Mental Health Support Worker | Hillmorton
Christchurch - Hillmorton Hospital - South Island Eating Disorders Service (SIEDS)
- Permanent part-time position (0.5FTE) working 20 hours per week
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whanau-centred care, and excellence.
About the Role
We're looking for a Mental Health Support worker to join us on a permanent part-time basis (20 hours per week). How these hours are arranged is to be negotiated with the successful applicant.
Please include a cover letter in your application.
About the Team/Service/ Location
The South Island Eating Disorders Service based at Hillmorton Hospital provides inpatient and community treatment for people experiencing an eating disorder. Education, liaison, and consultation are also provided for mental health services and primary health services around the South Island.We are a small but experienced multidisciplinary team who are passionate about ensuring the best health outcomes for service users.
About you
In this role, you will be responsible for:
- Developing relationships with the clinicians and the people who are being treated by SIEDS
- Assisting and supporting the specialist eating disorder clinicians in the delivery of quality health care, ensuring that services are provided efficiently, safely and effectively. This will be in both the inpatient and community arms of the service
- Communicating and reporting changes, concerns and issues back to the clinical team
- Using your experience to support people across a range of ages and offering encouragement in their journey through the service, fostering and developing independent living skills
- Supporting people through the promotion of choice and self-determination, through the implementation of the MDT plan of care and support, using a strengths-based and trauma informed approach
- Understanding and promoting the importance of connections with family-whanau, communities, and other specialist mental health services
- Being an integral and valued member of the multi-disciplinary team, contributing to the team culture and developing relationships with SIEDS staff
- Using clear communication and being able to articulate support principles, values and tasks
- Contributing to written documentation and quality initiatives
- Adhering to all SMHS training requirements, policies and protocols
- Having a sound knowledge of the community and NGO mental health sector, particularly community providers so that practical information and connections can be made with the people you are working with
- Challenging stigma and discrimination and proactively promoting inclusion and diversity
- Respecting and maintaining confidentiality
- Assisting with a wide range of tasks for care delivery under the direction and delegation of clinical staff and the MDT
- Recording tasks undertaken and observations accurately and in a timely manner
- Identifying and reporting unexpected or changing patient status
- A working understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and demonstrated commitment to culturally responsive practice
- Experience as a support worker, and desirable to have NZQA Level 3: New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing - Health Assistance Strand. (If not previously attained, to be completed within 2 years of commencement or to be commenced within 1 year of employment.)
- Ability to communicate well with a broad range of people
- Ability to work as part of a team as well as independently
- Demonstrated networking skills and engaging/consulting with communities
- Basic knowledge of Microsoft Office applications ie: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
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 Maori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.
How to Apply
To apply please click 'apply now.' All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Lisa at Lisa.Gray2@tewhatuora.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.