Kaiawhina - Mental Health & Addictions Support Worker

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Taranaki; Taranaki; On-site; NZD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Taranaki is seeking a Kaiawhina (Support Worker) to join the North Community Mental Health Team at Taranaki Base Hospital on a temporary fulltime basis for parental leave cover from January 2027 to January 2028.

The role supports tangata whaiora and whanau with activities that promote independence, connection with networks, wellness planning, self-management and resilience, in community settings, with a focus on person-centred care.

Qualifications

• Passion for the mental health field and improving lives.
• Proven ability to engage and develop rapport with whai ora and whanau.
• Experience in the mental health sector with a range of supportive activities.
• Minimum Level 4 mental health qualification.

Responsibilities

• Provide person-centred care and support for people living with mental health needs in the community.
• Support Tangata Whaiora/consumers with activities that promote independent living.
• Assist with wellness and goal planning, self-management, and resilience development.
• Support care plans and day-to-day implementation in partnership with the Wellness Team.
• Assist therapeutic activities of the team with practical support.

Skills

Mental health experience

Rapport building

Communication skills

Team collaboration

Education

Level 4 mental health qualification

Job description

Kaiawhina (Support Worker)
North Community Mental Health Team
Taranaki Base Hospital
Temporary Fulltime (80 hours per fortnight)
1 Year Parental Leave Cover from Jan 2027 until Jan 2028

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

This position is responsible for supporting the North Community Mental Health Team to deliver person-centred care and support for people living with mental health needs in the community.

This position will provide support to Tangata Whaiora/consumers with activities that support independent living in the community; connection with social and other networks; wellness & goal planning, self-management, and resilience development.

This position aims to achieve the following:

• Supporting Tangata Whaiora/consumers and their whanau to identify and achieve their goals and aspirations using a therapeutic and strengths-based approach
• Supporting the team with ensuring care plans are implemented on a day-to-day basis
• Managing a caseload of whai ora and work in partnership with other members of the Wellness Team to support, encourage and facilitate improvement of their mental health & wellbeing
• Supporting the therapeutic activities of the team with practical assistance

About the Team/Service/ Location

Our team is composed of Psychologists, Social Workers, Occupational Therapists, Support Workers, Nurses, and Psychiatrists. Much of the work takes place in the community.

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

Successful candidates will have: A passion for the mental health field with a priority for improving the quality of lives of people experiencing mental health distress or living with a significant mental illness. Our ideal candidates will have experience working in the mental health sector with a broad range of experience supporting individuals and/or whanau accessing mental health services. Proven ability to engage and develop rapport with whai ora and whanau to achieve mutual goals and priorities. We are looking for individuals who hold a Level 4 mental health qualification minimum.

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.