Nursing Services
Primary Care & Community Health Network
| Telephone: | (02) 9881 8725 |
| Facsimile: | (02) 9881 7443 |
| Location: | Area wide service |
| Postal address: | Level 3, Administrative and Education Building, Blacktown Hospital, Blacktown Road, Blacktown. |
Community Health Services are provided from community health centres (CHC), youth services, specific sites such as early childhood and aged respite centres and community nursing clinics in schools. Community Health Services employ approximately 745 full time equivalent staff who works in multidisciplinary teams, each with a team leader or service manager.
Community Health Services deliver a range of multidisciplinary health services utilising primary health care approaches and current best practice to maintain and improve the health of local communities. A combination of primary and secondary level services is delivered across the local government areas in collaboration with individuals, communities and service agencies.
Nursing Services:
The Community Nurses are the case managers. They work closely with the Client’s family, their GP and specialist, the Hospitals and other government and non government agencies. They are supported by a range of Clinical Nurse Specialists, Clinical Nurse Educators, Clinical Nurse Consultants, Community Nurse Education Co-ordinator and the multi disciplinary teams in each Community Health Centre.
Central and Eastern Clusters
There are eight Community Nursing Teams within Central and Eastern Clusters. Seven Generalist teams, and one Sustained Home Visiting Team are located in the seven major Community Health Centres in the 5 local government areas of Auburn, Blacktown, Baulkham Hills, Holroyd and Parramatta.
The teams are managed by a Nursing Unit Manager (NUM) and have primary level registered nurses (RN) and enrolled nurses (EN) The majority of RNs in the Community Nursing Teams are Generalist Community Nurses (GCN) and provide primary health care services across the lifespan i.e. Child and family health, school health, home nursing including palliative care, chronic and continuing care and health promotion. The GCNs are responsible for a geographically defined area. Limited services are also offered at weekends and evenings.
There are some RNs who provide primary health care to a specific target group such as child and family, palliative care, continence, women’s health and youth health. These RN’s usually provide services across a local government area.
Western Cluster
The nursing services are provided by two Streams: the Community Chronic and Complex Care Services and the Community Health Child and Family Health Service.
Community Chronic & Complex Care Services
The nursing staff mix within Community Chronic & Complex Care Services includes, clinical nurse specialists, registered nurses, enrolled nurse special grade, and enrolled nurses. Speciality areas within Community Chronic & Complex Care Services include;
- Aged Care
- Palliative Care
- Psycho-geriatrics
- Continence
- Dementia
- Chronic & Complex Care
- Grief & Bereavement
Both Clinical Nurse Specialist and Clinical Nurse Consultant positions exist within these speciality areas.
The Community Child & Family Health Services
Registered Nurses with a postgraduate Child and Family Health Nursing qualification provide a community based nursing service at a primary and secondary level of prevention. There is an established home visiting program for families with newborns, and the service aims to improve the health status of the local community through health promotion, surveillance programs, and the early identification of vulnerable children and families. C&FHN Secondary Specialists, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Clinical Nurse Consultants, and an Educator position support the service and CFHNs for case management, clinical direction and clinical supervision. The Nurses are responsible to the Nursing Unit Manager for their day-to-day work. Women’s Health Nurses and a nurse audiometrist are also employed by the service.
Staff Benefits:
- Itinerant Status: All field Community Nurses (RNs and ENS) are classified as itinerant workers and have the benefit of driving the allocated car to and from home.
- Comprehensive Field Orientation: Besides a general orientation each Community Nurse will undergo a comprehensive field orientation before they take on a case load.
- Community Nurses have access to professional training and development. All new staff is put through relevant education modules as priority.
- Community Nurses are encouraged and supported to undertake relevant post graduate courses.
- Research opportunities
- Regular working hours Mon-Fri and 1 Allocated Day Off per month for the majority of Community Nurses
- Clinical Supervision is available to all Community Nurses.
Nursing Highlights:
Community Nursing Service has a proven track record in nursing research, education, professional support, commitment & development of its nursing staff, supported by State and nationally recognised clinical leadership and governance in the areas of;
- Community Nursing
- Aged Care
- Palliative Care
- Chronic & Complex Care
- Child and Family Health
- Women’s Health
- Dementia Care and
- Aboriginal Men’s Health
Transport and Parking:
There are parking facilities at all major Community Health Centres. All allocated cars have access to the parking area.
| Name | Position | Phone | |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Network Senior Nurse Manager |
(02) 4759-8700 |
