Clinical Nurse Consultant - Alcohol & Other Drug

About Monash Health

Monash Health is Victoria’s largest public health service. We are proud to provide healthcare to one quarter of Melbourne’s population, across the entire life-span from newborn and children, to adults, the elderly, their families and carers. More than 25,500 employees work at over 40 care locations across south eastern Melbourne, including Monash Medical Centre, Monash Children’s Hospital, Moorabbin Hospital, Dandenong Hospital, Casey Hospital, Kingston Centre, Cranbourne Centre, and an extensive network of rehabilitation, aged care, community health and mental health facilities. For more information please visit www.monashhealth.org

About the ED Mental Health & AOD Response at Monash Health (EMAAP- Emergency Mental Health, AOD, Allied, Peer Team)

The MMC Emergency Department has introduced a new inter professional team which brings together clinicians from mental health, alcohol and Other Drug (AOD), Social Work and Lived Experience to provide specialised and integrated care to patients presenting to the ED with high acuity mental health and AOD issues, and complex psychosocial needs. This service is called the Mental Health and AOD Response or EMAAP and is located within the emergency department. The team will provide a seven day a week, extended hours service.

About The Role

The Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) role presents a fantastic opportunity to join the team in the ED. The AOD CNC aims to enhance the quality of care for people presenting to the Clayton Emergency Department with MH or Behavioural Health issues through clinical leadership, collaboration, consultation and support of ED clinicians.
The AOD CNC is responsible for providing clinical leadership and expertise in evidenced-based person centred care at an advanced nursing practice level. The AOD CNC will utilize advanced clinical nursing knowledge and skills to influence the co-ordination of quality care within the ED setting for the target population. They are accountable and responsible for their own clinical practice and provide support and direction to the inter-disciplinary team.

• Establish strong positive and professional working relationships with ED medical and nursing staff, Emergency Psychiatric Services (EPS) clinicians, addiction medicine and other staff incorporated into the ED Response Model of care including peer support workers and allied health.
• Liaise, educate and coordinate with Monash Health ED staff members to ensure clinical efficacy and appropriateness of care for patients with substance misuse issues.
• Establish a professional and supportive relationship with the person who has an AOD/ Dual Diagnosis presentation to the ED and their family, carers and extended support network.
• Undertake screening, assessment, therapeutic interventions, collaborative care planning and recommendations for treatment aimed at reducing the person’s substance related harms.
• Conduct advanced, comprehensive and holistic health assessment of people presenting with substance misuse or concomitant AOD issues to Clayton ED incorporating:
  • the biological, psychological and social aspects of each individual person’s drug and/or alcohol issue
  • information about the physiological aspects of drug and alcohol use based on individual patient blood results and physical symptoms
  • the development and implementation of AOD/Dual Diagnosis care plans
  • Collateral information from family, carers, GP and other relevant people within the person’s formal and informal support network.
  • Provide assertive outreach and engagement with identified consumers for up to 28 days following discharge from the ED to facilitate referral and access to community supports consistent with the person’s goals.
    • Carry a small clinical caseload and provide person-centred AOD services for consumers, their families and carers, in line with professional standards and organisational guidelines.
    • Develop partnerships and referral pathways with relevant community agencies to facilitate timely discharge from ED and community linkages.
    • Provide referral pathways to counselling for patients that may be either motivated or ambivalent to modify their lifestyle to change their drug and/or alcohol use
    • Refer to outpatient clinics for patients with primary drug and alcohol issues, and for patients with concomitant drug and/or alcohol issues
    • Integrates the concept of recovery into practice, promoting choice and self-determination within medico-legal requirements and duty of care

About You

You are an experienced nurse who holds a postgraduate qualification in AOD specific studies and are registered with AHPRA. You are able to demonstrate advanced AOD clinical assessment skills and have experience working in acute health settings and/or the emergency department. You possess excellent communication skills and have proven leadership qualities. You have a passion for improving the experience of care for people in crisis and delivering services that respect the individual's rights, preserves their dignity, and promotes recovery and inclusion. You are also an advocate of Monash Health's Strategic Guiding Principles.

Monash Health employee benefits:

• Salary packaging
• Onsite subsidised staff parking
• Discounted banking (BankVic)
• Onsite Gym
• Access to professional development courses and seminars

How to Apply

Monash Health recognises the value of equal employment opportunity and is committed to patient safety and promoting fairness, equity, and diversity in the workplace. At Monash Health we are relentless in our pursuit of excellence and work to our six guiding principles.

Applications will only be accepted via the Monash Health online Mercury System only. Email applications will not be considered.

Existing Monash Health Employees should apply using your Monash Health employee account. For any queries regarding employee accounts contact Recruitment Services at ***********@monashhealth.org.

Offers of employment can only be made once all required probity checks have been completed.  These include:

• reference checks;
• a clear Police Check conducted within the last three months;
• a current Victorian Employee Working with Children’s Check (or proof of payment for same);and
• proof of immunisation.

A request to conduct probity checks does not guarantee that an offer of employment will be made.

As part of our selection process, you may be invited by email to participate in an on-camera video interview.
Under the Victorian Public Health orders, all employees working within the Public Health system must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza and are required to provide acceptable evidence of their vaccination status. The current orders require evidence of three doses for COVID-19. All applicants to positions with Monash Health will need to upload acceptable evidence of full vaccination against COVID-19 and Influenza as part of their application. Acceptable evidence is a copy of your Immunisation History Statement which can be accessed via myGov.

Offers of employment will only be made to candidates who can provide evidence that they meet full vaccination status.