• Look to your future - ongoing career and professional development opportunities, supportive supervision structure
• Enjoy workplace flexibility in this casual position
• Gain satisfaction from the positive difference that our programs make to members of our community

About the role

Applications are invited from Psychiatric Services Officers, CPOs, interested in casual employment in the Acute Mental Health Unit, Swanston Centre.

Mental Health Drug and Alcohol Service are seeking applications from health undergraduates who are interested in casual employment as PSOs to provide one on one supervision to vulnerable inpatients.  We are seeking applications from the following undergraduate disciplines: Nursing, Medical, Social Work and Occupational Therapy.  The employment is on a casual basis and shifts may be morning, afternoon or night duty.

The PSO provides a service to patients within Swanston Centre, requiring increased constant supervision.

As the PSO you will be utilised to support patient safety for those patients who have been assessed as being “at risk” by registered nursing or medical staff. These ‘at risk’ patients may be experiencing delirium, dementia, disinhibition or other cognitive impairments. Their condition may result in the patient displaying 'at risk behaviours" such as confusion, agitation, disorientation, impulsiveness, sensory loss, wandering, tearfulness, or at risk of falls. These patients in some way require intensive resource support and someone to be with them constantly.

The role of the PSO will include

• Staying in the vicinity of the patient at all times.
• Discussing with the Registered Nurse an appropriate scheduling of meal and tea breaks
• Escorting patients who are able to leave the ward, within the hospital grounds at the direction of the Registered Nurse
• Document behaviour by exception in prescribed format.
• Alert the Registered Nurse of patient behaviour related to an increase in the identified risk(s)
• Demonstrating a basic understanding of Universal Precautions
• Understanding appropriate hospital emergency procedures, including fire and evacuation
• Understanding the broad BH Occupational Health and Safety Policies
• Maintaining a safe environment for self and others

Successful applicants will be required to attend an assessment centre on Monday the 30^th July and undertake a 3 day pre-employment education course prior to working on the unit. Mandatory Education/Orientation days will be held 13th - 15th August.  You will be contacted once the role has closed about the times of the assessment centre.

About the facility

The Swanston Centre Acute Inpatient Unit (SCA) is a 32 bed acute psychiatric inpatient unit that supports individuals within the community between the ages of 16 and end of life, of mixed gender, and who experience extreme distress and pose moderate to severe risk of harm to themselves or others due to their mental illness. The SCA provides acute psychiatric support via a multidisciplinary team, based within the unit 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.  

About the culture

We are an enthusiastic, energetic and focused team who work cohesively together. We promote positive respectful relationships and strong working partnerships in the workplace and in the community. You will work with an innovative multidisciplinary team who maintain extensive knowledge and experience and provide the highest quality patient centred care.

Barwon Health staff benefits

• Flexible working arrangements
• Professional development
• Access to employee wellness facility
• Salary packaging
• Social club
• Centrally located at University Hospital, only minutes from the vibrant waterfront
• Our Commitment to Child Safety
• Be our future Barwon Health Strategic Plan
• Aboriginal Employment Plan

At Barwon Health we celebrate and harness diversity, and consider it a competitive advantage. We encourage applications from all diverse backgrounds including individuals that identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, GLBTIQ+, and individuals with disabilities. Our organisation promotes the safety, wellbeing and inclusion of all our consumers including children and appropriate rigorous reference and background checks will be undertaken.  Barwon Health is proud to be Totally Smoke Free.