Health
and Community Employees Psychologists (State) Award
INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS
COMMISSION OF NEW SOUTH WALES
Application by NSW
Department of Health.
(No. IRC 254 of 2009)
|
Before The Honourable
Justice Kavanagh
|
5 March 2009
|
VARIATION
1. Delete the
Arrangement of the award published 24 April 2009 (367 I.G. 1083) and insert in
lieu the following:
Arrangement
Clause No. Subject Matter
7. Area,
Incidence and Duration
3. Grading
Committee
2. Classifications
4. Conditions
of Service
1. Definitions
5. No Extra
Claims
6. Savings
Provision
PART B
Table 1 - Salary
Rates
2. Delete in
Clause 1 Definitions, the definition of Psychologist in Training 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 NSW
Psychologists’ Registration Board. Such
employees will be provided with appropriate supervision to enable the employee
to attain registration with the NSW Psychologists’ Registration Board as a
Psychologist.
3. Delete
subclauses (i) Characteristics and General Features of Duties and (ii) Academic
and Registration Requirements, in Clause 2 Classifications under the heading
"Psychologist" 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
Psychologists Registration Board of NSW.
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 is registered in accordance with the
Psychologists Act 2001, 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 in accordance with
the Psychologists Act 2001, 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 NSW Psychologists’
Registration Board 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
Psychologists Registration Board of NSW 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.
4. Delete the
heading "Senior Psychologist" in Clause 2 Classifications and insert
in lieu thereof the following heading:
B. Senior
Psychologist
5. Delete
subclauses (i) Characteristics and General Features of Duties and (ii) Academic
and Registration Requirements in Clause 2 Classifications under the heading
"Clinical Psychologist" and insert in lieu thereof the following:
C. Clinical
Psychologist
(i) Academic and
Registration Requirements
The Clinical Psychologist is a fully registered
psychologist with a Masters degree or higher in Clinical Psychology, Clinical
Neuropsychology or some other recognised clinical area in psychology that the
employer deems relevant to the functions of the position. The postgraduate qualifications must be of
no less than two years full time duration (or part-time equivalent) and include
professional clinical coursework, clinical training and supervised placement
experience as core components.
Employees with a three year Clinical Doctorate (or
equivalent) or a Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD) shall enter the classification
at year 2 of the scale.
Employees entering this classification from the
classifications of Psychologist or Senior Psychologist shall enter at the
salary point for this classification that is above the salary point previously
applying as Psychologist or Senior Psychologist.
(ii) Characteristics
(a) Task
Clinical Psychologists are capable of undertaking all
activities performed by the classifications of Psychologist and Senior
Psychologist as described in the Award.
Clinical Psychologists are trained in the scientific
study and application of psychological knowledge and principles for the purpose
of diagnosing, understanding, preventing, treating and advising on
psychopathological distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well
being.
The essential tasks of Clinical Psychologists are
assessment, diagnosis, case formulation and treatment of psychopathology as it
is manifested (variously) in cognitive, emotional, motivational, personality
and behavioural disturbances in adults, adolescents or children across a range
of health care settings including outpatient, community, primary care and
in-patient facilities.
Referrals appropriate to Clinical Psychologists
encompass a diversity of presentations - from acute to enduring and mild to
severe. Problems range from those with
mainly biological causation to those emanating mainly from psychosocial
factors, as well as problems of coping or adaptation to adverse circumstances
that are not themselves reversible by psychological intervention eg physical
disability, physical illness, bereavement.
(b) Judgement and
Problem Solving
Clinical Psychologists exercise independent judgment
concerning the selection and application of principles, methods and techniques
of psychological assessment and/or treatment.
Chosen interventions involve the adaptive utilisation of
empirically-derived psychological principles.
(c) Supervision and
Independence
The appropriate discharge of duties and demonstration
of competence at this level is in consequence of an understanding of theories
and techniques, which enable Clinical Psychologists to assess and diagnose
psychological problems and disorders and design and implement appropriate
psychological procedures.
Clinical Psychologists work independently and receive
clinical supervision from another Clinical Psychologist. Initially such supervision is provided by a
more senior and experienced professional colleague but after several years
experience, Clinical Psychologists may participate in peer supervision only.
Clinical Psychologists may work in or lead a
multidisciplinary team.
Clinical Psychologists are expected to provide clinical
supervision to less experienced Psychologists, be involved in peer supervision
and supervise postgraduate students on clinical placements.
(d) Organisational
Relationships
Clinical Psychologists may conduct psychological
research and evaluation projects as required.
Clinical Psychologists are involved in service planning
and the formulation of policy.
Clinical Psychologists participate in the provision of
in-service programs to staff and students.
