Health and Community Employees Psychologists (State) Award

 

INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES

 

Review of Award pursuant to Section 19 of the Industrial Relations Act 1996.

 

(No. IRC 168 of 2012)

 

 

REVIEWED AWARD

 

1.        Delete the Arrangement of the award published 24 April 2009 (367 I.G. 1083) and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

Arrangement

 

Clause No.       Subject Matter

 

6.        Area, Incidence and Duration

3.        Grading Committee

2.        Classifications

4.        Conditions of Service

1.        Definitions

5.        Savings Provision

 

PART B

 

Table 1 - Salary Rates

 

2.        Delete the definition of "employer" in clause 1, Definitions, and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

"Employer" means the Director-General of the Ministry of Health exercising employer functions on behalf of the Government of New South Wales (and includes a delegate of the Director-General)..

 

3.        Delete the definition of "Health Service" in clause 1, Definitions, and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

"Health Service" means a Local Health District constituted under section 8 of the Health Services Act 1997, a Statutory Health Corporation constituted under section 11 of that Act and an Affiliated Health Organisation constituted under section 13 of that Act.

 

4.        Delete the definition of "Psychologist in Training" in clause 1, Definitions and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

"Psychologist in Training" means an employee with a four year degree in psychology, being a three year degree with a fourth year honours in psychology; or who has qualifications deemed equivalent by the employer, and who is eligible for provisional registration with the Psychology Board of Australia. Such employees will be provided with appropriate supervision to enable the employee to attain registration with the Psychology Board of Australia as a Psychologist. 

 

5.        Delete the definition of "Union" in clause 1, Definitions, and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

"Union" means HSUeast. 

 

6.        Delete subclause A, Psychologists of Clause 2, Classifications and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

A.       Psychologist

 

(i)       Academic and Registration Requirements

 

A Psychologist is an employee with a four year degree in psychology, being a three year degree with a fourth year honours in psychology; or a qualification deemed equivalent by the employer.

 

The Psychologist classification includes both Psychologists in Training and Psychologists who have full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia.

 

A Psychologist in Training shall commence at year 1 of the scale for Psychologist.

 

Provided that where a Psychologist has already met the criteria for full registration, and has full registration with the Psychology Board of Australia, they shall commence at year 3 of the scale for Psychologist.

 

Provided further that until such time as a Psychologist has met the criteria for full registration and is registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, the employee shall not progress past the salary rate applying for Psychologist 2nd year of service.

 

(ii)      Characteristics

 

(a)      Tasks

 

Psychologists are trained in the independent application of existing treatment techniques and assessment procedures to a range of behavioural and emotional disorders.

 

Psychologists facilitate change in attitudes and behaviour related to health and illness, for the purpose of preventing and relieving distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development.

 

(b)      Judgement and Problem Solving

 

Psychologists evaluate psychological factors affecting maladaptive behaviour and provide individual counselling services, therapeutic interventions, group programs and case management in the areas of (but not limited to) anger management, parenting skills, stress management, social skills training, assertiveness training, mental health and problem addictions.

 

Psychologists undertake psychometric testing eg intelligence, personality and vocational, consistent with Psychology Board of Australia competencies.

 

(c)      Supervision and Independence

 

Psychologists may work independently with clinical supervision from a more senior psychologist.

 

Psychologists may provide clinical supervision to less experienced psychologists. 

 

Psychologists with three or more years of post-registration experience are eligible to supervise Psychologists in Training for registration purposes after having successfully undertaken the Psychology Board of Australia certified supervision workshop.

 

(d)      Organisational Relationships and Impact

 

Psychologists may contribute to service planning and policy development.

 

Psychologists may participate in psychological research and evaluation projects as required.

 

Psychologists may be involved in the provision of in-services to staff and students.

 

Psychologists may formulate management and case plans.

 

Psychologists undertake liaison with relevant internal and external stakeholders.

 

7.        Delete paragraph (ii) of subclause B, Senior Psychologist, of Clause 2, Classifications and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

(ii)      Academic and Registration Requirements

 

An employee with a four year degree in psychology, being a three year degree with a fourth year honours in psychology; or who has qualifications deemed equivalent by the employer and who is registered as a psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.

 

Employees appointed at the Senior Psychologist level shall satisfy the criteria for the Psychologist classification, and have completed a minimum of one year at the 9th year of service and thereafter point on the salary scale for Psychologist.   Employees appointed to this classification shall demonstrate to the satisfaction of the employer by their work performed and the results achieved, together with their aptitude, abilities and other attributes, that appointment at this level is warranted on merit. 

 

8.        Delete subparagraph (d) of paragraph (i) of subclause E, Principal Psychologist, of Clause 2, Classifications and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

(d)      Advisory, with the Principal Psychologist:

 

(1)      operating in a senior advisory role to the Health Service and developing systems to ensure a high level of professional functioning of psychologists in that Health Service, such as organising regular continued professional development for Psychologists, maintaining and enhancing professional ethics and conduct, supporting Ministry of Health objectives via evidence based methods and evaluation; and

 

(2)      teaching specialised clinical skills to other psychologists and/ or students;

 

9.        Delete Clause 5, No Extra Claims and renumber remaining clauses accordingly.

 

10.      Delete renumbered clause 6, Area, Incidence and Duration and insert in lieu thereof the following:

 

6.  Area, Incidence and Duration

 

(i)       This Award rescinds and replaces the Health and Community Employees Psychologists (State) Award published 10 March 2006 (357 IG 970) and all variations thereof.

 

(ii)       This Award shall apply to persons employed in classifications contained herein employed in the New South Wales Health Service under section 115(1) of the Health Services Act 1997, or their successors, assignees or transmittees, excluding the County of Yancowinna.

 

(iii)      The changes made to the award pursuant to the Award Review pursuant to section 19(6) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1996 and Principle 26 of the Principles for Review of Awards made by the Industrial Relations Commission of NSW on 28 April 1999 (310 I.G. 359) take effect on 19 March 2012.

 

(iv)      This award remains in force until varied or rescinded, the period for which it was made having already expired.

 

 

 

 

C.G. STAFF J

 

 

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Printed by the authority of the Industrial Registrar.