POSITION DESCRIPTION

Trainee - Unaccredited Position

Organisation NSW Health

Local Health District / Agency Hunter New England Local Health District
Position Classification JMO Unaccredited Trainee
State Award Public Hospital Medical Officers (State) Award
Category Medical Officers | General
Vaccination Category A+
Website www.hnehealth.nsw.gov.au

PRIMARY PURPOSE
The primary function of this position is to provide high quality clinical care under supervision to patients requiring
medical services in any of our Network hospitals.

As a trainee you will have significant responsibility and a complex role. It is expected that you will:

1. Provide patient assessment and management in consultation with the treating Consultant.
2. Coordinate appropriate consultations with other specialty departments and services.
3. Interact with other health professionals including nursing and allied health staff, in provision of ongoing
clinical care to patients.
4. Communicate with patients and their families, where appropriate, about the patient's treatment and
management.
5. Maintain high quality documentation in the patient's clinical record.
6. Ensure appropriate and timely communication to other health care providers and carers to ensure
ongoing patient care following discharge.
7. Provide supervision, feedback, teaching and support to junior medical staff and medical students.
8. Actively participate in research activities, audits and quality improvement activities.
9. Develop professional knowledge and skills through active involvement in our Network educational
programs.
10. Participate in after hours, weekend and on-call rosters.

COVID-19 VACCINATION COMPLIANCY

All NSW Health workers are required to have completed a primary course of a COVID-19 vaccine which has been
approved or recognised by the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA). Additionally, Category A workers are
required to receive a booster dose three months after completing the primary course of COVID-19 vaccinations. New
applicants must have completed the vaccination course prior to commencement with NSW Health, or provide an
approved medical contraindication certificate (IM011 immunisation medical exemption form) certifying the worker
cannot have any approved COVID-19 vaccines available in NSW.
Acceptable proof of vaccination is the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) Immunisation History Statement or AIR
COVID-19 Digital Certificate. Booster doses are highly recommended for all health care workers who have completed
the primary course of COVID-19 vaccinations.
For Category A applicants, if dose 3 is not yet due they can sign the undertaking form to confirm they will receive the
vaccine within 6 weeks of the dose due date.

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RESPIRATOR USE
NSW Health workers may be required to use a respirator, as part of their appointment with NSW Health. Where a
respirator is required for use, workers will be instructed in their safe use; including donning, doffing and fit checking.
Staff may be required to complete fit testing to selected respirator/s to assess their facial fit/seal.

At all times when a health worker is required to use a respirator, the health worker must not have any facial hair
present. Processes are in place to support workers that need to keep facial hair due to religious observance
requirements and/ or health conditions.

ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS

• Eligible for Registration: MBBS or equivalent, currently registered or eligible for registration with the
Medical Board of Australia
• Completion of at least two postgraduate years of medical practice
• This position is subject to an appropriate supervision level which can be supported by the health agency.
If the incumbent's registration conditions include supervision requirements, the level of supervision must
be able to be supported by the health agency for this role.
• Sufficient clinical experience in order to undertake the key accountabilities for this role
• Valid Working with Children Check
• Cleared National Police Check
• Aged Care Check for Australian Government funded positions
• To be employed by NSW Health you are required to provide evidence of vaccination to comply with the
NSW Health Occupational Assessment, Screening & Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases
Policy, this includes any amendments made from time to time.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

• Trainees are to provide safe and effective medical care to patients, under the supervision of the Ward
Consultant and act as a delegate.
• Participate in the provision of patient care as a vital member of the multi-disciplinary team, including
attendance at regular MDT meetings.
• Participation in clinical duties as arranged by the relevant supervising consultant including notification of
any significant changes in a patient's condition or situation including deaths.
• Communicating clearly and appropriately with all staff, patients and significant other persons involved in
each episode of care provision, patient condition and management including Emergency Department and
appropriate referrals and participation in outpatient clinics.
• Participating in all relevant handover reports and meetings, advising duty staff of any unstable or
potentially unstable patients at the end of each shift.
• Actively participate in discharge planning processes and maintain accurate medical record
documentation, including history, examination, management plan, investigations, results, progress notes,
action taken and discharge summaries. Including completion of statutory documentation.
• Participation in and provision of quality education to undergraduate and postgraduate medical students,
junior medical staff, allied health and nursing staff. Attendance and participation in relevant education
and meetings. Including appropriate research programmes and quality improvement programmes.
• Provide evidence of continued professional development and commitment to self-education.
• Trainees must be accessible to Junior Medical Staff throughout their shift and comply with out of hours,
weekend and on-call rosters.
• Ensure that all mandatory training requirements are adhered to, including orientation.
• Adhere to all safety rules concerning the wearing of protective clothing and equipment in the workplace
and be fully aware of the fire, disaster and other emergency procedures.
• Adhere to all NSW Ministry of Health, HNELHD, and hospital statutory policies, procedures and

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guidelines including EEO, Code of Conduct and WH & S.

