Mental Health Assistant - Forensic

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the role

You will be working in a secure environment predominantly with patients referred from the courts and / or prison setting for assessment and / or treatment. Increasingly we provide a rehabilitative role in assisting patients with complex needs to reintegrate into the community. Every day you get to work with and alongside a dynamic and committed multidisciplinary team.

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Southern has the largest geographical coverage of all the New Zealand regions, providing services to 350,000 people in diverse communities. We take pride in all the services we provide, and our aim is to improve, promote and protect the health of our region. We believe that our dedicated and passionate staff are a significant driving force behind the achievement of these standards, and we need more like-minded people to help us continue providing for our community.

About you

We are looking for a full-time Mental Health Assistant to support and assist our nursing and allied health staff to ensure an effective and efficient service on this Ward within the Mental Health, Addictions, and Intellectual Disability Service.

Our Mental Health Assistant staff can be asked to work a variety of shifts over seven days - mornings (7.30am start), afternoons (3.00pm start) and nights (11.15pm start).

Our ideal applicant will :

• need a positive attitude
• need very good communication skills
• be able to take direction
• work well as part of team
• be confident in providing support and assisting patients
• be motivated
• display initiative
• be patient focused at all times
• be able to adapt to a changing, and at times challenging environment.

We look forward to hearing from you if you feel that you meet the criteria in the attached position description. Applicants should also note that a full driver’s licence is a requirement for this position.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

Salary range

This role belongs to the expired PSA Collective Agreement and falls between Step 1 ($28.30 per hour) and Step 5 ($35.69 per hour) of the MHA scale.

How to apply

To apply please click 'apply now'. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by Sunday, 26 October 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Ben Kingsbury

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.

We only accept online applications. Please apply via our website.

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