SCHN - NETS Retrieval Consultant (eCredential)

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network is the largest paediatric health care entity in Australia. We care for thousands of children each year in our hospitals and in their homes — with one purpose in mind — to help young people live their healthiest lives.

Learn more about our network: http://www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/professionals

Employment Type: Up to Permanent Full Time
Position Classification: Staff Specialist
Hours Per Week: 40
Requisition ID: REQ579592
Applications are via eCredential

Up to at least 1.0FTE Permanent Staff Specialist position, with an eligibility list being generated for upcoming permanent and temporary roles in 2025/2026.

’NETS’ - NSW is the state wide clinical service for medical retrieval of critically ill newborns, infants and children in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Most patients are acutely unwell and require careful assessment and planning prior to transport. Some problems are solved without transport. The NETS Consultant coordinates acute clinical calls to NETS; in collaboration with specialists from referral hospitals and specialty units. The NETS Consultant triages cases into being a consultation, transfer by local or regional teams or retrieval (by a NETS team or other appropriate neonatal or paediatric retrieval team). The NETS consultant contributes to the call and case review process, education (internal and external), as well as research and quality improvement activities.

NETS service extends beyond transport in that it provides a point of clinical triage for patients too sick for normal ambulance transfer between hospitals. NETS connects clinicians in referring and referral hospitals in a telephone conference to discuss the best treatment and appropriateness of transfer or retrieval. This extends to obstetric cases when maternal transfer no longer seems possible and a neonatal retrieval appears inevitable.
The Consultant is responsible for the delivery of the highest quality care to the paediatric patient and their family. The right care in the right time-frame with the right referral hospital engaged and the right solution(s) requires taking responsibility for solving the problem. NETS seeks continuous improvement across the critical care patient journey. Consultants participate in case review, quality, educational and service improvement activities. They act as an advocate for the paediatric patient and their family, in accordance with the guidelines set by NSW Health, SCHN and international benchmarks.

• Eligible for registration with the Medical Board of Australia as a Specialist, and/or overseas trained specialist pathways

• Possess relevant specialist paediatric qualification - FRACP (Paediatrics) or CICM (Paediatrics), PEM, FANZCA (paediatrics) or equivalent, as provided for in the Staff Specialists (State) Award

• Experience in neonatal and/or paediatric critical care

• Experience in medical retrieval of newborns and/or children

• Demonstrated expertise with inter-personal communication and negotiation; particularly with multiple stake-holders in highly stressed circumstances

• Capacity to participate in and train staff in retrievals by air and road ambulances

• Availability to participate in an on-call roster and to respond on site within a reasonable time
  SCHN is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage all suitably qualified applicants to apply, including Indigenous Australians, and people from culturally diverse backgrounds.

As this is a “Category A” position, please refer to the NSW Policy Directive PD2024_015 Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases for vaccination requirements.

This position requires a Working with Children Check (WWCC) issued by the Office of the Children’s Guardian. For more information on how to apply for the clearance, please visit the Office of the Children’s Guardian Website**https://www.kidsguardian.nsw.gov.au/

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply. We recognise the value of Aboriginal staff providing health care to Aboriginal children and families that access the services we provide at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network. Aboriginal job applicants are encouraged to visit the NSW Health Aboriginal Recruitment tool, Stepping Up to assist in preparing your application.

Please note: To be eligible for permanent appointment to a position in NSW Health, you must have an Australian citizenship or permanent Australian residency.

*The preferred applicant may be considered for the award of a conjoint academic title (levels A to D) in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney at a level commensurate with his/her qualifications and experience. The award of the academic title will also confer membership upon the appointee of the University Department of Paediatrics and Child Health. The academic title will be held for the duration of The Children’s Hospital at Westmead