JOB DESCRIPTION
Consultant Psychiatrist
Mental Health & Addiction Services
Position Title:
Consultant Psychiatrist
Organisation Unit:
Mental Health & Addiction Services
Location:
Districts - Far North, based in Kaitaia
Responsible to:
Clinical Head of District Mental Health & Addiction Services
Primary Functions of
the Position:
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Consultant Psychiatrist
Mental Health & Addiction Services
January 2012
To provide Clinical leadership for the Far North General
Adult, Whitiora, Mental Health multidisciplinary teams, and
the Far North regional specialty teams in Early Intervention
and Intensive Community Treatment
To provide psychiatric assessment and management of
patients under the care of Far North adult mental health
teams (General Adult and Whitiora) and local clients of the
Regional Early Intervention and Intensive Community
Treatment teams and to provide expert psychiatric opinion
and advice to clinicians working within other specialties.
To provide Psychiatric input for clients in the Far North
Sub-Acute units.
To provide assessment and management, participate in
court hearings and to undertake any other activities
required to fulfill the role of Responsible Clinician for
patients subject to the Mental Health Act.
To provide psychiatric assessment and management for
any patients under the care of Mental Health Services
when directed to do so by the Clinical Head.
To act as an effective member of multidisciplinary teams in
both Mental Health Services and other specialist services.
To provide supervision when required to a registrar and
other clinicians.
To participate in the out of hours “on call roster” for
Northland DHB Mental health and Addiction Service.
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Functional Relationships
The Consultant Psychiatrist will develop and maintain excellent relationships with:
Internal
External
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General Manager, Mental Health &
Addiction Services
Clinical Head, District Mental Health &
Addiction Services
Clinical Advisor, Mental Health &
Addiction Services
Chief Medical Advisor, NDHB
DAMHS
Mental Health Act Administrator
Professional Leaders, Mental Health &
Addiction Services
Team Managers and multidisciplinary
staff of Mental Health teams
Consumer advocacy services
Patients and family/whanau
NGO providers
Community services
General Practitioners
Key Responsibilities and Expected Outcomes
Northland District Health Board has established a set of values by which the organisation will
respond, in part, to achieving its goals and objectives through their workforce. The following
Values and supporting statements are expected behaviours of each individual employed with
NDHB:
Values
Supporting Statement
People First
Tangata I te tuatahi
Respect
Whakaute (tuku mana)
Caring
Manaaki
Communication
Whakawhitiwhiti korero
Excellence
Taumata teitei (hirangi)
People are central to all we do
We treat others as we would like to be treated
We nurture those around us, and treat all with dignity and
compassion
We communicate safely, openly and with respect to promote clear
understanding
Our attitude of excellence inspires success, competence,
confidence and innovation
The position of Consultant Psychiatrist encompasses the following major functions or key
result areas:
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Client focused practice
Communication & Team Work
Professional development
Relationship building
Quality improvement
Treaty of Waitangi
Health and Safety
The outcome requirements of the above key responsibility areas are outlined below:
Consultant Psychiatrist
Mental Health & Addiction Services
January 2012
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Key Responsibility Area
Expected Outcomes
Provide competent,
timely and thorough
psychiatric assessment
of persons presenting
or referred for
assessment.
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Provide competent and
effective psychiatric
treatment for patients
under the care of
Northland District
Health Board.
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Assessments will include evaluation of the present and past
history including both psychiatric and other medical history,
family history, personal and social history, cultural
considerations and mental state examination including an
evaluation of personality.
When required the assessment will fully comply with the
Mental Health Act 1992.
All assessments will be clearly documented and
communicated to relevant others including patients,
clinicians, other agencies and family/whanau.
Treatment and response to treatment will be regularly
reviewed.
Treatment will be planned in collaboration with the patient
and relevant others including the patients family/whanau,
other clinicians and staff of other agencies.
Treatment plans will be clearly documented and
communicated to relevant others.
Treatments prescribed and recommended will be based on
current treatment guidelines and generally accepted
specialist psychiatric practice.
Treatment will be carried out in accordance with the
stipulations of the Mental Health Act 1992.
Treatment will include a recovery approach.
Work all rostered hours
as required by the
employment contract at
the direction of the
Clinical Head.
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Key Responsibility Area
Expected Outcomes
Meet current standards
for professional clinical
practice.
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Maintain and continue
to develop clinical
knowledge and skills.
