JOB DESCRIPTION
Community Mental Health Nurse Mental Health and Addiction
Services- Southern & Crisis Team (PTNFH)
Position Title:
Community Mental Health Nurse/DAO
Organisation Unit:
Community Mental Health and Addiction Service
Location:
Level 1, 25 Rathbone Street, Whangarei
Responsible to:
Team manager of Southern Team, Community Mental Health
and Addiction Services, Northland District Health Board
Primary Functions of
the Position:
To provide Mental Health services as an active, supportive and
collaborative member of the Crisis Service and the wider
multidisciplinary team.
To practice Mental Health at a level which meets or exceeds
established professional and Organisation standards, clinical
practice guidelines, policies and procedures for the Crisis
Service and the Southern Community Mental Health team.
To maintain focused professional development activities and
support the professional development of colleagues within the
Crisis Service and the Southern Community Mental Health team.
To contribute to the ongoing improvement of the service, by
participating in the development and delivery of quality
enhancement initiatives within the Crisis Service and the
Southern Community Mental Health team.
Functional Relationships
The Community Mental Health Nurse/Clinician will develop and maintain excellent
relationships with:
Internal
External
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District Manager
Multidisciplinary teams
Medical staff
Clinical Director
AOD
Consumer advocates
Professional Leader – Nursing
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NGOs
Primary health care providers,
including GPs
Tertiary education providers
NZ Nursing Council
Professional bodies and associations
Health and social support agencies
Police
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 Community Mental Health Nurse/Clinician encompasses the following major
functions or key result areas:
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Current Practicing certificate
Professional Development
Duly Authorised Officer or willing to work towards it
Continuous Quality Improvement
Treaty of Waitangi
Health and Safety
The outcome requirements of the above key responsibility areas are outlined below:
Key Responsibility Area
Mental Health Nursing
Practice
Expected Outcomes
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A clinical risk assessment within the Crisis Service is
effectively and responsibly managed, utilising
professional skills and competencies to the maximum
potential, based on the key worker model within the
multidisciplinary team environment.
Assessment, planning and evaluation is carried out
within agreed timeframes, complements or is part of the
Coordinated Recovery/Treatment Plan, is documented
clearly and meets the standards required by Mental
Health Services.
All clinical work utilises principles of collaborative
treatment planning and demonstrates maximum use of
opportunities for client/family participation and
empowerment, cultural sensitivity and respect for the
rights of clients and staff. Client care will focus on risk
and safety of the client living in as independent a
manner as possible in the community, or requiring
additional Crisis intervention support.
Clinical care provided meets established criteria for
safety, including cultural safety and accepted standards
of current practice.
Provides urgent and crisis support to clients and when
necessary acts in their capacity as a Duly Authorised
Officer (if applicable) as part of a Crisis Service.
Nursing care provided shows evidence of a sound
Key Responsibility Area
Professional
Development
Expected Outcomes
theoretical base for practice, the use of reflective
processes and the formation of partnerships with clients,
especially in the area of Crisis discharge planning.
 Effective and regular communication is established and
maintained with nursing colleagues and other members
of the multidisciplinary team(s) across the continuum of
care for the client.
 Data is provided as required by the service and all
documentation is completed concisely, accurately and
objectively in accordance with
organisational/professional standards.
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Duly Authorised Officer
Regularly meets, individually or in groups, with the
Clinical Supervisor, Team Manager and/or Senior
Leader to discuss professional and practice issues,
improvements or concerns.
Prepares strategies for the implementation of an
individual performance development plan to maintain
and extend nursing knowledge and skills, which is
regularly reviewed.
Maintains and demonstrates currency of knowledge in
Mental Health Practice and developments in mental
health practices.
Supervise students as per Organisation agreements
with educational agencies. Supervises and directs nonclinical staff appropriately to ensure safe delivery of
service as required.
Undertakes performance appraisal with the Team
Manager at least annually.
Utilises practice improvement and support mechanisms
available, such as clinical supervision, peer review and
debriefing.
Develops PDRPportfolio in line with Organisational
Nursing Professional Development Recognition
Programme (if applicable).
The duties and responsibilities of a Duly Authorised Officer, as
prescribed by the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and
Treatment) Act (1992/99) are undertaken as required.
The DAO provides an urgent service that is mobile, accessible
and available 24/7.
