Mental Health Clinician - Wairoa

• Mental Health Clinician – Wairoa
• Permanent, Full-Time । 80 Hours per fortnight (1FTE)
• An opportunity to work in a dynamic, community‑focused environment where your skills truly matter.

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

Join our Child, Adolescent & Family Service (CAFS) and make a meaningful impact in the lives of tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau. Whether you are a Registered Nurse, Social Worker or Occupational Therapist, this role offers the opportunity to provide high‑quality mental health assessment, intervention and recovery‑focused support within a collaborative, multidisciplinary environment.

Every day brings variety — from completing comprehensive assessments and developing therapeutic plans, to supporting whānau, facilitating interventions, and working alongside other skilled clinicians to ensure seamless, culturally responsive care. You’ll contribute to safe, strengths‑based practice and work with increasing levels of autonomy as you develop deep expertise in child and adolescent mental health.

This is a role where your professional skills, cultural awareness and passion for working with young people will have a real and lasting impact.

Please click below to view the position description

Social Worker position profile click here

Registered Nurse position profile click here

Occupational Therapist position profile click here

About the Team/Service/ Location

CAFS sits within our Mental Health & Addictions service at Te Whatu Ora – Te Matau a Māui Hawke’s Bay. Our team is multidisciplinary, skilled and deeply committed to supporting wellbeing for children, adolescents and their whānau.

You will work alongside nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists and other allied health professionals. The team is collaborative, supportive and driven by shared purpose — delivering equitable, person‑centred care grounded in partnership and whanaungatanga.

The role is based in Wairoa, where strong relationships and community‑connected practice are central, but may also be required across Hawkes Bay

For more information on living and working in Hawke’s Bay click HERE

About you

You are a compassionate, culturally responsive clinician who enjoys working with young people and their whānau. You thrive in a team environment and bring strong communication, assessment and therapeutic skills.

You will have (depending on professional pathway):

Registered Nurse

• Current Nursing Council of NZ Registration and APC
• Child & adolescent mental health experience (ideally 3+ years)
• Postgraduate mental health qualification (or working towards)
• Strong assessment, caseload management and therapeutic intervention skills

Social Worker

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work or higher, recognised by SWRB
• NZ Registration with current APC
• Significant mental health and addiction experience (ideally 3+ years)
• Strong capability in crisis assessment, treatment planning and whānau‑centred support

Occupational Therapist

• Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy recognised by OTNZ‑WNA
• NZ Registration with current APC
• Mental health experience (ideally 3+ years)
• Skilled in functional assessment, therapeutic interventions and goal‑based recovery planning

For all three roles, you will bring:

• Ability to build effective, therapeutic relationships with young people and whānau
• Strong teamwork and communication skills
• Cultural competence and confidence working with Māori
• Commitment to equity and safe, recovery‑focused practice
• Effective time‑management and adaptability
• A full NZ driver’s licence

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 15th April 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Liam Jackson । Liam.Jackson@hbdhb.govt.nz

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

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.