AR-190 Registered Allied Health Professional – Adult Acute Mental Health Care Team – New Zealand

Key Responsibilities
Outcomes
1. Cultural Safety
• Care is individually focused and planned in regard to ethnic, cultural, religious and other needs
• Demonstrates a commitment to and active understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi and its application within Mental Health to improve Maori health status
• Demonstrates awareness of the impact of own cultural background, attitudes and values
• Demonstrates awareness of the impact of own cultural background, attitudes and values
• Demonstrates the cultural and spiritual needs of service users are met with sensitivity including those of family/whanau and significant others.
• Demonstrates that consultation occurs with Maori Service providers in relation to care for service users as appropriate
• Attends relevant Treaty of Waitangi/Bicultural training as arranged via the employer.

2. Professional Responsibility
• Adheres to professional standards of practice and acknowledges that competent practice is influenced and reinforced through membership of appropriate professional bodies
• Is aware of legislation that impacts on mental health care delivery and service user rights and practices within legal boundaries.
• Considers ethical issues in treatment planning and contributes an ethical perspective to decision-making
• Demonstrates knowledge of, and accesses policies and procedural guidelines that have implications for clinical care
• Has a clear understanding of the principles of delegation and accountability and seeks advice and support appropriately.
• Demonstrates accountability for directing, monitoring and evaluating service that is
provided by social work students and others
• Actively engages in and effectively utilises clinical supervision and offers/provides this to clinical staff within the Mental Health Service as appropriate and as per the Mental Health Service

3. Clinical Practice
• Utilises the clinical process to assess, plan, implement and evaluate care and maintains professional practice standards in assessing, planning, implementing and evaluating ongoing care for all service-users, actively engaging with and providing support, education and assistance to families/whanau and care-givers.
• Demonstrates the ability to manage the environment by assessing risk factors, identifying and implementing strategies to maintain own safety and the safety of service-users and others
• Demonstrates a flexible approach and ability to cope with changing situations.
• Undertakes a timely comprehensive and accurate occupational therapy assessment using suitable assessment tools to inform goals for intervention and or provisional diagnostic formulation
• Engages in robust ongoing assessment and management of risk
• Develops individual treatment plans in collaboration with service-users and their families/whanau that reflects the issues identified at assessment
• Incorporates discharge planning as part of the overall care strategy, including relapse planning and/or advance directives, and/or appropriate referrals to internal/external agencies
• Makes clinical judgements based on current evidence-based knowledge, research and reflective practice.
• Demonstrates competence in implementing therapeutic strategies eg. cognitive therapy and social work models of practice
• Plans and prioritises workload.
• Presents health information and education to service-users and families/whanau in a sensitive manner that is readily understood

4. Interpersonal Relationships
• The principles and practice of partnership are incorporated in all facets of assessment, intervention, treatment and care. Establishes, maintains and concludes therapeutic interpersonal relationships with service-users and their families, and demonstrates effective communication with colleagues.
• Incorporates authentic therapeutic use of self and interpersonal and micro-counselling skills
• Supports the personal autonomy and resourcefulness of service-users and their families and encourages their participation as partners in care
• Works and communicates effectively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, demonstrating individual responsibility and accountability.
• Demonstrates an ability to manage conflict constructively

5. Inter-professional Health Care and Quality Improvement
• The principles and practice of partnership are incorporated in all facets of assessment, intervention, treatment and care. Establishes, maintains and concludes therapeutic interpersonal relationships with service-users and their families, and demonstrates effective communication with colleagues.
• Incorporates authentic therapeutic use of self and interpersonal and micro-counselling skills
• Supports the personal autonomy and resourcefulness of service-users and their families and encourages their participation as partners in care
Works and communicates effectively as a member of the multi-disciplinary team, demonstrating individual responsibility and accountability.
• Demonstrates an ability to manage conflict constructively

Key Relationships
• Clinical Director/DAMHS
• Business Leader MH&AS
• Nurse Leader and Allied Health Leader, MH&AS
• NGO’s and other agencies
• GP’s and Primary Health Organisations
• Service Users and their families/carers
• Regional Maori Services
• Consumer Advisor and Family/Whanau Advisor
• Mental Health & Addiction Services staff

Person Specification
Qualifications
• A current practicing certificate
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• Post graduate qualification with a mental health focus
• Affiliation to an appropriate professional organisation
Experience
• A minimum of 3 years clinical experience in a mental health inpatient or community setting
• A current clean motor vehicle driver’s license
• Demonstrate sound knowledge and understanding of mental illness and risk assessment in relation to community mental health care
• Competence in comprehensive assessment, risk assessment the use of the mental status examination and problem formulation
• Clinical skills in engagement, de-escalation, conflict resolution and problem solving
• Ability to discuss and negotiate management plans with clinicians
• Demonstrates a commitment to quality
• Excellent communication skills and interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrates flexibility and adaptability
• Able to prioritise work requirements
• Knowledge of relevant legislation including Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment and Treatment) Act, 1992, Privacy Act 1993, Health & Disability Act, Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act and the NZ Health Strategy (Te Tahahu; Te Kokiri).
• Computer literate
• Able to develop role in response to client needs
• Experience of working within teams
• Demonstrates a commitment to post-registration study and professional development
• Experience of working with clients with dual intellectual

Note: Photograph is of Tauranga, a larger city than Whakatane, that is also part of the scenic Bay of Plenty.