Quality Associate

Position Summary

The Quality Associate works in collaboration with the Quality and Safety unit to help deliver the quality management program at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. The key functions of this position are to: 

• Support the quality and risk management system within the area assigned.
• In partnership with the Quality Systems Coordinators and Clinical Data and Risk Management Officer, provide practical support to assigned area on the implementation of quality and safety frameworks, consumer participation and risk management. 
• Provide coaching on specific quality initiatives/projects as allocated.
• Provide practical support to assigned area to maintain the quality systems and improvements and data provision.
• Monitor clinical incident reporting withing the area assigned and assist with/prepare monthly incident data reporting/s for/to the area assigned.
• Support Quality Coordinators with incidents reviews where required.
• Support the audit program and assist with recommendations accordingly.
• Support the Quality and Safety Unit to facilitate governance committee meetings and associated Working Groups.

Enterprise Agreement

Health and Allied Services, Managers and Adminstrative Workers
 

Classification or Salary Range

HS4

Immunisation Risk Category

Category B: Position unlikely to have contact with blood or other body fluid 

Key Relationships

Internal

• Quality and Safety Unit
• Executive Team
• Heads of Department and relevant administrative and clinical staff of area assigned
• Medical and Nursing Education
• Quality Coordinators 
• Peter Mac Consumers

External

Education

Skills

Essential Requirements

• experience working in a health organisation. 
• Sufficient professional knowledge and experience to enable recognition and definition of the problems and needs of patients and their carer’s. 
• Good understanding and knowledge of hospital and community service systems 
• Ability to work with staff at all levels of the organisation and as part of a multi-disciplinary team 
• Strong organisational and time management skills and experience of project management 
• Strong writing and analytical skills
• Strong IT skills 

Desirable Requirements

• Experience in leading quality improvement projects within a large hospital setting
• Qualification in nursing, allied health or relevant discipline.
• Experience in oncology
• Experience using EPIC
• Knowledge of the Victorian Health Incident Management system
• Understanding of the National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
• Experience of audit processes

Certifications, Licenses & Registrations

Key Accountabilities

1.  Practical Support of the Quality System 

1.1 Build productive relationships with internal stakeholders. 
1.6 Promote an organisational culture that enables a positive safety culture and a learning culture.

• Maintain quality plan and risk management system to ensure the achievement of required standards are met in allocated area 
• Liaise with Quality Coordinators and Consumer Liaison Officers with investigations in assigned area and assist to implement recommendations. 
• Staff feedback demonstrates that a high level of support and service was achieved

2.Quality and Safety Improvement
2.1 Managing the administration and processes for, and support staff with, Statutory Duty of Candour
2.2 Provide support to areas undertaking practice improvement initiatives related to Quality and safety data
2.3 Support the Quality and Safety unit to ensure accreditation requirements are met

• Deliver reports for assigned area 
• Encourage teams to utilize real time feedback to make improvements in care and service experience
• Coach assigned area with improvements and maintain the Quality Plan
• Evidence of the implementation of accreditation requirements in preparation for organisation wide survey

3. Data Management
3.1 Collection of data and monitoring of clinical incidents and corrective and preventative improvement to health service delivery
3.4 Collating and analysing data for quality and patient safety reporting and in response to ad hoc enquiries

• Review and manage clinical incidents from assigned area via RiskMan incident reporting database as well as monitor incidents and provide quality data reports to area management team on incident trends
• Attendance at allocated quality committee meetings and assigned area department / quality meetings.
• Expand real-time feedback processes
• Support quality and safety publications
• Other duties as required
   

Key Accountabilities (Contd..)