Job ad reference:
Role Title:
Status:
DD1505171430
Carer Consultant
Permanent part time, 45.6 hours per fortnight
(Please note future vacancies of a permanent part time or
temporary part time nature may also be filled through this
recruitment process.)
Team / Unit / Facility:
Division:
Hospital and Health
Service:
Location:
Classification level:
Salary level:
Closing date:
Contact:
Telephone:
Online applications:
Division of Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs
Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service
Toowoomba
AO5
$40.20 - $43.74 per hour
Tuesday, 2 June 2015
(Applications will remain current for 12 months)
Christine McGuire
(07) 4616 5205
www.smartjobs.qld.gov.au
*Applicants must apply online to be considered for this
vacancy*
Please note: Only applications from candidates will be
accepted. Applications that may result in an agency fee may
not be considered
If you are unable to apply online, please contact Recruitment
Services on (07) 4699 8310 or
[email protected]
About the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service
Our Vision
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To be trusted to deliver excellence in rural and regional healthcare.
Our Purpose
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Delivering quality healthcare in partnership with our communities.
Our Values
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Caring: We deliver care, we care for each other and we care about the
service we provide.
Doing the right thing: We respect the people we serve and try our best.
We treat each other respectfully and we respect the law and standards.
Openness to learning and change: We continually review practice and the
services we provide.
Being safe, effective and efficient: We will measure and own our
performance and use this information to inform ways to improve our
services. We will manage public resources effectively, efficiently and
economically.
Being open and transparent: We work for the public and we will inform
and consult with our patients, clients, staff, stakeholders and community.
Your Opportunity
Plan, conduct and evaluate Mental Health, family and carer education and support programs within
the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service. Coordinate frameworks and deliver a range of
education and support programs to families and carers of consumers of the Mental Health
Services. Assist the Division of Mental Health Services to build service capacity to respond to the
needs of families and carers including increasing the quality of participation of family members and
carers in the assessment, treatment and continuum of care, and evaluating the effectiveness of
family and carer programs and initiatives across the Mental Health.
Your Role
 Fulfil the responsibilities of this role in accordance with the Darling Downs Hospital and Health
Service values, as outlined above.
 Utilising experience, skills and knowledge in; mental health family and carer education, support,
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education and training, provide a responsive framework of education and support initiatives and
programs which meet the needs of families and carers.
Utilise group work skills in delivering support groups, education programs, and in participating
and facilitating peer based carer support groups.
Deliver training and support to staff within the Mental Health Service and other stakeholders in
relation to family and carer support/education strategies and initiatives, and information
regarding National Standards for Mental Health Services 2010 and State policies regarding
family and carer accountabilities.
Use available evidence to inform practice to implement quality family and carer improvement
initiatives and to improve family sensitive practice and contribute to the development of
practices, procedures and guidelines.
Utilise well developed communication, consultation and conflict resolution skills to work
collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams, other government and community based
agencies and promote the Family, Carer and Consumer Participation Framework.
Provide general feedback and advice to professional staff, team leaders, nursing managers and
senior managers regarding family and carer participation, education, support and family
sensitive practice and related issues.
Liaise with a range of stakeholders including family and carers of mental health consumers,
government and non-government agencies, other health professionals, students and
researchers, as required.
Provide day to day direction and operational guidance to a small team of fee-for-service carer
representatives, and other project staff as required.
Manage and contribute to multi-disciplinary, discipline specific and community based mental
health family and carer projects including:
 recognising project needs,
 planning and identifying funding,
 coordinate and/or implementing project,
 plan, organise and resource steering committees/advisory groups (as
appropriate),
 assessing and evaluating outcomes,
 disseminating information to relevant stakeholders and organisations.
Establish and maintain active partnership arrangements with external agencies and is proactive
in the area of carer based research and evaluation.
Operationally coordinate Carer representative positions including orientation, induction, support
and debriefing of family and carer representatives.
Follow defined service quality standards, work health and safety policies and procedures
relating to the work being undertaken in order to ensure high quality, safe services and
workplaces.
To find out more about the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, visit www.health.qld.gov.au/darlingdowns
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Mandatory Qualifications/Professional registration/Other requirements
Appointment to this position requires proof of qualification and registration or membership with the
appropriate registration authority or association. Certified copies of the required information must
be provided to the appropriate supervisor/ manager if you are the preferred candidate for
employment.
 The position is available to individuals who have or have had a personal “lived experience” of
being a carer or family member of a person with a mental illness who has been a consumer of
a public mental health service.
 This position requires the incumbent to operate a government vehicle and an appropriate
licence endorsement to operate this type of vehicle is required.
How you will be assessed?
You will be assessed on your ability to demonstrate the following key capabilities, knowledge and
experience. Within the context of the responsibilities described above under ‘Your role’, the ideal
applicant will be someone who can demonstrate the following:
 Skills and experience in the planning, delivery, and evaluation of education and support
programs to family and carers of mental health service consumers.
 Independent judgement and problem solving in the context of complex mental health service
systems; knowledge of mental health legislation, policies and guidelines relevant to families and
carers of mental health consumers or the ability to rapidly acquire this knowledge.
