elected and appointed from the community.
Our expectation is that staff will operate as a co-operative team. Our staff will be flexible, multi-skilled and able to work with a diverse range of individuals, multidisciplinary groups and community agencies.
Our staff will continually update their knowledge to take on new responsibilities and challenges.
Purpose and Scope /
The Refugee Health Nurse (RHN) is a newly created position at PVCH and forms part of the newly created PVCH Refugee Health Program. The position provides timely and responsive community health nurse services that are culturally appropriate and takes account of the special needs of newly arrived refugees who settle in the Whittlesea health catchment and who are referred by the PVCH Intake Service. A key focus of the role is to support and strengthen the ability of individuals, families and refugee communities to improve health and wellbeing via initial needs identification, assessment, and service provision and care planning. The position adheres to an integrated service delivery model and works collaboratively with the PVCH GP Clinic medical staff, community based GP practices, Refugee Health Access Worker and PVCH clinical and non-clinical staff and interpreters. The Refugee Health Program adheres to DOH program guidelines and clinical practice approaches.
Key Responsibilities and Duties /
Service delivery: / t Provide initial Health Screening using the Medicare Comprehensive Refugee Health Assessment Screening Tool (2012) Item 701 – 707 (time related). For clients identified by GPs as having extreme complex health and psycho-social needs.
t Immunisations: the Comprehensive Refugee Health Check has a specific focus on identifying the clients Immunisation history. Provide referral to GP clinic or documented referral pathways for complete immunisation if nil documented on HDA or catch up immunisations if required.
t Infectious Diseases: follow up including TB contact protocols, for testing and Latent TB treatment including TB Control Unit and IHMS reporting.
t Refer for assessment for psycho Social Wellbeing in regard to Post Traumatic Stress Reaction (PTSR) and desire for further Emotional and Social Support via documented referral pathways to PVCH specialised psychological services or external specialised psychological service providers.
t Primary Health Service Referral: to Allied Health, Optometry, Dental, Audiology, Podiatry as required.
t Work collaboratively with PVCH to support and resource Health Access Worker, health promotion, clinical and non-clinical, and community engagement staff and volunteers who will provide health promotion information sessions for new arrivals in appropriate settings such as schools and English Language centres.
t Work collaboratively with PVCH to support and resource Health Access Worker, health promotion, clinical and non-clinical, and community engagement staff and volunteers who will identify the health needs of refugees and work pro-actively with these communities to reduce health risks through community engagement activities.
Administration / t To attend and actively participate in staff and team meetings.
t To document relevant resources and quality activities and network meetings within the organisations filing system.
t To actively participate in organisational and clinical supervision sessions.
t To review and develop streamlined communication templates for use within and outside the organisation.
t To undertake other duties as specified and directed.
Community Development / t Apply principles of best practice in health promotion planning and evaluation.
t Support Health Access Worker, PVCH staff and volunteers to provide or organise health promotion sessions for new arrivals in appropriate settings such as schools and English Language Centres including
t Identify the health needs of Refugees and Asylum Seekers and work pro-actively with the Health Access Worker, PVCH staff and volunteers who will work with these communities to reduce health risks via support and resourcing to the community engagement action plan and its strategies.
t Building partnerships with external stakeholders that work with Refugees to promote the service and identify opportunities for joint work, in particular with nominated Community Health Partners as directed.
Organisational: / t To abide by and actively support PVCH’s OH&S policies to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the employee, clients, colleagues, contractors and visitors.
t To ensure that the confidentiality of PVCH clients is respected and upheld at all times.
t To actively support the Vision, Purpose and Values contained in the PVCH Strategic Plan.
t To undertake Continuing Professional Development.
t To abide by the Policies & Procedures of PVCH (which may be amended from time to time).
t To actively promote PVCH and its services within the local and wider community.
t Other duties as directed.
Leadership: / Under the supervision and support of the Primary Care Manager:
t Identify opportunities to optimise service delivery by regular reviewing waiting lists, client flow and case load with a view to improve management of demand and capacity.
t Undertake a key liaison role in service coordination to ensure timely access for clients referred to other internal and external service providers.
t Undertake liaison with external service partners and teams within PVCH to improve the client journey for those referred.
