Registered Mental Health Nurse– Older Adult Community

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Whatu Ora – Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley District

Location:  Hutt Valley Community

Service:    Older Persons Mental Health (Community)

Contract:  Permanent Ful time ( 1 FTE) 

Salary:     As per NZNO MECA - Step 3– Step 8 ($86,519 - $106,739) depending on experience 

Kōrero mō te tūranga – About the role

Are you an experienced mental health nurse?

Are you passionate about making a difference in the lives of older adults?

Are you seeking to develop professionally and work in the community?

If so, then this is an exciting opportunity to join our cohesive, dedicated and supportive multidisciplinary older person’s mental health team, based in Lower Hutt.

We provide assessment, treatment and rehabilitation interventions for older adults experiencing functional mental ill health and/or behavioural and psychological symptoms secondary to degenerative neurocognitive conditions, primarily dementia. 

We are looking for someone with outstanding mental health nursing skills. You will manage acute and chronic presentations in older adults and be a key point of contact for whanau and informal support systems. You will be joining a responsive and cohesive team who are passionate about enhancing possibilities and opportunities for ageing well in later life.

This is a community role - seeing people in their own homes or in residential care

Mō tō mātou rōpū – About our team

You will join one other experienced mental health nurse in the team and work alongside the rest of the MDT which consists of Psychiatrists with a specialty in older age, Occupational Therapists, Social Worker, Clinical Psychologist and Nurse Practitioner. The service is predominately based in the community, visiting clients at home or in aged care facilities. The mental health nurse will work both individually and alongside their team colleagues with service users and the family/whanau. The team works alongside the Geriatric service at Hutt Valley and has strong links with regional psychogeriatric and adult mental health services. 

You will be working with a strong team of experienced clinicians who will support you professionally. We are a friendly, collegial and highly functioning team.   

Moū – About you

You will be an experienced Mental Health nurse with at least 5 years of recent work experience, preferably in the area of older adult specialty. You will be skilled in mental state assessment/formulation, management of psychiatric illness, oversight of medication; and assessment and management of risk. 

Applicants who have less experience, but have completed their NESP in Mental Health, will be considered if there is a special interest in working with older adults.  An ability to work as part of a team is essential.

You will bring experience and understanding of the following: 

• Establishing partnership as the basis for therapeutic relationship
• Models of Mental Health Nursing practise
• Provision of high quality nursing and psycho-social interventions through specialist assessment, treatment planning and review with a rehabilitative recovery focus for the client and whanau 
• Coordination of intensive intervention and case management for clients in crisis when appropriate
• Comprehensive specialist mental health assessments
• Case management and coordination of care for clients and their whanau
• Liaison with other health providers, mental health teams, geriatric medicine, NGO’s, PHO’s, social and government agencies to facilitate care and treatments for clients 
• Participation and contribution to service planning and quality projects 

The successful applicant will have the following:

• New Zealand Nursing registration
• Completion of an undergraduate programme in MH nursing leading to registration or a post graduate MH nursing (NESP meets this criteria). 
• Interest in working with older adults
• Outstanding relationship management and networking skills.
• A can-do attitude and experienced in managing complex psychosocial presentations
• A great team player but able to confidently work with a high degree of autonomy 
• Motivation to engage in mentoring and professional development in working in this area of specialty of older adult mental health.
• A full New Zealand driver’s licence

E pā ana ki a tatou – About us

Here at Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley District we embrace diversity and welcome applications from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disability and religions. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and serve our community.

Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley District are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

To find out more about us click on the following links:

Capital and Coast

Hutt Valley

Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability Service 

Me pēhea te tuku tono - How to apply

We do not accept applications via email. Click “apply now” button to send your application directly to us. For further information on this role, please email Marianne.lovgren@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz and indicate the job title and vacancy number in the subject line.

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.

Ma tini, ma mano, ka rapa te whai

By joining together we will succeed