 Ability to provide advice to professional and operational supervisors and managers regarding
family and carer issues including service delivery and improvement.
 Ability to operationally coordinate carer representatives in line with contemporary human
resource management practices at both the broad and specific level with particular reference to
Workplace Health and Safety, Employment Equity, Anti Discrimination and Ethical Behaviour.
 Ability to lead change through quality service improvement activities and provide
mentoring/supervision/guidance of personnel.
 Honesty, integrity and respect for all consumers, family/carers and staff.
Your Application
Please provide the following information to the panel to assess your suitability:
 your current CV or resume, including the names and contact details of two referees. Referees
should have a thorough knowledge of your capabilities, work performance and conduct within
the previous two years, and it is preferable to include your current/immediate/past supervisor.
 A short statement (maximum 1–2 pages) on how your experience, abilities, knowledge and
personal qualities are relevant for the role, taking into account the key responsibilities and
attributes noted in the ‘How you will be assessed?’ section.
About the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service (DDHHS) is an independent statutory body,
established under state legislation through the provisions of the Hospitals and Health Boards Act
2011, and is governed by the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Board.
The Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service provides a comprehensive range of high-quality
acute, sub-acute, mental health, drug and alcohol, oral health, residential aged care, and
community health services. We deliver clinical services to approximately 300,000 people across 26
locations, including the major hospital in Toowoomba, regional and rural community hospitals,
residential aged care facilities, multipurpose health services and community clinic facilities.
Our services cover the Local Government Areas of the Toowoomba Regional Council, Western
Downs Regional Council, Southern Downs Regional Council, South Burnett Regional Council,
Goondiwindi Regional Council, Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council and part of the Banana Shire
Council (community of Taroom). This represents an area of about 90,000 square kilometres.
The Hospital and Health Service has a major teaching role, providing both undergraduate and
postgraduate clinical experience for members of the multidisciplinary healthcare team. We are the
largest employer in the Darling Downs, employing more than 4,700 people, with revenue of more
than $600 million annually.
To find out more about the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, visit www.health.qld.gov.au/darlingdowns
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Further information relating to the Hospital and Health Service can be found at the following web
address- http://www.health.qld.gov.au/workforus/profiles/Region_DarlingDowns.asp and at
http://www.health.qld.gov.au/darlingdowns
Most people who work for the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service are currently employees
of the Department of Health. It is anticipated employees will transition to being employed by the
DDHHS in 2015. Information about the Department of Health can be found on their website.
To find out more about the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, visit www.health.qld.gov.au/darlingdowns
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Additional information
 Pre-employment screening, including criminal history and discipline history checks, may be
undertaken on persons recommended for employment. Roles providing health, counselling and
support services mainly to children will require a blue card, unless otherwise exempt.
 Hepatitis B vaccination or proof that you are not susceptible to hepatitis B is a condition of
employment for all Queensland Health staff who have direct contact with patients or who in the
course of their work may be exposed to blood/body fluids or contaminated sharps. Evidence of
vaccination or proof that you are not susceptible can be provided by a letter from a medical
officer, infection control practitioner, or vaccine service provider with details of vaccine given.
 Employees who are permanently appointed to the service may be required to undertake a
period of probation appropriate to the appointment.
 All employees with the DDHHS are required to take reasonable care for their own health and
safety this includes the completion of all necessary Work Health &Safety (WH&S) training;
working in accordance with DDHHS WH&S Policy & Procedures; reporting WH&S incidents and
assisting with the completion of risk assessments. DDHHS employees are accountable for their
conduct, by ensuring their performance will not create health and safety hazards for themselves
or others in the workplace, we are committed to creating a safe work environment for all.
 Employees have an individual obligation to the organisation to maintain their compliance with
mandatory training requirements as detailed in the DDHHS Mandatory Training Procedure.
 All relevant health professionals, who in the course of their duties formulate a reasonable
suspicion that a child or youth has been abused or neglected in their home/community
environment, have a legislative and a duty of care obligation to immediately report such
concerns to Child safety services, Department of Communities.
 Applicants will be required to give a statement of their employment as a lobbyist
(http://www.psc.qld.gov.au/publications/assets/policies/lobbyist-disclosure-policy.pdf) within one
month of taking up the appointment.
 Applicants may be required to disclose any pre-existing illness or injury which may impact on
their ability to perform the role. Details are available in section 571 of the Workers’
Compensation and Rehabilitation Act 2003 (http://www.justice.qld.gov.au/fair-and-safework/workers-compensation-and-rehabilitation/workers-compensation-and-rehabilitationlegislation/workers-compensation-and-rehabilitation-act-2003)
 To confirm eligibility for the public hospital fringe benefits tax (FBT) exemption cap please contact
the salary packaging provider—RemServ on 1300 304 010 or www.remserv.com.au
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From 1 January 2015, it is against the law to smoke at all public and private health facilities,
and for five metres beyond their boundaries. These laws include all staff and patient residential
areas on healthcare facility land.
To find out more about the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, visit www.health.qld.gov.au/darlingdowns
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Organisational Chart
To find out more about the Darling Downs Hospital and Health Service, visit www.health.qld.gov.au/darlingdowns
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