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By participating within rostered shifts: responding to all
calls for assistance from people presenting with a
mental health crisis from the community, utilising the
Service assessment criteria, i.e. outside the rostered
duties of the Community Mental Health Service;
By performing Risk and Safety assessments and
providing advice for clients/family/referrers as referred
under the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and
Treatment) Act (1992/99) and ensure outcomes are
consistent with the Act and appropriate for the client;
By ensuring support/treatment options are planned in
consultation with the treatment team the next working
day with a focus on continuity of care and
appropriateness of interventions.
Key Responsibility Area
Expected Outcomes
- Data collection is completed within each shift for urgent
assessments, and 72 hours for non-urgent
assessments.
The DAO maintains up to date knowledge of legislative, ethical
and practice information/requirements.
Continuous Quality
Improvement
The Community Mental Health Nurse:
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Understands and complies with relevant legislation
governing practice, legal mandates and responsibilities,
professional standards of practice (competencies),
clients’ rights and confidentiality;
Attends meetings which relate to the improvement of
service quality, communication and the care of clients on
their caseload;
Demonstrates a commitment to quality improvements,
risk management and resource utilisation by:
a) Participating in the development of strategic and
operational plans
b) Contributing to projects that enhance the clinical
implementation of evidence-based practice
c) Acting to identify and minimise risk to the client and
organisation
d) Complying with systems that assist with the
identification of and corrective action due to
accidents, incidents, and complaints from clients,
families, public and/or staff.
e) Actively participates and leas a CQI project.
Treaty of Waitangi
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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
Have a working understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and
it’s relevance to Mental Health.
Will work in partnership with Whanau, Hapu, Iwi and Maori
Health Services/resources.
Will seek advice from Maori Health Workers and/or
Kaumatua as appropriate.
Will display cultural sensitivity and a willingness to work
positively with organisational strategies to improve
opportunities for Maori.
Will attend educational opportunities relevant to the
acquirement and maintenance of cultural competencies.
Key Responsibility Area
Expected Outcomes
Health & Safety
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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
Attend Good Stuff Day annually
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 Southern/Kaipara Community Mental Health and
Addiction Services Manager to meet any changing conditions.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
 Registered Psychiatric or
Comprehensive Nurse
 Current New Zealand Practicing
Certificate
 Current clean Drivers License
(Private Motor Car)
 Effective written, oral and
interpersonal communication skills
 Demonstrated commitment to
continuing personal and professional
development
 Qualification to practice as a
Community Mental Health Nurse.
Desirable
 Current Practicing DAO Certificate.
 Completed DAO competency booklet for
NDHB
Experience
Essential
 Knowledge of mental health nursing
theory, practice, legal boundaries
and ethical concerns
 Experience in acute and community
mental health nursing practice
 Commitment to meaningful client
participation in the delivery of mental
health services
 Demonstrated ability to work
productively in a multidisciplinary
team environment
 Understanding of and commitment to
Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the practice
of cultural safety in health care
 Knowledge and/or experience of
working with clients with co-existing
substance use disorders
 Minimum 3 years practice as a
Community Mental Health Nurse.
Desirable
 Minimum 5 years experience as a
Community Mental Health Nurse
Awareness and Understanding of
Essential
 The Treaty of Waitangi and its application
to the health setting
 Privacy Act (1993) and Health
Information Privacy Code (1994)
 Health and Safety in Employment Act
(1992)
Desirable
 Health and Disability Commissioner
(Code of Health and Disability Services
Consumers’ Rights) Regulations (1996)
 New Zealand Council of Healthcare
Standards
Skills & Personal Attributes
Skills
 Intermediate- Advanced Computer/Excel skills
 Excellent nursing skills, and knowledge of different nursing methods and theories
 An understanding of the Mental Health Act and other relevant legislation
 Oral and written communication skills, including good listening skills
 Organisational skills
 Excellent Decision-making ability.
 To be able to develop relationships with people that are based on trust and respect.
Personal Attributes
 Intermediate – Advanced computer skills – JADE electronic patient information system
 Advanced clinical assessment and triage skills utilizing nursing frameworks and models
that reflect the Northland region community, which are inclusive of whanau, hapu and iwi
 Ability to transfer assessment skills into written documentation which is relevant to
Northland Health nursing frameworks or models of practice
 Self motivated and able to work without direct supervision to complete identified tasks
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:
Signature:
Date:
Acceptance
Acceptance of the position implies acceptance of this position description.
Position Title:
Signature of employee:
Date: