Austin Health is the major provider of tertiary health services, health professional education and research across 3 campuses in the northeast of Melbourne and state-wide. Austin Health is world-renowned for its research and specialist work in cancer, liver transplantation, spinal cord injuries, neurology, endocrinology, mental health and rehabilitation.

An exciting opportunity exists for an enthusiastic and highly experienced clinician to join our Health Safety & Wellness Department in a newly created role, Improvement Lead: Occupational Violence and Aggression (OVA).

The Improvement Lead: OVA will lead change, provide strategic planning, and coordinate intervention delivery and continuous improvement in an OVA context across the Austin Health workforce.

The fundamental objective of this role is to reduce the risk and harm associated with Occupational Violence and Aggression in Austin Health workplaces.

About you:

You are an experienced clinician with an advanced understanding of the assessment and management of behaviours of concern and occupational violence and aggression in a clinical setting.

You will draw on your extensive clinical experience and expertise to drive innovation and organisational capability for the management of behaviours of concern (BOC) across all patient cohorts and all Austin Health sites.

You have strong project management, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.

Key responsibilities include:

OVA Risk reduction and capability building

• Provide expert advice organisation-wide to assist with the management of patients with BOC
• Work with clinical leaders and staff to support a proactive approach to reducing BOC in line with existing evidence base
• Build workforce capability in the management of BOC to achieve OVA risk reduction
• Provide expert advice in the development of plans and tools to support behaviour management including: positive support plans, behavior management plans and safety plans.

OVA Incidents

• Use clinical and OVA expertise to support incident investigations for serious OVA incidents (OHS and Clinical).
• Share and drive the application of OVA incident learnings across Austin Health.
• Coordinate with key stakeholders to ensure Austin Health staff are provided with best practice post-incident support.
• Monitor, interpret and deliver OVA incident data
• Undertake OVA risk assessment and risk mitigation action planning

Stakeholder engagement and consultation

• Network and liaise with a range of internal and external stakeholders including Industry associations; Victoria Police, DOH, Worksafe Victoria, Ambulance Victoria and other health agencies

Regulation and compliance

• Liaison with Worksafe Victoria inspectorate for matters of regulatory compliance
• Contribute to relevant ACHS compliance actions

OVA Strategy & Action Plan

• Lead the delivery of the OVA Strategy and Action Plan for Austin Health and coordinate key stakeholder groups
• Manage and coordinate OVA Projects and plans as required.

OVA Committees

• Coordinate the agenda, including Action Plan updates, statistics and incident information for OVA Committee and lead relevant discussions, with assistance of meeting chair.
• Participate in and provide expert support to associated committees (Police & Ambulance Liaison; ED Aggression Management Committee, Creating Safety etc.)

OVA Procedures & Training

• Benchmark evidence based clinical practice, legislative and regulatory requirements to lead the development of policies and procedures pertaining to Occupational Violence and Aggression.
• Conduct relevant evaluative analysis to determine organisational education requirements to reduce risk.
• Implement, deliver and drive OVA training compliance across the organisation.

Work with us! Your reward is to work in a collaborative environment which will provide you with opportunities for ongoing training and development. Your benefits will include salary packaging, and access to our staff wellbeing program.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory National Police Check conducted by Austin Health and if required, a Working With Children Check.

Austin Health is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce that reflects the community we serve. Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are encouraged.

A position description is attached.