Mahitahi Hauora are looking to expand our mental health and wellbeing services to communities across Tai Tokerau.  To do this we are employing more Health Improvement Practitioners than ever before.  This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a growing team.

In Dargaville we have a great opportunity for an experienced and innovative clinician who will be working alongside the existing Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP), working within Dargaville Medical Centre and supporting outlying clinics involving face to face and virtual consults.

We are looking for a clinician who has a flexible approach to a new way of working and who is passionate in supporting those who live in rural settings, enabling us to increase the provision of services in the Dargaville area.

About the role

As a Clinician working within our established and growing primary mental health care model Te Tumu Waiora, you will provide behavioural health services to patients.  The position will be situated and will work as an integrated member of Dargaville Medical practice team and provide immediately accessible, evidence-based brief interventions to individuals and their whanau to assist in improving their emotional and physical health, and overall wellbeing.

Services are provided in accordance with the principles of Te Tiriti ō Waitangi, Tikanga and Māori models of health and wellbeing.  Services are culturally responsive to the needs of all service users, their whanau and community.

The successful applicant/s will be supported by specialist training, specifically developed to support the Healthcare Teams working in the Te Tumu Waiora model, that includes the following:

• Providing brief psychological interventions
• Delivering evidence informed groups
• A fast pace in the GP practice setting
• Innovation and flexibility
• Opportunities to contribute to service development
• Variety of work, working with diverse practice population, all ages and stages
• Population based focus
• Services to target our high priority populations
• Education of colleagues

If you are looking for a role that provides a part time opportunity, enables further enhancement of clinical skills, and is part of a well-supported HIP team and you meet the following criteria then please get in touch with us.

Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) Criteria

A HIP is part of a general practice team, and under this programme, Te Whatu Ora requires all HIPs to hold registration under one of the following:

a) fully registered under the Health Practitioner Competence Assurance (HPCA) Act 2003 with a scope of practice that is appropriate to working as a mental health and addiction clinician e.g. nurse, psychologist, psychotherapist, occupational therapist or

b) a fully registered alcohol and drug and/or gambling practitioner member of the Drug and Alcohol Addiction Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa – New Zealand (dapaanz); or

c) a fully registered Social Worker or

d) a full member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) who has received from NZAC, a Te Whatu Ora Accreditation certificate authorising them to work within Health-funded mental health and addictions services.

To also be considered for this position you will be required to have:

• A minimum of 3 years professional experience in a health setting preferably in mental health and addictions including providing evidence-based brief interventions such as ACT, FACT or CBT
• A current unencumbered full NZ driver’s licence
• Excellent computer and literacy skills including MS Office Suite
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Be fully vaccinated for COVID

An understanding of Tikanga and some ability to speak Te Reo would be an advantage.

You must be a NZ citizen, have NZ Residency or a current NZ Open work visa to be eligible for this role.

The successful applicant will be required to attend online or in person training for this role.

A detailed position description and Application for Employment form can be downloaded from below.

If you have the skills for this role and passion to be part of this HIP team, please apply by

• forwarding your covering letter, CV
• and completed Application for Employment Form (downloaded from below)
• to hr@mahitahihauora.co.nz.

Your application will be acknowledged by email.