Clinical Nurse Specialist – Behavioural Support

Join us in delivering extraordinary care for kids across inpatient and emergency department settings.

Influence clinical practice, build workforce capability and behavioural support.

CRVCID 744437

We currently have a Permanent Part Time (0.5 FTE) position available for appointment. This is a job share arrangement. Work days are Thursday Friday and alternative Wednesdays.

Applicants assessed as suitable through this process will be considered for other vacancies within the team (within the next 12 months).

• Prior experience in behavioural support or management is highly regarded, however upskilling can be provided.

About the Role  

The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) is seeking an experienced and collaborative leader to join our team as Clinical Nurse Specialist – Behavioural Support. In this role you will provide clinical leadership in the prevention, recognition and management of behavioural escalation and deterioration across our hospital services including inpatient wards and the Emergency Department.

You will provide expert clinical leadership, consultancy and support to staff caring for children and young people experiencing behavioural deterioration associated with mental health, cognitive impairment or other complex needs.

Working collaboratively across multidisciplinary teams, you will respond to behavioural incidents, coach staff in de-escalation strategies, promote best practice, and lead quality improvement initiatives that strengthen behavioural support across the organisation.

Role responsibilities include:

• Responding to complex behavioural incidents and supporting clinical teams with assessment, de-escalation and escalation of care.
• Coaching, mentoring and supporting staff to build confidence and capability in managing challenging behaviours.
• Leading quality improvement projects, clinical audits and initiatives that improve patient and staff safety and reduce restrictive practices.
• Analysing behavioural incident data to identify trends and inform service improvements.
• Developing and implementing evidence-based clinical guidelines, standards and policies.
• Partnering with education teams to design and deliver behavioural support education and training.
• Facilitating staff debriefings following behavioural incidents and providing ongoing clinical support.
• Collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and external providers to improve outcomes for children, young people and families.

The ideal applicant will have advanced clinical expertise, strong communication, leadership and collaboration skills and the ability to influence practice across multidisciplinary teams. Experience leading quality improvement, evidence-based practice and service improvement initiatives, will be highly regarded but can be supported as part of professional development

• Applicants must be eligible for registration in the category of Registered Nurse by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (AHPRA).

About Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH): is Western Australia's specialist paediatric hospital and trauma centre, with 298 beds. Located at the Queen Elizabeth II Medical Centre, PCH offers primary care for severe medical cases and secondary services such as inpatient, outpatient, and day-stay care. Our purpose-built facility incorporates the latest evidence-based design principles to deliver optimal care to the community. Explore our services on the PCH About Us page for more information.

How to Apply 

We welcome your application via the ‘Apply for Job’ button at the bottom of this page. Please ensure you allow sufficient time to complete the online application process as you will be required to answer various questions and attach your documentation. Your application should contain the following:

• A current resume which summarises your experience
• The name, email and contact details of two professional referees who can be contacted to provide an employment reference, with at least one being a recent supervisor/line manager.

Within the application system you will be presented with the following five (5) questions outlined in the attached Job Description Form. Each question allows you to showcase your relevant skills and experiences in detail, with a generous word limit of 500 words per question.

1. Please describe your advanced clinical knowledge and experience in the delivery of evidence-based nursing care relevant to this role. (Essential Selection Criteria 2)
2. Please provide an example of a time you worked collaboratively with, or influenced, a multidisciplinary team to manage a complex clinical situation or improve patient care. (Essential Selection Criteria 3, 4)
3. Please provide an example of a time you have applied, or supported a team to apply research, best practice principles, or quality improvement initiatives to strengthen practice (Essential Selection Criteria 5)
4. Please describe your experience supporting patients experiencing behavioural escalation or deterioration. How did you assess, de-escalate and support safe outcomes for patients, families and staff. (Suitability criteria - Prior experience in behavioural support).
5. Are you available to work Thursday, Friday and alternative Wednesdays? (Suitability criteria - Days of Work).

These documents should be complete and ready to attach prior to applying online. Please ensure you allow sufficient time to complete the online application process as you will be required to answer various questions and attach your documentation.

Selection Criteria: Please see the attached Job Description Form (available online at www.jobs.health.wa.gov.au). 

*Suitability Criteria: Suitability recognises that there is a range of factors - along with having the skills, knowledge and abilities - that constitute merit. These factors included a person's eligibility, ability to demonstrate the right behaviours, ethical alignment and cultural fit. In addition to the Essential Criteria and Desirable Criteria outlined in the attached Job Description Form, these requirements will also be considered to determine your suitability for the role. 

For Further Job Related Information: We encourage you to contact Charlotte Burr – Clinical Nurse Consultant on 08 6456 02***or via email **************@health.wa.gov.au

If you experience difficulties while applying online, please contact Employee Services on 13 44 77 for immediate assistance during business hours.

Help in submitting your application: If you experience technical difficulties while applying online, please contact Employee Services on 13 44 77 for immediate assistance during business hours.

Eligibility to apply: Australian citizenship or permanent residency is an essential requirement for applicants to be considered for permanent positions in the public sector. Fixed term and/or casual contracts can be held by individuals on visas that allow working rights within Australia.

Sponsorship is not currently available for this position.

Other Conditions: WA Health engages staff in positions of trust and responsibility. WA Health policies require applicants to undertake criminal records screening and integrity checking as part of the appointment process. Referees may also be asked to comment on an applicant’s integrity and past demonstration of ethical behaviour.

WA Health is committed to eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of our service. We embrace diversity and strongly encourage applications from people from culturally diverse backgrounds and people with disabilities.

In addition, we are committed to growing our Aboriginal workforce as part of WA Health Aboriginal Workforce Policy. As a measure to achieve equality, Section 51 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 applies to this position and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are encouraged to apply.

Whilst this selection process will initially be used to fill the above vacancy, it may also be used to fill other "similar" vacancies throughout the health service. In addition to this, should the successful applicant decline or vacate the advertised vacancy, then the next most suitable applicant may also be selected from this process. Both of these options remain valid for a period of twelve (12) months from when the authorised delegate endorses the recruitment decision.

This position is subject to a Western Australian Working with Children (WWC) Check. For further information please refer to the WWC website at: https://workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au

About CAHS

The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) is proud to be the leading service provider for paediatric healthcare in Western Australia, as the State’s only dedicated health service for infants, children, and young people. CAHS comprises three service areas: Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) and Neonatology, Community Health, and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).

With over 7000 employees, our services are delivered at PCH and King Edward Memorial Hospitals (KEMH), as well as across a network of more than 160 community clinics across the Perth metropolitan area.

For further information about the benefits of working for CAHS, please click here and for further information regarding CAHS’ services, please click here

CAHS values: To achieve our vision of healthy kids, healthy communities, CAHS is committed to providing a workplace culture that is driven and shaped by our values of Compassion, Collaboration, Equity, Respect, Excellence and Accountability. During the selection process you may be assessed on your ability to fulfil the responsibilities of this position in accordance with the values. If you have any questions regarding this, please contact the person named in this advert.

Support for your interview process

CAHS is committed to ensuring that our interview process meets the access needs of all applicants. If you require any reasonable adjustments to accommodate a disability, enhance access, or support your inclusion and success during the interview, please contact the CAHS Talent Acquisition Team prior to your interview.

You can reach the team via ***************@health.wa.gov.au or by calling 08 6456 0***. All enquiries will be treated confidentially.

Lodgement is system generated. Any submissions on, or after, 4:00pm on the closing date will not be accepted. 

LATE OR EMAIL APPLICATIONS CAN NOT BE CONSIDERED.