Clinical Psychologists are a consultant to
Psychologists and may provide peer consultancy to colleagues and other
professionals within their area of expertise.
6. Delete
subclauses (i) Characteristics and General Features of Duties and (ii) Academic
and Registration Requirements in Clause 2 Classifications under the heading
"Senior Clinical Psychologist" and insert in lieu thereof the
following:
D. Senior
Clinical Psychologist
(i) Characteristics
and General Features of Duties
A Clinical Psychologist may, after not less than the
completion of 12 months service at the 5th year of service and thereafter rate,
make written application to the employer for progression to the classification
of Senior Clinical Psychologist. The
application shall comprehend, but not be limited to detailing current direct
treatment responsibilities and duties discharged; together with provision of
treatment consultation, supervision and training and relevant documentary
support material.
The employer may also establish such positions of
Senior Clinical Psychologist that it deems appropriate, from time to time.
Employees that are successful in their application for
progression to Senior Clinical Psychologist shall commence on the 1st year of
service rate for the classification.
Employees classified as Senior Clinical Psychologist
shall discharge the duties as described for Clinical Psychologist above and in
addition must demonstrate clinical expertise requiring:
(1) higher level
knowledge and experience in a specific area eg tertiary referral service,
manifest in the level of competence, initiative, innovation, responsibility and
professional recognition of the employee; and
(2) developing and
extending applications of assessment and treatment methods.
In addition, the employee must also discharge duties in
at least one of the following areas:
(a) Administrative
duties, which may include:
(1) responsibility
for overall service planning and policy; and
(2) other
supra-clinical duties involving responsibility for service provision; and
(3) responsibility
for professional functioning of Psychologists and Clinical Psychologists.
(b) Consultation,
involving:
(1) the provision of
consultation with other Psychologists or with other professional bodies and
organisations (eg other government agencies) regarding psychological services
and/or development of policies and procedures in areas requiring specialist
psychological knowledge; and
(2) developing
protocols for individual and group treatment programs and making available to
other health professionals. Developing
assessment procedures for clinical decision making.
(c) Research and
Evaluation, involving:
(1) research, where
the Psychologist has taken responsibility as principal researcher for the
design, implementation and reporting of psychological research; and
(2) evaluation,
where the Psychologist makes a major contribution to setting up evaluation
systems for programs and services and major quality improvement projects.
(d) Training,
involving:
(1) the training of
Psychologists or other health professionals in a range of areas that may
include specialist psychological skills; and
(2) contributing to
training for supervisors of psychological services; and
(3) developing and
implementing training programs.
7. Delete the
heading "Principal Clinical Psychologist" in Clause 2 Classifications
and insert in lieu thereof the following heading:
E. Principal
Psychologist
8. Delete the
words "Principal Clinical Psychologist" wherever appearing in Clause
2 Classifications and in Table 1 of Part B - Salary Rates and insert in lieu
thereof the following:
"Principal Psychologist".
9. Insert after
clause 2, Classifications, the following new clause 3 Grading Committee:
3. Grading Committee
A grading committee will be established on a needs basis for
the specific purpose of considering applications made by employees for
progression and/or regrading within the classifications of the Award. Where an employee believes that their
position is inappropriately graded the application must demonstrate that the
applicant meets the requirements of and is required to work at the level as
described for the grading being sought.
The committee shall consist of at least three members, a
majority of which must be Psychologists of an equivalent or higher grading than
that sought by the applicant. In
applications for regrading to Senior Clinical Psychologist there must be a
Psychologist representative from another Health Service. The committee will be established via
consultation between the Union and the Health Service.
The committee will receive the written application
addressing the relevant criteria of the classification by the applicant and
review its contents prior to proceeding to an interview of the applicant.
The committee shall record its decision and reasoning and
make its recommendation to the Chief Executive of the Health Service or his/her
nominated representative.
10. Renumber clause
3 Conditions of Service to clause 4.
11. Renumber clause
4 No Extra Claims to clause 5.
12. Insert after
clause 5 No Extra Claims, the following new Clause 6, Savings Provision:
6. Savings Provision
Employees classified as Clinical Psychologists as at 5 March
2009 are to retain that classification while they remain in the position they
held as at that date.
Subject to satisfactory performance, employees who, as at 27
January 2009, were employed as Psychologists and were enrolled or accepted for
enrolment in a post-graduate qualification as described at subclause (i) of
Part C of Clause 2 Classifications of this Award, shall be reclassified as
Clinical Psychologist on successful completion of that qualification.
13. Renumber Clause
5, Area, Incidence and Duration as Clause 7.
14. This variation
shall take effect on and from 5 March 2009.
T.
M. KAVANAGH J
____________________
Printed by
the authority of the Industrial Registrar.