Mental Health Support Worker - Purehurehu

North Island - Wellington Porirua; Porirua; On-site; NZD 42,000 - 62,000; Part time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking a compassionate Mental Health Support Worker to join a forensic inpatient team. You will provide practical and therapeutic support under the supervision of nurses, helping tāngata whaiora on their recovery journey in a secure setting.

The role emphasises wellbeing, independence, and collaborative care within a 24/7 environment. Training, professional development, and a supportive team culture are offered.

Qualifications

• Experience supporting people with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges.
• NZQA Level 3 qualification (or higher) is required or being pursued.
• Strong empathy and positive approach when working with people affected by disability and mental illness.
• Commitment to empowering tāngata whaiora and recovery-focused practice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills are essential.
• Ability to build positive relationships and work within a multidisciplinary team.
• Resilience, flexibility and confidence in a secure forensic environment.

Responsibilities

• Provide practical and therapeutic support to tāngata whaiora within a forensic inpatient unit.
• Work under the guidance of Registered and Enrolled Nurses.
• Promote wellbeing, foster independence and support recovery outcomes.
• Contribute to a safe, recovery-focused environment and culture.

Skills

Intellectual disability support

Mental health support

Empathy

Recovery-focused care

Communication skills

Teamwork

Resilience

Education

NZQA Level 3 qualification

Job description

Contract: Permanent, Part-time 0.93 FTE Rostered and rotating, 4 days on 2 days off

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, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the Role

Make a meaningful difference every day.

Are you passionate about supporting people on their recovery journey and helping them achieve positive change? We are seeking a compassionate, values-driven Mental Health Support Worker to join our forensic inpatient team.

Working under the guidance and supervision of a Registered & Enrolled Nurses, you will provide practical and therapeutic support to tāngata whaiora within a secure, recovery-focused environment. You will play an important role in promoting wellbeing, fostering independence, and supporting recovery outcomes.

In return, you'll join a supportive and collaborative team committed to professional growth and continuous learning. Our established Learning & Development Centre provides ongoing training and development opportunities to help you build your skills and advance your career.

If you're looking for a rewarding role where you can make a real difference in people's lives, we would love to hear from you.

About the Team/Service/Location

Purehurehu is a 20-bed regional medium secure adult male forensic mental health unit located on the Ratonga Rua o Porirua Hospital Campus. Operating as a 24-hour service, we provide specialist assessment, treatment, rehabilitation, and recovery-focused care for adults referred through the justice and corrections systems.

Our team of more than 60 nurses and mental health support workers works alongside a wider multidisciplinary team to deliver high-quality, evidence-informed care. We are committed to supporting recovery, enhancing wellbeing, and maintaining safety for tāngata whaiora, staff, whānau, and the wider community.

Relational security is central to our practice, ensuring care is delivered in a way that upholds dignity, promotes trust, and supports positive rehabilitation outcomes. We work in partnership with tāngata whaiora and their whānau to create an environment where recovery, growth, and meaningful participation are encouraged.

Our practice is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi and guided by the principles of Te Whare Tapa Whā, the Meihana Model, and the Fonofale Model. We are committed to culturally responsive care and are driven by values of respect, integrity, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

About you

To be successful in this role, you will have:

• Experience supporting people with intellectual disabilities and/or mental health challenges.
• A NZQA Level 3 qualification (or higher), or be actively working towards achieving one.
• A caring, respectful, and positive approach when working alongside people affected by disability and mental illness.
• A strong commitment to empowering tāngata whaiora and supporting recovery-focused practice.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to build positive relationships and work effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Resilience, flexibility, and the confidence to work within a secure forensic environment.

If you are passionate about supporting people to achieve their goals, value teamwork, and want a career where your contribution truly matters, we would love to hear from you.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is 'the weaving of wellness'. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

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

Job details

Job Reference:

Job Reference: MHA092-26

Location:

North Island - Wellington - Porirua

Job type:

Expertise:

Clinical - Mental Health - Community Support Worker