Community Mental Health Nurse - Mental Health Service for Older People - Thames

Position Overview Position: Permanent, 64 hours per fortnight. Location: Thames, Waikato. About the Role We are seeking an experienced mental health nurse to join our Older Persons Mental Health Team based in Thames. The role is community‑focused, providing assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation interventions for older adults experiencing mental ill health or behavioural and psychological symptoms secondary to degenerative neurocognitive conditions, primarily dementia. Responsibilities Establish partnership as the basis for therapeutic relationship. Apply Models of Mental Health Nursing practice. Provide high‑quality nursing and psycho‑social interventions through specialist assessment, treatment planning and review with a rehabilitative recovery focus for the client and whanau. Coordinate intensive intervention and case management for clients in crisis when appropriate. Conduct comprehensive specialist mental health assessments. Manage case coordination and care for clients and their whanau. Liaise with other health providers, mental health teams, geriatric medicine, NGOs, PHOs, social and government agencies to facilitate care and treatments for clients. Participate and contribute to service planning and quality projects. Manage acute and chronic presentations in older adults and serve as a key point of contact for whanau and informal support systems. Team and Service The team consists of experienced clinicians including a psychiatrist specializing in older adults, occupational therapists, a social worker, a clinical psychologist, nurses, and a clinical nurse specialist. The service is predominantly community‑based, visiting clients at home or in aged care facilities and operates within an integrated model of care that provides seamless transition through inpatient and community settings. Qualifications At least 5 years of recent mental health nursing experience, preferably in older adult specialty. NewZealand nursing registration with a current practising certificate. Outstanding mental state assessment and formulation skills, management of psychiatric illness, medication oversight, and risk assessment and management. Excellent relationship management and networking skills. Self‑motivated and able to work autonomously while being a strong team player. Can‑do attitude and experience managing complex psychosocial presentations. Motivation to engage in mentoring and professional development in older adult mental health. Expert‑level nursing skills or actively working toward this level. Current full NewZealand driver’s licence. Diversity and Inclusion Health NewZealand|TeWhatuOra is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for all NewZealanders. We welcome applications from diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive to better understand and service our community. #J-18808-Ljbffr