Nursing - Registered Psychiatric Nurse Grade 5

Forensicare; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Forensicare, Victoria’s specialist forensic mental health service, seeks a Nursing - Registered Psychiatric Nurse Grade 5 to lead the Early Intervention Support Team and Safely Reducing Restrictive Practices at Thomas Embling Hospital.

You will provide senior nursing leadership, mentor EIST/SRRP staff, implement evidence-based strategies, and drive service improvement while promoting trauma-informed, least restrictive care.

Qualifications

• Registered Nurse with current AHPRA registration and postgraduate qualification in Mental Health, Psychiatric or Forensic Nursing.
• Advanced clinical expertise in mental health nursing and application of evidence-based practice.
• Experience leading initiatives to safely reduce restrictive practices and improve outcomes.
• Clinical leadership and consultancy skills to mentor staff and drive improvement.
• Knowledge of prevention/management of clinical violence and aggression in health settings.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate EIST: organise meetings, oversee seclusion review and program delivery.
• Provide high-quality, person-centred, trauma-informed care.
• Lead initiatives to safely reduce restrictive practices and clinical violence.
• Coordinate early intervention, engagement and de-escalation strategies.
• Monitor practice, evaluate outcomes and drive continuous quality improvement.

Skills

Clinical leadership

De-escalation skills

Evidence-based practice

Collaborative teamwork

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Mental Health/Psychiatric or Forensic Nursing

Job description

Nursing - Registered Psychiatric Nurse Grade 5

Clinical Nurse Consultant - Early Intervention Support Team (EIST) /
Safely Reducing Restrictive Practices (SRRP)

Grade: RPN5

Location: Thomas Embling Hospital, Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield 3078.

May be required to work at other sites from time to time.

Full time

Forensicare (Victorian Institute of Forensic Mental Health) is Victoria’s specialist provider of forensic mental health services. We deliver recovery-focused programs that support consumers living with serious mental illness or problematic behaviours who are connected to, or at risk of contact with, the justice system, across a variety of settings including community-based services, inpatient units, and secure environments throughout Victoria.

Position Objective

The Clinical Nurse Consultant - Early Intervention Support Team (EIST) / Safely Reducing Restrictive Practices (SRRP) provides senior clinical leadership and specialist consultancy to support the safe reduction of restrictive practices and clinical violence and aggression at Thomas Embling Hospital. The role works across high and medium secure acute and rehabilitation hospital services to promote recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and evidence-based care, while leading initiatives that improve consumer outcomes, staff safety and service quality.

The Clinical Nurse Consultant – EIST/SRRP ensures professional development for Early Intervention Support Team (EIST) nurses and works in partnership with other Clinical Nurse Consultants at the hospital to safely reduce restrictive practices and reduce the risk of clinical occupational aggression and violence.The role is part of a team of CNCs who work collaboratively with the hospital leadership group and other key internal and external stakeholders to develop workforce capability, strengthen therapeutic engagement, support early intervention and de-escalation strategies, and drive continuous practice improvement. The role provides education, mentoring and expert support to clinical and non-clinical staff and teams managing complex behavioural and risk issues to support a safe and effective practice environment.

The Clinical Nurse Consultant – EIST/SRRP is responsible for leading service improvement and change initiatives, implementing evidence-based strategies to safely reduce restrictive practices and occupational clinical violence and aggression and ensuring consistent, coordinated approaches to care that enhance safety, quality and operational effectiveness across the hospital.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate the operational delivery and professional development of the Early Intervention Support Team (EIST):
  • coordinate regular EIST meetings with relevant line and clinical security team managers
  • oversee EIST nurses’ participation in supporting seclusion review and delivering individual and group programs
  • support EIST nurses to develop and use de-escalation, sensory modulation, and distraction techniques
  • ensure EIST nurses understand and apply procedures for escorting consumers on campus
  • ensure EIST nurses provide timely support to unit-based staff and respond to incidents, should there be multiple responses needed, including where secondary responders have attended
• Provide advanced clinical leadership, consultancy and support to nursing and multidisciplinary teams to deliver high-quality, person-centred, recovery-oriented and trauma-informed care.
• Lead and support initiatives that safely reduce restrictive practices and clinical violence and aggression, ensuring care is responsive to consumer needs and promotes least restrictive practice.
• Coordinate and implement evidence‑based early intervention, therapeutic engagement and de‑escalation strategies to improve consumer outcomes and staff safety.
• Monitor clinical practice, evaluate outcomes and lead continuous quality improvement activities to ensure compliance with legislative, organisational and best practice standards.
• Collaborate with Hospital Leadership, multidisciplinary teams, lived experience representatives and other stakeholders to improve service delivery and achieve clinical and operational objectives.
• Provide education, coaching, mentoring and professional support to develop staff capability in restrictive practice reduction, preventing and managing clinical violence and aggression, and therapeutic care approaches.

Key Selection Criteria

• Registered Nurse with current AHPRA registration and a postgraduate qualification in Mental Health, Psychiatric or Forensic Nursing, supported by substantial post-registration experience in mental health and/or forensic services.
• Demonstrated advanced clinical expertise in mental health nursing, including the application of contemporary evidence‑based practice, professional standards and relevant legislation to support consumers with complex needs.
• Proven commitment to recovery‑oriented, trauma‑informed and least restrictive practice, with experience leading initiatives that safely reduce restrictive interventions and improve consumer outcomes.
• Demonstrated clinical leadership and consultancy skills, with the ability to influence practice, provide expert advice, mentor staff and lead sustainable clinical improvement.
• Advanced knowledge and experience in the prevention and management of clinical violence and aggression, as a subset of occupational violence and aggression (OVA) in a complex health or related environment.

To view the full position description, please view here

Please note, applications will be reviewed and accessed as received. Advertising may close earlier than indicated.

ELIGIBILITY

• Influenza and Immunisation Evidence
• This position is subject to a Police Check

Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and developing a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people who identify as LGBTQI, people with a lived experience of disability, as well as people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. Forensicare promotes our guiding principles of RESPONSIVENESS, INTEGRITY, IMPARTIALITY, ACCOUNTABILITY, RESPECT, LEADERSHIP, HUMAN RIGHTS; and promotes behaviours that are consistent with these values at all times. Forensicare is an equal opportunity employer and offers a smoke free environment.