Social Worker - Older Persons Mental Health Service (Community)

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

Location: Hutt Valley Community

Service:    Older Persons Mental Health Service – Community and Inpatient

Contract:   Permanent, Full time (hours negotiable for successful candidate)

Salary:  Up to $85,992

THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR A REGISTERED SOCIAL WORKER TO JOIN OUR AMAZING TEAM

Kōrero mō te tūranga – About the role

As a Registered Social Worker for the community team you will work alongside the multidisciplinary team. You will also support those who are admitted under our service to the older persons ward for a period of assessment and treatment.  You will work alongside your medical, allied and nursing colleagues and will have a key role in supporting the client pathway and discharge planning for clients. You will undertake social work assessments which will contribute to interdisciplinary formulation and care planning for clients and their whanau. 

You will be a key point of contact for whanau and informal support systems. You will assist with the coordination of resources and work to ensure continuity of care and a responsive service. You will be joining a team who are passionate about enhancing possibilities and opportunities for ageing well in later life.

Responsibilities and duties include: 

• Provision of effective, quality social work services to OPMH clients
• Contributing to the development of interdisciplinary treatment goals in collaboration with clients and whanau
• Completing comprehensive assessments and plans collaboratively with clients and whanau
• Delivering social work intervention (direct/indirect) to support the treatment and recovery of clients
• Ensuring equitable consideration to cultural diversity in the multidisciplinary team process
• Assisting clients and whanau to achieve optimal health, well-being and safety through provision of appropriate assessment, treatments, rehabilitation and education
• Networking with community agencies to achieve outcomes agreed by the multidisciplinary team process 

Mō tō mātou rōpū – About our team

OPMH (Older Persons Mental Health) service is predominately based in the community visiting clients at home or in aged care facilities. Our service sits under the Older Persons and Rehabilitation Service (Health of Older Persons). We work closely with our Mental Health, Addictions and Intellectual Disability (MHAIDS) colleagues and work closely with other local and regional services. 

OPMH provides specialist assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services for individuals presenting with complex needs which may be related to late onset or a range of functional mental health conditions and/or progressive neurocognitive disorders such as dementia.

Moū – About you

An ability to work as part of a team is essential for this role. Experience of working alongside people with moderate to severe mental health issues is essential also. Knowledge or experience of working with older adults is very desirable but equally this role would provide an opportunity to enhance or develop specialist knowledge and assessment skills.

The ideal candidate would also have:

• NZ Registered Social Worker with a current annual practicing certificate
• Confidence and an ability to work autonomously with complex clients
• Outstanding  relationship management and communication skills
• Clinical experience in an applicable role. Ideally a minimum of 5 years
• Knowledge of cognitive impairment, issues of capacity and legal frameworks
• Self-motivated in developing clinical and professional practise
• Active involvement in the professional development pathway
• Commitment and understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and a willingness to work positively in improving health outcomes for Maori
• Current full NZ drivers licence (required for roles base in community)
• A high standard of written and spoken English

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

Click the apply now button to send your application directly to us. For further information on this role please email recruitment@ccdhb.org.nz and indicate the job title and vacancy number (2116545-22) in the subject line.

We are interviewing on ongoing basis and advertisement may close at any time.

Your safety and that of our patients is important to us. It is our expectation that you will be fully vaccinated against COVID 19, having received two doses of an approved COVID 19 vaccination.

Ma tini, ma mano, ka rapa te whai

By joining together we will succeed