POSITION DESCRIPTION

Resident Medical Officer

Organisation NSW Health

Local Health District / Agency South Eastern Sydney Local Health District
Position Classification JMO Resident Medical Officer
State Award Public Hospital Medical Officers (State) Award
Category Medical Officers | General
Vaccination Category A+
Website www.seslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/

PRIMARY PURPOSE
To provide effective medical services to patients under supervision in a complex clinical environment.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinating the admission, management and discharge planning of patients seen in or admitted to his /
her Unit within the Local Health District, and ensuring that the admission and plans are documented in
the medical record.
• Communicating with the patient and their family regarding the nature of their condition and its treatment
• Communicating and coordinating care with the team, arranging consultation with other staff when
appropriate, then arranging / planning discharge where applicable and liaising with local medical officers
and other community based care modalities.
• All decisions concerning the patient(s) should be in consultation with their immediate supervisor

COVID-19 VACCINATION COMPLIANCY

All NSW Health workers are required to have completed a primary course (2 doses) of a Therapeutic Goods
Administration (TGA) approved or recognised COVID-19 vaccine (except for the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine which is
approved by the TGA as a single dose primary course). New applicants must have completed the vaccination course
prior to commencement with NSW Health, or provide an Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) Immunisation History
Statement certifying the worker cannot have any approved COVID-19 vaccines available in NSW. A NSW Health
agency may require further information about the medical contraindication (including but not limited to an
Immunisation Medical Exemption form - IM011 form).

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.

RESPIRATOR USE

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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 CRITERIA

• MBBS or equivalent, currently registered with the Medical Board of Australia in an appropriate registration
category
• 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.
• 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

• Assist with the management of patients in order to provide high quality, safe, patient-centred care. This
includes coordinating admissions, assisting with patient assessments, implementing treatment plans, and
organizing referrals, consultations, and diagnostic investigations.
• Perform procedures under instruction and supervision, to assist with patient care and contribute to
learning.
• Assist with discharging patients as directed, following all relevant protocols, to ensure effective follow up
and continuity of care of patients after discharge.
• Communicate patient-relevant information in a timely and clear manner to patients and their
families/carers and all staff involved in the patient's care, to facilitate shared decision-making, timely
information transfer, and hence ensuring quality patient care. This includes escalating issues when
required, and respecting confidentiality and privacy.
• Prepare and oversee accurate documentation in relation to patient care, maintaining confidentiality and
privacy, to ensure timely and efficient communication of patient information, and to ensure patient records
are effective and accurate for current and future use.
• Teach other clinical staff, to ensure an optimal learning environment, promote growth and development of
others. Teaching may include assisting with formal education sessions, providing learning experiences on
the job, and giving constructive feedback and informal instruction.
• Supervise other clinical staff, to enable them to develop the competence and knowledge required for
responsible practice, to ensure quality patient care and treatment, promote team building and a
supportive environment, enhance the performance of those being supervised, and monitor their welfare.
• Contribute to research projects to contribute to scholarly knowledge that leads to better patient outcomes
and to develop skills and understanding of quality research.
• Participate in quality assurance activities to ensure that appropriate standards are maintained, gaps in
meeting safety and quality standards are identified and raised, and to contribute to the continual
improvement of self, colleagues, the department and the service provided by the hospital.
• Actively monitor and manage own safety and wellbeing, seeking assistance when needed.
• Create a personal training or development plan, participate in available educational experiences, and
actively seek to learn and obtain feedback in order to maintain lifelong learning and continuing
professional development, to understand your own skills, knowledge and capability; and therefore to

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experience professional growth, exercise judgement and know when to seek assistance.

KEY CHALLENGES

• Working in a complex environment where there are competing priorities and strict deadlines & developing
strong working relationships with a multidisciplinary workforce.
• Ensuring that a comprehensive patient history is completed using available sources including the patient
as well as other relevant sources (e.g. medical record, family, nursing home, general practitioner,
ambulance transfers sheet etc.); Designing then communicating a discharge plan containing an accurate
history of their admission and a clearly identified and attainable management plan.
• Formulating a management plan for every patient in consultation with more senior medical staff,
appropriate investigations are ordered and followed up and that the management plan is altered
necessarily; patients with acute problems are assessed and treated in a timely and appropriate manner.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Who Why

Nursing, Allied Health, All Medical Officers To ensure patient care is provided to the utmost level
involved in patient care

Relevant Committees & Hospital Executive To provide information to relevant key people and groups

Medical Workforce Unit To ensure required information is passed to the department

that looks after Payroll/Human Resources matters and Welfare
& Wellbeing Junior Medical Officers

Medical Board of Australia, HETI & Professional Ensure currency of registration, professionally observe the
Training Governing Bodies policies & regulations of the Medical Board of Australia to allow
them to practice

Other Hospitals & Local Health Districts in To ensure continuity of patient care as required
relation to patient care and training

SELECTION CRITERIA
1. MBBS or equivalent, currently registered with the Medical Board of Australia in an appropriate registration
category
2. Must have work at least 12 months (not observer) in an Australian Public Hospital.
3. Demonstrated excellent communication skills (verbal and written), and computer skills.
4. A professional attitude and flexibility in work role with a preparedness and ability to participate in after-
hours overtime and on-call rosters.
5. Demonstrated ability to work independently within a supervised complex clinical environment.
6. Willingness to work and rotate in different hospitals within the network, including rural hospital.

OTHER REQUIREMENTS

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• Model the NSW Health CORE Values of Collaboration, Openness, Respect and Empowerment.
• Participate in after-hours rosters including nights and weekends OR Participate in a 24/7 roster and may
be rostered to day, evening or night shifts across a seven day roster
• Move between services and geographical locations to deliver patient care
• Participate in ward rounds and clinical handover, to transfer information, accountability and responsibility
for a patient or group of patients, following the ISBAR protocol, National Australian Standards. Clinical
handover happens within and between Medical, Surgical, Emergency, Paediatric and Critical Care teams.
• Complete mandatory training as required by the hospital, local health district or specialty network, and
NSW Health
• Attend all applicable organization-wide, hospital, department and role orientation sessions
• Abide by all conditions/provisions of employment as outlined in the relevant Award
• Conduct all required responsibilities and tasks of the role in a manner that is consistent with legislation,
local and state-wide delegations, procedures, policies and manuals, which include but are not limited to
the following areas:

• NSW Health Code of Conduct

• performance management and development
• work, health and safety
• records management
• confidentiality and privacy

• All staff are expected to take reasonable care that their acts and omissions do not adversely affect the
health and safety of others, that they comply with any reasonable instruction that is given to them and
with any policies/procedures relating to health or safety in the workplace, as well as notifying any
hazards/risks or incidents to their managers.

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