Executive Director, Safety

About the role:

• Senior Executive Role + Executive Benefits
• Senior leader accountable for reviews of system harm in Victoria on behalf of SCV
• Hybrid WFH/Melbourne CBD

About us:At the Victorian Department of Health we want a future where Victorians are the healthiest people in the world. A Victoria where our children and people thrive, our workplaces are productive and safe, and our communities are more connected.We see it as our job to support Victorians to stay healthy and safe. And to deliver a world-class healthcare system that ensures every single Victorian can access safe, quality care that leads to better health outcomes for all.How you'll make a difference:The Executive Director understands safety science, the role of data and clinical governance in ensuring Victorians have constantly better outcomes, the system works effectively and is always person centredThe Executive Director, Safety branch is accountable for the delivery of the following outcomes:

• Appreciative inquiry derived from a variety of data and intelligence sources to ensure that learning from positive patient outcomes is spread across the health system.
• Learning from negative patient outcomes occurs and is shared, so that similar patient safety issues occur progressively less frequently across the health system.
• Proactive prediction of where there is considerable risk of negative patient outcomes occurring in the future and working in partnership to take actions to prevent these eventuating with relevant stakeholders.
• Codesign and development of inherently safe systems of care that routinely deliver good patient outcomes and strong patient safety culture.

To ensure delivery of the above outcomes, the Executive Director oversees the following programs:

• Safety Insights, which is responsible for:

• Facilitating the collection, interpretation, and dissemination of safety intelligence, data, themes, and learnings to reduce the risk of preventable harm and error occurring in the Victorian health care system.
• Monitoring system safety performance and signalling need for statewide or service level intervention.
• Clinical Governance, Culture & Capability, which is responsible for:

• Providing support to the Victorian health sector to develop the organisational conditions for safety and quality, thereby preventing harm and ensuring high-quality, reliable, and person-centred care.
• Driving system-wide development of the leadership behaviours, workforce capability, policies, frameworks, and practices, change interventions, and ability to prevent and respond to risk and harm in the system.

Suitable applicants will be able to demonstrate:

• Develop strong trusting relationships with health service providers to work in partnership approach to improve the safety, timeliness, equity, effectiveness, person-centredness, and productivity of care.
• Act as an authoritative source of critical advice across a broad range of areas which impacts the whole of SCV and the quality and safety improvement partners in the Victorian health system with reference to constantly improving the safety of our health system for Victorians. Apply lateral thinking and develop innovative solutions the impact on SCV and influence decision making across the organisation.
• Provide leadership across SCV through advanced knowledge and skills acquired through extensive professional or executive management experience in health care with specialist skills in large-scale organisational safety and quality reviews, organisational safety and quality diagnostics, as well as change and safety improvement initiatives based on safety signals at the system and service level.
• Champion the learning health networks and ensure that Victoria operates consistently as a learning health system, constantly seeking to improvement measurable health outcomes for the population.
• As a member of the senior executive leadership of SCV lead strategic vision of the organisation and direction, ensuing activities are integrated to achieve goals and priorities of the organisation. Provide strong leadership and effective oversight to ensure that activities are strategically coordinated to identify and evaluate new and emerging risks, opportunities, patterns, and trends in accordance with Ministerial and government directions.
• Identify, anticipate and manage complex issues and problems for which uncertainty prevails around the next decision. Exercise sound judgement in subsequent decision making after considering a range of alternative courses of action. Make judgements and assess risk in the context of uncertainty. Providing guidance to SCV in health care safety, integrating information provided by expert clinicians, consumers, and other stakeholders.
• Lead and oversee critical stakeholder engagement, including the need to engage, inform, and advise a diverse range of very senior stakeholders in relation to complex issues. This may include the coroner and chairs of legislative councils, peak bodies, and other senior leaders in safety in healthcare. Engage and liaise with senior executives from across the health sector, government and nationally to advocate for a position or viewpoint relevant to quality and safety improvement or to resolve conflict through negotiation or influence.
• Represent SCV as a member or chair a range of fora including conferences, inter-governmental committees, health sector and community groups, national and international forums.
• Manage and provide leadership to a team of employees by:

• Leading and supporting individuals and teams to achieve their potential while maximising their contribution to achieve their goals and outcomes
• Modelling behaviours integral to good people management and SCV and departmental values
• Providing employees with relevant information and access to safe systems of work
• Lead change, resolving conflict, solving problems, and managing sensitivities with a broad range of stakeholders at senior levels of organisations.

• Exercise the delegations appropriate to the role which includes managing a budget and holding a financial delegation of $500K, risk management and human resources responsibilities.
• Keep accurate and complete records of your work activities in accordance with legislative requirements and the department's records, information security and privacy policies and requirements.
• Take reasonable care for your own health and safety and for that of others in the workplace by working in accordance with legislative requirements and the department's occupational health and safety (OHS) policies and procedures.

To learn more please click ‘Apply' to view the Position Description on the Careers.vic website.What we offer:

• The opportunity to perform meaningful work, making direct contributions toward enabling Victorians to be the healthiest people in the world.
• A wide range of growth and development opportunities within the department and wider Victorian Public Service & Sector.
• A strong commitment to work-life balance, including a diverse array of flexible working arrangements.

How to apply:Applications should include a resume and a cover letter. Click the ‘Apply' button to view further information about the role including key contact details and the advertisement closing date.We are committed to developing and supporting a workforce that is well equipped and highly motivated to provide responsive and quality services to all Victorians. We continue to build an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity of backgrounds and differences to realise the potential of our employees for innovation and delivering services aimed at enhancing the lives of all Victorians.All roles can be worked flexibly and we encourage applications from Aboriginal people, people with disabilities, LGBTIQ+ and people from culturally diverse backgrounds. Please contact us if you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process at . Please view our commitment to Diversity and Inclusion .Preferred applicants may be required to complete a police check and other pre-employment checks including proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Information provided will be treated in the strictest confidence, in line with our .The Jobs and Skills Exchange (JSE) Recruitment Policy allows for priority consideration for Victorian Public Service (VPS) and select employees of the Victorian Public Sector who apply through the Jobs Skills Exchange (JSE) jobs board platform. As such, these employees are strongly encouraged to submit their application through JSE rather than via external advertisement.