Kaitaupua Oranga Hinengaro | Mental Health Coordinator

• Are you interested in a 5-month fixed-term, full-time role?
• Have you got demonstrated experience in risk assessment and crisis intervention?
• Do you hold a current practicing certificate in New Zealand and are a fully registered health professional?

Mō Te Herenga Waka - About Our University

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is a global-civic university with our marae at our heart. This iho draws off our heritage and is further defined by our tūrangawaewae, in particular Wellington, Aotearoa, and the Asia-Pacific, all of which are expressed in our position as Aotearoa New Zealand's globally ranked capital city university.

Kōrero mō te tūranga - About the role

Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington is currently recruiting an experienced Kaitaupua Oranga Hinengaro - Mental Health Coordinator to join our team for 5 months on a fixed-term, full-time basis. The Mental Health Coordinator (MHC) supports the work of clinicians at Mauri Ora – Student Health and Counselling and other university staff, managing students identified as being at risk, and work collaboratively to develop effective responses for these students. Students at risk are those who develop mental health problems, are behaving in concerning or disruptive ways, are at risk of contemplating or attempting suicide and require holistic and coordinated assessment and care.  

As appropriate, the MHC provides risk assessment, brief counselling and support crisis management and recovery planning by liaising with university partners, primary care, and secondary mental health services. The MHC also provides consultation and guidance to university community and contributes to preventative and holistic programmes to support students’ welfare and safety.  

Ō pūmanawa - About you

You must:

• Have a University Degree or Post graduate qualification in mental health, social work, or related discipline. 
• Be a fully Registered Health Professional under the HPCA (Health Practitioner Competence Assurance Act 2003) or a Registered Social Worker (Social Worker Legislation Act 2019) and hold a current practicing certificate In New Zealand.  
• Have dmonstrated experience in mental health, supporting people from a range of backgrounds and cultures, particularly young adults. 
• Have demonstrated experience in risk assessment and crisis intervention. 
• Experience and interest in working with Māori and Pasifika students and cultural models of wellbeing. 

Ideally, you will have the following: 

• Experience in the provision of consultation to a wide range of partners, both with clinical and non-clinical backgrounds. 
• Experience in collaborative and multidisciplinary care and case coordination. 
• Experience in the provision of outreach services. 
• Experience in the provision of mental health promotion/preventative services.  
• Experience in providing holistic mental health assessments and delivering a range of therapeutic approaches including solution focused, brief / short-term models of counselling. 
• Proven ability to counsel using an approach that is non-judgemental, flexible, empathic, and sensitive to cultural, religious differences, gender, and sexual orientation. 
• Knowledge and experience in the tertiary sector and an understanding of the Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners Code of Practice. 
• Familiarity with the Microsoft Windows computer desktop environment.  

Ētahi kōrero hai āwhina i a koe - Why you should join our team

We are a collegial team from a variety of cultural and professional backgrounds. We cultivate regular professional and social connections to foster a supportive and warm atmosphere. We offer competitive salary, and our team benefits include: 

• 5 professional development days and individual professional development budget (FTE pro rata).
• In-house professional development sessions on cultural and clinical topics. 
• Fortnightly external clinical supervision (FTE pro rata) & fortnightly in-house peer supervision.  
• Professional indemnity insurance and annual registration (FTE pro rata).

As a VUW Staff, you will have access to Unisaver advantageous superannuation scheme; University will contribute 1.35 times your contributions up to a maximum of 6.75 % of your salary. In addition, you will also benefit from University Holidays and staff discounts and packages. More info can be found here.  If you are curious, eager to work in a tight knit team and have a great sense of community you will fit right in! If this sounds like the environment for you, we would be delighted to hear from you. 

This role requires safety checking through the police vetting system under the Vulnerable Children Act 2014. 

Role Description

Close Date for Vacancy: 23 May 2024. We can only consider applicants who are citizens or residents of New Zealand or Australia or on a current working visa. Applications will be reviewed as they are received and may progress with suitable applicants prior to the application closing date.

Contact Details for Vacancy: If you have any questions regarding this role please get in touch with Laureline Darques, Clinical Lead Counselling (Laureline.darques@vuw.ac.nz). But applicants should follow all steps listed below.

Important - Application Steps and information

Download and complete the University Application Form, please include the position title and reference number (Kaitaupua Oranga Hinengaro - Mental Health Coordinator, #1382).

Then, please combine your cover letter, CV and the University Application Form into a single file (preferably in pdf format). Click Apply and follow the process to enter your contact details and attach your combined file (CV, cover letter and the University application form) using the "CV/Resume" button.

If you are unable to combine your documents or have further supporting documents, please email these to erecruit@vuw.ac.nz stating the reference number and position title from the advert in the subject line.