Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

Senior Investigations Officer

APS6

Worker Regulation & Incident Investigations Team (WRIIT) Team-Quality Assessment and Monitoring Group
Ongoing and non ongoing
Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney .

The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) was formed on 1 January 2019. The role of the Commission is to protect and enhance the safety, health, wellbeing and quality of life of people receiving aged care.

The Commission is the national end-to-end regulator of aged care services and the primary point of contact for consumers and providers in relation to quality and safety. Our vision is to support a world-class aged care system driven by empowered consumers who enjoy the best possible quality of life.

 Are you looking to make a real difference to the quality of care provided to older people, like travel and thrive in a varied and challenging work environment?

 We have exciting employment opportunities for the right people to register for our Temporary Employment Register (TER) and join a highly skilled team of field officers who are responsible conducting investigations into suspected non-compliance with worker regulation legislation and quality of care principles relating to reportable incidents. The TER assists the Commission to access appropriately skilled and experienced individuals for temporary positions (up to a possible maximum period of 3 years) and is open for candidates to register an interest in temporary employment as a Senior Investigations Officer. Candidates should be aware this is a register only and that you will only be contacted regarding your application if a vacancy arises that matches your skills, qualifications and/or experience. 

Employment at the Commission offers generous employment conditions and career pathways both internally and externally, supported through our commitment to the development of staff capabilities that are sought after by other public sector regulators.

Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission

Roles at the Commission provide the opportunity to contribute to building a world’s best practice regulator of aged care services.

The Commission the national end-to-end regulator of aged care services and the primary point of contact for consumers and providers in relation to quality and safety. Our vision is to support a world-class aged care system driven by empowered consumers who enjoy the best possible quality of life.

We aim to build confidence and trust in aged care, empower consumers, promote best practice service provision, promote quality standards and hold providers to account for their performance against the expected standards of care. We seek to promote an aged care system that develops safer systems of care, inculcates a culture of safety and quality, and learns from mistakes, while providing the oversight that can assure the community that aged care services are operating as they should, including working on continuous improvement. Meet some of our people and learn more about the Commission and our Regulatory Strategy on our website www.agedcarequality.gov.au

About the Quality Assessment and Monitoring Group 

The Group is responsible for the effective delivery of quality assessment and monitoring of approved provider compliance with the Aged Care Quality Standards, undertaking accreditation and reaccreditation audits of residential aged care services, completion of Quality Reviews of Home Services, responding to reported serious incidents and additional functions as required such as infection control monitoring. 

 The Group is led by an Executive Director and national leadership team which undertakes these functions within a single Commission operating model and includes approximately 300 staff located across Australia based in national and regional teams responsible for delivery and performance. Flexible working arrangements may be offered in some roles. 

 Position overview

Senior Investigations Officer are regulatory officers who conduct field-based investigations into suspected non-compliance with worker regulation legislation and quality of care principles relating to reportable incidents including the use of restrictive practices under the Serious Incidents Response Scheme (SIRS). https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/sirs

Position Duties:

• Plan, participate in, and lead investigations into non-compliance with the Aged Care Act 1997 (Aged Care Act), relating to the SIRS program and worker regulation reforms (code of conduct).
• Conduct risk assessments in line with the Commission’s risk matrix to identify ongoing risks to aged care consumers based upon alleged/identified non-compliance. 
• Investigations will include review of information and documents, interviewing of staff, consumers, their representatives and other relevant persons, observations on site, underpinned by the Australian Government Investigation Standards.
• Undertake activities using regulatory powers outlined in the Aged Care Quality and Safety Act 2018, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission Rules 2018 (Commission Rules) and the Regulatory Powers (Standard Provisions) Act 2014.
• Collect, secure and manage confidential information and evidential material gathered during investigations and other compliance activities. 
• Produce high quality investigation reports to help guide regulatory responses, and support reasons for decisions on remedial actions required.
• Work collaboratively with legal officers and other advisors in the development of compliance and enforcement responses and briefs of evidence.
• Prepare briefs of evidence to support administrative action, civil proceedings and criminal prosecutions.
• Work collaboratively with other agencies or authorities and where appropriate refer matters to them under the relevant jurisdictional law.
• Participate in the delivery of education opportunities to inform and educate aged care providers and clients and the public about the Commissioner’s functions and the requirements of relevant legislation and rules. 
• Provide coaching, mentoring and guidance to other Commission staff and contribute to a learning culture where expertise can be appropriately shared. 
• Adhere to the APS Values and Code of Conduct.

Eligibility Requirements:

1. The ability to interpret legislation. 

2. Broad understanding of contemporary regulatory processes, inclusive practices and experience in leading investigations. 

3. Investigation skills including the ability to exercise regulatory powers, identify non-compliance, and gather, analyse and 

    present evidence. 

4. The capacity to develop sound working relationships to understand consumer risk and escalate issues accordingly. 

5. Excellent attention to detail, strong written and verbal communication skills, and adept time management skills, including the ability

     to produce quality reports. 

6. Ability to identify opportunities for continuous improvement to achieve quality outcomes. 

7. Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and the ability to establish and maintain professional relationships with key

    external stakeholders

8. The ability and the confidence to make sound judgements based on thorough research, problem solving, innovation and 

     evidence-based practice, to achieve the objectives of the Commission. 

9. Ability to work collaboratively with others to focussing on the operational priorities and strategic direction of the Commission

10. The ability to maintain personal resilience and wellbeing, and work flexibly in a changing environment

Desirable qualifications or experience – one or more of the following:

• Understanding of the Australian aged care system and the regulatory legislation underpinning it.
• Experience of working in a regulatory environment
• Certificate IV or Diploma in Government (Investigations) or equivalent

Note: All APS6 employees and contractors are expected to meet the APS6 level capabilities outlined in the APS Integrated Leadership System and it is recommended that applicants familiarise themselves with the behavioural expectations outlined in this framework to support preparation of an application. The Australian Public Service Commission provides useful information on how to apply for a job in the APS.

Travel Expectations: 

The roles include field-based work with over-night travel commonly required which may include visits across states and territories. Flex-time is available to support management of the travel expectations of the role. Applicable travel expenses are covered under the Commission’s travel policy. A current driver’s licence is essential to support the travel expectations of the role.

Eligibility: 

Only candidates who hold Australian citizenship can apply. For more information please visit https://www.apsc.gov.au/citizenship-aps.

To be eligible to work in some roles, you may be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (including any COVID-19 booster dose to maintain an 'up-to-date' status). Candidates should be aware that in roles where vaccination against COVID-19 is required by public health orders/directions or other legislation, if a candidate is not fully vaccinated or is unwilling to be vaccinated within a reasonable period, they may not be offered that role.

Employment Conditions and Benefits are outlined in the Commission’s Enterprise Agreement and supporting policies. The Commission is committed to fostering a workplace with flexible work arrangements to support a diverse, respectful and inclusive culture. 

Appointment is also conditional on:

• Successfully completing a national police check. 
• Providing evidence of meeting the Commission’s requirements for mandatory vaccinations for field staff and compliance with infection control risk measures including the safe use of personal protective equipment where required. 
• Being able to meet the travel expectations of the role. 
• A valid driver’s licence. 

 Salary: 

The salary offered will be between $89,394 and $100,849 per annum depending on skills and experience. In addition, 15.4% superannuation will be paid.

Non-ongoing opportunity will be offered for an irregular/intermittent term. Opportunities will be offered for varying periods up to 12 months with a possibility of extension to a maximum of three years.

How to Apply?

1.    Navigate to ‘Current Vacancies’ section of the careers page and locate the relevant job title.  All documentation relating to the role and application process will be located here.
2.    Click on the job title and at the bottom of the Advertisement you will be asked to create an account If you are a first-time user or to sign in to complete your application.
3.    As part of your application you will be requested to complete a statement of claim considering the eligibility requirements, attach your Resume and Application Cover Form. The Application Cover Form is located as a link under the job title on the careers page.
4.    Click ‘Apply Now’ when you are ready to submit your application.

Contact Officer:

Please contact our recruitment team on (02) 9633 3262 or recruitment@agedcarequality.gov.au for assistance with accessing our website or with lodging your application.

The diversity of our staff is very important to us. We welcome and actively encourage applications from all Australian citizens to achieve a workforce that reflects our community. 

The Commission recognises the richness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and the unique knowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees bring to our workplace, policy development and service delivery. We welcome and actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in line with our commitments in our Reconciliation Action Plan. 

Further information: 

For further information about the Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission, office locations and other related resources, please visit https://www.agedcarequality.gov.au/. 

For more information on the Australian Public Service, please visit http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications-and-media/current-publications/cracking-the-code/factsheet-4 and http://www.apsc.gov.au/publications-and-media/current-publications/cracking-the-code.