Unit Manager

Location: Melbourne

Job type: Full time

Organisation: Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health

**Salary**: Salary not specified

Occupation: Nursing

Reference: 15651
- Full time Unit Manager - Psychiatric Nurse Grade 5
- Based at Thomas Embling Hospital
- A culture where people care

**Job location**

Forensicare is the statutory agency responsible for the provision of adult forensic mental health services across Victoria.

We address the needs of people experiencing mental health issues, the mental health sector, the justice sector and the general community. These services are delivered through inpatient services at Thomas Embling Hospital, community services through the Community Forensic Mental Health Service and prison-based services at several locations. This position will be based at **Thomas Embling Hospital **and will be required to work across all Forensicare sites.

Forensicare is situated across five sites across Victoria with its largest site being Thomas Embling Hospital,?located in Fairfield?just 15 minutes north of the Melbourne city centre.?Thomas Embling Hospital is a 136-bed secure hospital providing acute care, rehabilitation and continuing care programs. It includes a dedicated women’s unit.

**About the Role**:

- The Unit Manager is an integral part of the nursing team and has responsibility and accountability for providing high level management and direction for the overall development of the unit, including planning, development of human, physical and financial resources and overseeing the delivery of multidisciplinary services.
- This position engages with other managers and service providers across Justice Health, Forensicare and custodial and program staff to improve and maintain the unit and service’s management, clinical, educational and support activities. The position must provide direction and support that is aligned to the outcomes of the Forensicare Strategic Plan, the National Mental Health Standards, the Mental Health Act 2014 and other relevant legislation, standards and competencies.

**Duties**:

- Develop and implement strategies to promote shared values, shared direction and shared responsibility within the unit and across the service
- Develop, implement and evaluate the unit Business Plan and ensure strong links and contribution to the organisation’s Corporate Plan.
- Prepare and manage the unit roster in accordance within budget resources and Psychiatric Services Certified Agreement.
- Promote team work that recognises the contribution of each discipline and individual in the delivery of recovery-oriented patient care
- Establish and sustain a high quality standard of clinical care that is responsive and tailored to patient choices, circumstances, needs and preferences.
- Maintain a general understanding and knowledge of patient status, treatment needs and progress.
- Ensure practice complies with recognised legislation, recovery frameworks, standards and code of ethics.
- Be an effective role model for other staff and act to rectify clinical practice when required.
- Liaise with the Nursing and Practice Development Unit to undertake practice development projects.
- Liaise with Discipline Seniors to ensure Standards of Practice are met.
- Deliver patient services within agreed budget parameters, including the development,monitoring and reporting of unit budget.
- Adhere to Forensicare purchasing policy and procedure

**About You**:

- Hold a Postgraduate Diploma (Nursing Practice Mental Health) or equivalent and current registration with AHRPA.
- Comprehensive knowledge and experience translating current Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) standards of practice, contemporary forensic mental health nursing practices and relevant legislation, into practice coupled with significant post registration experience in a similar role.
- Models and leads the develoment of recovery-focused initiatives for the delivery of quality, recovery-focused mental health care.
- Leverages working relationships with colleagues and high level knowledge of nursing practices to build strong connections, cooperation and collaboration.
- Significant experience in leading teams through organisational and unit change, building a motivated and collaborative team.

**What you need**:

- Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health Nursing or equivalent.
- Registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulations Agency (AHPRA).

**A culture where people matter.**
- Excellent supervision and investment in the skill development of managers and supervisors.
- Celebration and reward for good performance, through employee recognition.
- A leading, multi-faceted approach to safety, with unparalleled strategic, practical, individualised and team-based supports to minimise risks and fear and maximise safety and security, underpinned by our workplace health and safety strategy.
- Access to an employee assistance program - an external, confidential, self-referral employee well