- Location: Adelaide, SA – Brisbane, QLD – Canberra, ACT – Darwin, NT - Hobart, TAS – Melbourne, VIC – Perth, WA – Sydney, NSW
- Salary Range: $131,960 - $144,908 + Attractive Superannuation
- This vacancy has been identified to participate in VetPaths
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling is Australia’s leading provider of high-quality mental health assessment and clinical counselling services for Australian veterans and families of veterans. We focus on meeting client needs through a combination of proven clinical practices and new, and emerging evidence-based approaches.
We have an immediate vacancy in our Clinical Governance & Programs Directorate. A merit pool will be established to fill this role and future vacancies in our locations across Australia.
The Quality & Safety Section within the Clinical Governance & Programs Directorate is responsible for supporting Open Arms service provision by leading all quality and safety activities including activities to support alignment with the National Mental Health Service Standards (NSMHS) and DVA’s Clinical Governance Framework.
The role of the Assistant Director – Quality and Safety reports to the Director Quality and Safety, Open Arms. This role will provide support to the Quality and Safety section within Open Arms in the areas of quality and safety, continuous improvement, program and procedure development, accreditation processes and other relevant priorities to support national operations of Open Arms.
The position requires strong writing skills, critical thinking, analytical ability and organisational skills. A clinical background in healthcare along with effective written and verbal communication skills are essential to the role, with experience in accreditation assessments and project management highly desirable.
DUTIES
As an
EL 1 Assistant Director, Quality & Safety you will be required to:
- Manage the Open Arms Quality and Safety priorities to support high quality mental health service delivery and to ensure accountability of Open Arms’ clinical service delivery, governance, processes and procedures. This includes but is not limited to:
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Contribute to Open Arms’ Quality, Safety and Risk Committee
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Manage and lead Open Arms’ Integrated Quality Improvement Plan
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Manage and lead Open Arms’ alignment with the DVA Clinical Governance Framework
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Manage and lead the Open Arms accreditation process, ensure Open Arms applies a continuous quality improvement framework
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Manage the development of and monitoring of Open Arms’ clinical risk management framework and register
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Manage the development of and monitoring of Open Arms’ clinical audit framework and schedule
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Manage the completion and analysis of regular clinical audits to inform service improvement activities across the Division
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Support the delivery of specific information/training/education to Open Arms staff about continuous quality improvement – including education and support to staff about DVA’s Clinical Governance Framework and Open Arms’ relevant accreditation framework (e.g. National Standards in Mental Health Services / National Safety and Quality Primary and Community Healthcare Standards)
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Support the collection of data across Open Arms in relevant areas to support continuous improvement (e.g. clinical outcome measures, client experience, relevant operational Key Performance Indicators relating to wait times and episodes of care etc.)
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Act as a representative of the Director as required
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Apply the principles of cooperative and safe work practices consistent with APS Values and the Department’s mission, vision, approach and values
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Develop and maintain effective working relationships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve Section, Branch and Agency goals as part of the Commonwealth Government’s broader business, by anticipating and responding to stakeholder needs.
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In conjunction with the Quality and Safety Director, manage strategic planning for longer-term initiatives, including maintaining mental health accreditation.
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Manage documentation to track, monitor, and report on projects and business as usual activities.
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Develop and review advice, input, briefings, papers, submissions and correspondence for use in both internal and external decision-making forums and present the section or branch or organisation position in the context of more complex issues.
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Provide supervision, mentoring and coaching for direct reports to effectively manage performance and encourage professional growth and build capacity in a team environment.
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Support an environment that encourages a willingness to adopt participative workplace practices in line with policies of WHS, Workplace Diversity and the Australian Public Service values, Employment Principles and the APS Code of Conduct.
MANDATORY REQUIREMENTS
- Qualifications as a registered Psychologist / Occupational Therapist / Registered Nurse with full AHPRA registration, OR
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Qualification as a Social Worker with membership of the Australian Association Social Workers (AASW) on commencement, OR
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A Masters-level counselling qualification and registration with PACFA as a Registered Clinical Counsellor or with ACA at Level 3 or Level 4.
And
- Currently hold or ability to obtain a Working with Vulnerable People registration, OR
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Currently hold or ability to obtain a Working with Children check.
ELIGIBILITY
- Under section 22(8) of the Public Service Act 1999, employees must be Australian citizens to be employed in the Australian Public Service (APS).
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Any successful candidate external to DVA offered employment will be required to undergo a pre-engagement screening check, even if they have a security clearance. The screening check is conducted in accordance with the Australian Government Protective Security Policy Framework requirements.
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Any successful candidate will also be required to obtain and/or maintain, a baseline Vetting (AGSVA) security clearance as a minimum.
NOTES
This recruitment process may be used to fill ongoing and/or non-ongoing position/s. For more information about the role, please see the .
A merit pool of suitable applicants may be created which may be used to fill future ongoing and non-ongoing vacancies should they become available over the next 18 months.
Successful applicants engaged into the APS will be subject to a probation period.
We welcome people with diverse skills, experiences and perspectives. DVA is committed to building a workforce that reflects the community we serve and encourages applications from:
- Veterans and former Australian Defence Force members, whose skills and experience are highly valued across the APS
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
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People with disability
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People who identify as LGBTQIA+
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People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
We are a Veteran Employer of Choice! This means you benefit from a workplace actively supporting veterans and families of veterans – one that understands and values military experience. You’re joining an organisation publicly recognised for its commitment to fostering veteran-friendly employment pathways and long-term career success.
The Australian Public Service (APS) values the unique skills, perspectives, and experiences that veterans gain during their Australian Defence Force (ADF) employment and encourage veterans to apply. Support may be available to veterans transitioning to meaningful APS careers through participation in VetPaths, which offers veterans an opportunity to participate in a six-month program offering formal learning and development, career mentoring and activities for wellness and peer support.
RecruitAbility applies to this vacancy. Under the RecruitAbility scheme, you will be invited to participate in further assessment activities for the vacancy if you choose to opt-in to the scheme, declare you have a disability and meet the minimum requirements for the vacancy. All requests for reasonable adjustments will be considered and managed in consultation with you.
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