Mental Health Clinician - Assessment & Brief Care Team

Mental Health Clinician

Assessment & Brief Care Team

Mental Health & Addictions Services

Taranaki Base Hospital, New Plymouth

Multiple permanent positions available

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We are currently looking for passionate and experienced mental health clinicians to join our Mental Health Assessment Team.

The MH Assessment team provide assessment and interventions for people and whānau experiencing distressing or crisis symptoms of mental ill-health. Our team will work with people in a range of settings, be it the community, their whare, medical centres or in a hospital environment with the goal of meeting the individual where they are at and together achieving the best outcome to meet the person and whanau needs.

Along with mental health assessments the work of our team can vary and include the following functions:

• Arranging further appointments with mental health professionals

• Liaising with primary care partners such as GPs and HIPs
• Follow up support at home or by phone
• Facilitating entry to respite care
• Referrals to other services in the community
• Function as Duly Authorised Officers and provide advice about the Mental Health Act

Presently our team consists of Registered Nurses but we also want to add Allied Health staff (Social Workers & Occupational Therapists) to the team who are passionate about mental health and delivering timely and responsive services to support people at their most vulnerable.

Please click here to view the position description

About the Team/Service/ Location

We can offer you a welcoming and supportive environment with a team that is committed to ensuring you are successful in your role. We will also provide a comprehensive orientation process when you start so that you become familiar not only with our service but also the wider mental health sector in Taranaki.

For more information on living and working in Taranaki click here

About you

Suitable candidates will have:

• Recent mental health experience, at least 2 years Post Graduate Experience in a mental health setting
• Be a calm, person centred and patient individual with well-developed de-escalation skills
• Excellent written, verbal, and nonverbal communication skills
• Expertise in Mental State Examination and Risk Assessment
• Ability, skills, and knowledge to implement appropriate clinical interventions/ crisis management
• Work with Service Users/ Tangata whaiora / family/ whanau and other involved parties within the organisation and community to maintain therapeutic and working relationships
• Ability to work both autonomously and part of a team
• Excellent problem solving and communication skills
• Good knowledge of the Mental health Act (1992), willing to become a Duly Authorised Officer under the Mental Health Act
• Hold Full Drivers License
• Be able to work rostered, rotating shifts (morning, afternoon and nights)

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by Sunday 25 May 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Ross Ekdahl via email ross.ekdahl@tdhb.org.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.