The Position

The Director of Medical Services must advocate for and understand the health care needs of the community and deliver a patient focused health care service that meets these needs, whilst respecting the directions set by the Department of Health and the priorities of the HS.

• Be responsible for autonomous decision making based on medical, policy and regulatory frameworks.
• Work collaboratively with leadership groups and healthcare team members.
• Partner with medical Executive members to operationalise clinical and corporate governance.
• Work collectedly to apply the principles of clinical governance.
• Operationally and professionally manage the medical services within the HS Follow defined service quality standards, occupational health and safety policies and procedures relating to the work being undertaken in order to ensure high quality, safe, services and workplaces.
• Work clinically at hospital, Medical Practice and Primary Health Clinic, including provision of telehealth consultations.
• Fulfill clinical on-call requirements in line with their approved scope of clinical practice.
• Manage the administrative requirements of patient care including ensuring discharge summaries and medico-legal correspondence is completed with minimal delay.
• Ensure quality professional communication with individual patients, relatives, guardian and all relevant health professionals necessary for quality clinical care outcomes, including for the transfer of responsibility of clinical care.
• Make a commitment to patient safety and to improve clinical care through participation in clinical audits, clinical meetings, peer review and other safety and quality assurance programs, presentations and projects.
• Make a commitment to teaching, supervision and mentorship of other medical staff and students, including the completion of quality supervisory documentation
• . Participate in continuing professional development as required by Medical Board of Australia.

Management Specific Responsibilities

Operationally support the management of the medical services within the Southern Hub, including services to the Medical Practices, Hospital and Primary Health Centre in collaboration with DON/Facility Manager, Facility manager and Practice manager of the Southern Hub, under the executive direction of the General Manager for Acute Health Services and General Manager Primary Health Services.

Professionally report to the Executive Director Medical Services (EDMS) and work collaboratively with the EDMS to further develop the services as an educational institution, to implement clinical governance systems and monitor appropriate research. Work alongside general practice management Role Description Hospital and Health Service Page 3 of 9 and staff to successfully drive the delivery of primary care, including attention to chronic disease strategies and the oversight of own source revenue from these.

Health Service

The Central West Hospital and Health Service is a resourceful and dedicated leader in quality, far-reaching healthcare. Our high standard of accessible healthcare spans a vast 396,650 km2 region equivalent to 23 percent of Queensland. Reaching from Tambo in the south-east to Boulia in the north-west, our healthcare hubs based in Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, and Winton serve communities as widespread as they are diverse.

Whether it’s championing proactive health programs for our many communities or enhancing our emergency responsiveness, we are dedicated to delivering the best possible outcomes.

The largest centre of Longreach is the coordination point for the provision of regional services including child and maternal health, mental health and allied health. Barcaldine hosts a state-of-the-art dental facility from which the Central West Oral Health Services are delivered. Medical officers work across 15 public facilities and 4 general practices to deliver a contemporary primary healthcare service that supports our communities’ healthcare needs with a focus on accessibility and continuity of care.

To deliver our Vision to be a leader in providing far-reaching healthcare our strategic priorities focus on three key areas: 

• People – Design a workforce which empowers individuals to be safe, accountable contributors to a positive organisational culture.
• Services – Integrated planning and design of sustainable primary and acute healthcare delivery which maximise opportunity for improved health outcomes.
• Systems – Sustainable delivery of safe quality healthcare services. 

The priorities recognise the strength and expertise of our staff in remote service delivery. They also build on our relationship with communities and other service providers.

The main health challenges are the increasing poor social and emotional wellbeing of communities, mental illness and chronic disease. Feedback from our communities has emphasised that our service structure and partnerships need to be responsive, adaptable, inclusive and compassionate. Incorporating this feedback is critical to the development of sustainable models of healthcare delivery that can support all Australians across their life spans in; prevention, primary care, emergency and acute hospital-based services.

The Location

The Central West Hospital and Health Service is a resourceful and dedicated leader in quality, far-reaching healthcare. Our high standard of accessible healthcare spans a vast 396,650 km2 region equivalent to 23 percent of Queensland. Reaching from Tambo in the south-east to Boulia in the north-west, our healthcare hubs based in Longreach, Barcaldine, Blackall, and Winton serve communities as widespread as they are diverse.

Whether it’s championing proactive health programs for our many communities or enhancing our emergency responsiveness, we are dedicated to delivering the best possible outcomes.

The largest centre of Longreach is the coordination point for the provision of regional services including child and maternal health, mental health and allied health. Barcaldine hosts a state-of-the-art dental facility from which the Central West Oral Health Services are delivered. Medical officers work across 15 public facilities and 4 general practices to deliver a contemporary primary healthcare service that supports our communities’ healthcare needs with a focus on accessibility and continuity of care.

Essential Criteria

Mandatory qualifications/Professional registration/other requirements

Appointment to this position requires proof of qualification and registration or membership with the appropriate registration authority or association within Australia. Certified copies of the required information must be provided to the appropriate supervisor/manager, prior to the commencement of clinical duties.

• Registered with, or eligible for registration with, the Medical Board of Australia.
• Possession of Fellowship of the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and/or Fellowship of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, and/or Vocational registration as a General Practitioner or evidence of working towards this is highly desirable.
• Whilst not mandatory, qualifications in management or other relevant disciplines will be highly regarded.
• The successful application will be appointed between classifications Level 13 and Level 25 in accordance with Annexure B – Additional Information.
• Appointment as Rural Generalist (Level 18 to Level 25) will require one or more of the following advanced skills: - Obstetrics - Anaesthetics - Mental Health - Emergency Medicine - Internal Medicine - Paediatrics - Indigenous Health
• The appointee will be required to undergo a credentialing process and will be granted appropriate scope of clinical practice. There is a system of review and renewal of credentials and privileges for senior medical staff. This is reviewed on a three-yearly basis.
• It is a condition of employment for this role for the employee to be, and remain, vaccinated against COVID-19 Health Employment Directive No. 12/21 and Queensland Health Human Resources Policy B70.
• It is a condition of employment for this role for the employee to be, and remain, vaccinated against the following vaccine preventable diseases: measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, hepatitis B and pertussis (whooping cough) during their employment. Existing staff that are engaged prior to 1 July 2016 are not subject to this condition of employment unless they apply for a role with VPD requirements that is with a different Queensland Health entity (ie one HHS to another HHS)
• The incumbent must be licensed to operate a C Class motor vehicle. Proof of this endorsement must be provided before commencement of duty.
• In accordance with current Award conditions, all employees working on a continuous shift basis will be required to work all shifts on a roster. These shifts may vary in length across a 24-hour period, Monday to Sunday inclusive. Following consultation with relevant unions, an employee may be required to participate in new or varied roster arrangements including 24-hour shift work, on-call and weekend rosters.

The Package

• Role Title Director of Medical Services
• Classification L13-L25
• Base Remuneration Package $353,256 - $453,916 p.a

About Skilled Medical

Skilled Medical is a leading international medical recruitment firm that delivers qualified medical professionals wherever they are needed in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. We are a quality accredited firm with years of industry experience supporting communities and assisting medical professionals in their work and careers. To learn more about Skilled Medical please visit us at www.skilledmedical.com

To Apply

For further information, please send your most up to date CV to Kirsty MacIsaac by selecting the 'Apply' button below, or please call a member of our permanent team in London on +44 (0) 333 444 2000 or in Australia on 1300 900 100.