• Observe the hospitals Infection Control policies and procedures in relation to personal hygiene, personal
immunisation and transmission of infection.
• Understanding of child protection legislation policies and responsibilities associated with notifying and
reporting any relevant issues about child protection.
• Respect the professional personal values of all HNELHD staff and patients along with their families and
carers.
• Email, via HNE provided email address, is the primary mode of communication with Trainees; it is the
Trainees responsibility to check their emails daily.

KEY CHALLENGES

• Balancing mandated training and education requirements with service provision within the limitations of a
busy public health service.
• Maintain a professional role and responsibility for patient care, in close liaison with supervising
Consultants.
• Working collaboratively with other staff within the multi-disciplinary team.
• Maximising the efficient utilisation of the physical resources of the Health Service and being compliant
with the Local Health District and the Ministry of Health policies and procedures.
• Being flexible with the work required in a range of health services and locations.
• Responsibility for supervision and teaching in Interns, Resident Medical Officers, Medical Students
attached to the clinical team.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Who Why

Patients/Consumers/Families/carers/guardians To communicate information regarding hospitalisation,

accompanying a patient treatment, and progress in a sensitive, timely, and clear nature
as essential for optimal patient care and experience

Consultants providing clinical supervision
To enable positive working relationships whilst under direct
supervision to facilitate professional development and learning
To participate in discussion and decisions, escalate issues,
propose solutions, receive guidance, and provide regular
updates regarding patients and their management

Inpatient (ward) teams, including other clinical
staff/streams/divisions across medical, nursing
and allied health
To co-coordinate patient care and follow up as part of a multi-
disciplinary team and across other supporting teams that is
timely, progressive and positive for each clinical care episode
To promote positive working relationships between inpatient
professional groups

Community based health professionals and To maintain continuity of high level health care in the transition
services, including General Practitioners etc. to home and local based care.

SELECTION CRITERIA
1. Eligible for Registration: MBBS or equivalent, currently registered or eligible for registration with the

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Medical Board of Australia

2. A minimum of two (2) full years of postgraduate experience required.
3. Demonstrated recent relevant experience in clinical medicine and ability to work in a complex clinical
environment.
4. Demonstrated excellent verbal and written communication skills.
5. Demonstrated commitment to ongoing learning, teaching and research and/or quality improvement in
medicine.
6. Demonstrated teamwork, time management and problem solving skills in a clinical setting within a multi-
disciplinary team.
7. Demonstrated commitment to professional development and to use this experience to further career
development.
8. Willingness or demonstrated capacity for participation in after hours, weekend and on-call rosters, and a
willingness to undertake network rotations, both metropolitan and rural.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS
SUPERVISION

• All trainees are supervised by the Consultant physician with regular face to face ward rounds and 24 hour
telephone advice available
• Supervision and support for the trainee in normal hours:
• Immediate: Consultant face to face and phone.
• Within the department: Term Supervisor, Consultant and Head of Department.
• Within the hospital: Director of Physician Education, Clinical Superintendent (if applicable), Director of
Clinical Services and the hospital executive.
• By telephone: All of the above plus BPT Network Management and Network Director of Physician
Education.
• Supervision and support for the trainee outside normal hours:
• Immediate: Consultants by phone and other medical officers from other specialties within the hospital
setting.
• Within the Department: Other medical trainees and junior medical staff.
• Within the Hospital: Other medical trainees and medical officers from other specialties.
• By telephone: All of the above plus specialty Consultants and specialty trainees on call. Executive and
Director of Physician Education.

DECISION MAKING

• The doctor will be required to:

• Exercise independent judgement, initiative and problem solving skills, but this should be exercised in
consultation with supervising medical staff.
• Provide high quality care, in accordance with your level of experience, for patients under the care of your
medical team in consultation with the Physician in charge.
• Deal with matters of a confidential and sensitive nature appropriately

COMMUNICATION

• The trainee is a key person who works closely with all members of staff and must:
• Work as part of, and contribute to a multi-disciplinary team.
• Deal with matter of an urgent or sensitive nature.
• Must have the ability to exercise discretion, sensitivity and maintain confidentiality
• Works cooperatively within a team environment and actively contributes to team activities including
proactively participating in team meetings and decision making processes.

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• Initiate, undertake and maintain communication with patients and relatives about planned clinical care.
• Ability to demonstrate appropriate documentation of all medical records and documents.

PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT

• The trainee is responsible for:

• Participating in ongoing review of their clinical practice.
• Participating in continuing medical education and professional development.
• Maintaining their professional competence.
• Completion of Ward Consultant Reports and term evaluations.
• Completion of all supervisory reports required by the Local Health District.

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