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Consultant Psychiatrist
Mental Health & Addiction Services
January 2012
When required undertake duties on the on-call roster, both
during normal working hours and after hours, to provide
emergency assessments and management for patients
referred to and/or already under the care of Northland
District Health Board and/or to provide supervision and
advice to registrars and other staff in these circumstances.
Follow guidelines and meet standards recommended by
Northland District Health Board, the Medical Council of New
Zealand and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College
of Psychiatrists.
Participate in regular peer review activities.
Be enrolled in and meet requirements of the RANZCP
Clinical Professional Development Program or other
professional development programmes as negotiated with
the Clinical Head.
Participate in regular in-service training activities.
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Contribute to service
quality assurance.
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Contribute to teaching
of other staff.
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Demonstrate
commitment to a
culturally appropriate
and safe service.
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Treaty of Waitangi
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Health & Safety
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Consultant Psychiatrist
Mental Health & Addiction Services
January 2012
Participate in clinical audits, case reviews and incident
review processes.
Ensure work meets standards laid down by Northland
District Health Board and Ministry of Health.
Supervise a psychiatric registrar in training according to the
supervision guidelines laid down by the RANZCP.
Provide teaching to other staff in the course of clinical work
and at formal teaching sessions.
Supervise other medical staff as negotiated with Clinical
Head.
Have a working understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and
its relevance to health and health services.
Seek advice from cultural advisors when appropriate.
Routinely assess and respect cultural issues in working with
patients, staff and relevant others.
Contribute to the promotion of the principles of Treaty of
Waitangi and the involvement if Maori within the decision
making process for their health and independence, within
District Health Board management processes and
procedures
Include the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi within all
aspects of the role and its outcomes
Ensure that consultation and engagement processes include
appropriate mechanisms to meet the need of Maori in a
culturally appropriate and safe manner
Attend the Northland District Health Board Treaty of
Waitangi Training
Ensure compliance with designated responsibilities detailed
in Northland District Health Board’s Health and Safety Policy
Promote an environment of physical, occupational, cultural,
ethical and legal safety
Observe safe work practices, rules and instructions relating
to work, and be pro-active in hazard management
Willingly co-operate in the achievement of all health and
safety goals and initiatives by:
 Practicing and observing safe work methods;
 The use of safety equipment;
 Reporting unsafe conditions or equipment; and
 Reporting and documenting all accidents or incidents
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Variation of Duties
Duties and responsibilities described above should not be construed as a complete and
exhaustive list as it is not the intention to limit in any way the scope or functions of the
position. Duties and responsibilities can be amended from time to time either by additional,
deletion or straight amendment by the Clinical Head to meet any changing conditions,
however this will only be done in consultation with the employee.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
Desirable
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Specialist qualification in psychiatry.
Vocational registration with Medical
Council of New Zealand.
FRANZCP
Experience
Essential
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Desirable
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Experience in General Adult Psychiatry.
Current Annual Practicing Certificate.
Current Full NZ drivers licence.
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Mental Health Compulsory Assessment
and Treatment ACT.
Experience as a supervisor of psychiatric
registrars.
Experience working in a rural community
setting.
Awareness and Understanding of
Essential
Desirable
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The Treaty of Waitangi and it’s
application to the health setting
Privacy Act (1993) and Health
Information Privacy Code (1994)
Health and Safety in Employment Act
(1992)
NZ Mental Health Act
Consultant Psychiatrist
Mental Health & Addiction Services
January 2012
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Health and Disability Commissioner
(Code of Health and Disability Services
Consumers’ Rights) Regulations (1996)
New Zealand Council of Healthcare
Standards
Recovery competencies for Mental
Health workers (MH Commission 2001)
Strengths Model (Charles Rapp)
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Skills & Personal Attributes
Skills
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Cultural sensitivity
Excellent communication skills – verbal and written, including formal presentations
Computer literacy – NDHB information systems eg JADE, Outlook, Intranet
Time management
Advocacy
Teaching
Clinical leadership
Personal Attributes
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Open minded
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Optimistic
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Resilient
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Supportive
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Honest
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Professional
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Caring
Performance Development Review
An initial review of performance will be conducted after three months, with an annual review
thereafter.
An individual Development Plan will be developed to reflect the contribution this position is
expected to make towards achieving the team’s objectives and measures. Key result areas
will be developed and agreed at this time.
Authorised by:
Date:
Acceptance
Acceptance of the position implies acceptance of this position description.
Position Title:
Signature of employee:
Date:
Consultant Psychiatrist
Mental Health & Addiction Services
January 2012
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