Mental Health Care Assistant - Forensic

Wakari Hospital

• Salary $59,024 - $74,442 per annum pro-rata
• Career development opportunities
• Permanent and part-time position available
• Competitive salary and paid overtime

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

Forensic Ward 9A is a 15-bed medium secure unit in the inpatient unit for Otago and Southland, for those persons who are in the Justice system and require assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.

As a Mental Health Care Assistant, you will be responsible for the following:

• Supporting our Nurses and other members of the Health Care team
• Patient movement
• Patient cares, as required
• Stock reconciliation
• Ward maintenance
• Patient watch/supervision, with one-on-one care as required

About the team, service and location

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Southern has the largest geographical coverage of all the New Zealand regions, providing services to 350,000 people in diverse communities. We take pride in all the services we provide, and our aim is to improve, promote and protect the health of our region. We believe that our dedicated and passionate staff are a significant driving force behind the achievement of these standards, and we need more like-minded people to help us continue providing for our community.

About you

It is important that candidates are motivated, flexible, have a level of maturity about them and of course plenty of enthusiasm. Experience working with people in a caring capacity is also essential, whether than experience is gained from within a professional environment, or from caring for children or family members.

Our ideal candidate will:

• be dynamic and friendly
• have a valid full NZ driver's licence
• demonstrate a higher level of initiative
• be committed to high standards of practice
• have strong written and verbal communication skills
• have competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth
• have experience in projects/initiatives which give effect to Te Tiriti principals and frameworks, and the application of Mātauranga Māori and Kaupapa Māori approaches, particularly as they apply in healthcare settings.

View position description

Working for 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. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes.

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.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

We particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

Salary range

This role is covered by the terms and conditions of the Te Whatu Ora/NZNO Collective Agreement and the salary will be in accordance with the Mental Health Assistants Salary Scale between $59,024 and $74,442 p.a dependent on relevant experience.

How to apply

To view the position description and/or apply for the role please click "apply now." All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on Tuesday, 18 February 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Mikayla Hamilton at mikayla.hamilton@southerndhb.govt.nz

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

Pre-employment checks

In the interests of protecting our people and our patients, all appointments will be subject to the following:

• Occupational health assessment
• Police vetting/Ministry of Justice safety checks
• Serious misconduct checks (previous Public Service departments and statutory Crown entities only)

To apply

We only accept online applications. Please apply via our website: https://careers.southernhealth.nz/