Management: / t Not applicable
Financial: / t Not applicable
Others (specify): / t Not applicable
Core Competencies, Attributes and Capabilities /
Clinical/professional: / t Provide consultation with staff members who request information regarding Refugee clients
t To apply the principals of best practice in health promotion planning and evaluation
t Demonstrated commitment to the principles of diversity, EEO and participatory work practices.
t Demonstrated commitment to and use of appropriate ethical standards and behaviours.
Client orientation: / t Demonstrated commitment to social justice and advocacy on behalf of clients.
t Demonstrated sensitivity to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) and ATSI individuals and communities.
t Demonstrated commitment to access and equity for individuals from disadvantaged communities.
Interpersonal: / t Well-developed written and oral communication skills, including report writing and analysis.
t Ability to liaise effectively with clients, community groups, other employees and external agencies.
t Ability to negotiate and gain co-operation and support from others in a team environment.
t Willingness to support team members and work as part of a cohesive team across PVCH.
t Ability to plan work schedules, to prioritise work and complete tasks on schedule.
Leadership: / t Not applicable
Management: / t Not applicable
Computer: / t Good working knowledge of MS Outlook, MS Office (including Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and Internet Explorer.
t Use of electronic client database and statistical systems.
t Exposure to electronic records systems such as TRIM.
t Exposure to staff intranet systems.
Others (specify): / t Not applicable
Financial: / t Not applicable
Key Selection Criteria /
Mandatory:
Successful applicants are required to provide certified copies of the mandatory qualifications listed in this section. / t Qualification and Registration with the APHRA Australian Health Practitioners Registration Association (APHRA) as a Division 1 Nurse with Australian Health Practitioners Registration (AHPRA).
t Post Graduate Qualification or substantial experience in Community Health, preferably Refugee Health
t Actively participate in Professional Development requirements as required by AHPRA.
t Maintain Continuing Education with regard to the health needs of Asylum Seeker clients by attending regular VFST Refugee Health Nurse Professional Development and any other relevant professional development as approved.
Desirable: / t Experience working in a community setting with a diverse community.
t Experience working with people from non-English backgrounds and in the use of interpreters.
t High level of knowledge, experience and understanding of the principles and philosophy Community Health, health promotion and community development.
t A commitment to working with highly disadvantaged / marginalised newly arrived communities.
t An ability to work collaboratively in partnership with key health service and support service providers.
t Experience working within a multidisciplinary team
Conditions of Employment /
Remuneration: / t The employee will be paid in accordance with the Award/Agreement.
t Salary Packaging is available for permanent and fixed term employees, in accordance with prevailing legislation and PVCH Policy.
t Novated Car Leasing is available for all permanent employees
Location: / t The employee will be expected to work, either temporarily or permanently, at any site operated by PVCH.
Hours of duty: / t The hours of duty will be as rostered by the employee’s Supervisor.
Pre-employment checks: / t A Police Check is mandatory. In accordance with PVCH Policy, relevant convictions will be taken into consideration when considering applicants for this position.
t All employees of PVCH must be either an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or have an appropriate Australian visa that will legally enable them to fulfil the obligations of the contract of employment.
t A Working with Children Check (WWC) is mandatory for this position. Failure to obtain and retain a WWC card will make the employee automatically ineligible for employment in this position.
t Current Victorian full drivers licence.
Probationary period: / t Confirmation of new employees to PVCH is subject to a 6 month probationary period, during which time the employee must demonstrate satisfactory capability to perform the Key Responsibilities and Duties. This probationary period is regarded as an extension of the interview process.
Acknowledgement /
Position Descriptions may be modified from time to time in accordance with PVCH Policy, relevant Awards, Agreements or Legislative amendments.
Awards and Agreements may be modified or replaced in accordance with the Fair Work Act 2009.
Employee signature:
Employee name: / Date:
1
Private & Confidential
Plenty Valley Community Health