Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP)

West Coast Health | Greymouth – Coastal Health and Te Nīkau

• Location: Greymouth, working across Coastal Health and Te Nīkau Health Centre

• Employment: Permanent, part-time – 0.8 FTE (32 hours per week)

• Salary: $72,000–$78,000 per annum for 0.8 FTE (equivalent to $90,000–$97,500 full-time)

About West Coast Health

West Coast Health is a Primary Health Organisation. As a not-for-profit community trust, we plan, coordinate, fund and provide primary health care for West Coasters. Our mission is to help West Coasters get healthy and stay that way.

We are looking for a registered health professional with experience delivering behavioural health services to join us in this rewarding role within General Practice. You will empower people to reach their mental health and wellbeing goals through brief interventions.

West Coast Health, alongside stakeholders and other providers, is leading the transformation of the Mental Health and Addiction System on Te Tai o Poutini West Coast. Our aim is to improve access, service engagement, community wellbeing, and recovery outcomes for tangata whaiora and whānau.

This role is based within General Practice and is a key connection point and champion for this recovery-oriented, collaborative and community-based model of care. You will work across Primary Care, NGO services, Kaupapa Māori providers and Specialist Mental Health Services.

About the role

The Health Improvement Practitioner provides evidence-based brief intervention talking therapies to individuals and their whānau, helping them reconnect with their values and commit to actions that reflect their health and wellbeing goals.

This is a generalist role based within General Practice, supporting people with a wide range of issues affecting their wellbeing. You will work across Coastal Health and Te Nīkau Health Centre in Greymouth, building relationships with both practice teams and helping make accessible mental health support part of everyday primary care.

The role includes:

• Providing immediate, accessible therapy (particularly Focused Acceptance and Commitment Therapy – FACT) to patients.

• Delivering group programmes for patients in partnership with the general practice teams.

• Providing consultation, education and advice to support practice team members to meet the mental health and wellbeing needs of their patients.

• Supporting local population health by developing intervention pathways alongside GPs and nurses, based on clinic needs.

• Using the Te Whare Tapa Whā model of care to ensure collaborative plans are culturally appropriate and address the different dimensions of health and wellbeing.

Successful applicants will receive comprehensive training and ongoing mentoring as part of the national Integrated Primary Mental Health and Addictions programme.

A great opportunity across two Greymouth practices

This position offers the opportunity to work across Coastal Health and Te Nīkau Health Centre, connecting with two general practice teams and the communities they serve.

Coastal Health offers a welcoming and supportive team culture. The practice has a great understanding of the Health Improvement Practitioner role and recognises the value it brings to patients, whānau and the wider general practice team. You'll be encouraged to build strong working relationships, contribute your expertise and become an integral part of the practice.

Te Nīkau Health Centre offers the opportunity to work within a wider health environment, alongside GPs, nurses and other health professionals. Located within the Te Nīkau Hospital and Health Centre, it provides a range of primary care services and connections with wider health services. This creates opportunities for collaborative care and strong connections between primary and other health services.

Working across both practices offers variety, professional connection and the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to mental health and wellbeing in the Greymouth community.

You'll be supported to build relationships with both teams and help strengthen the place of accessible mental health and wellbeing support within everyday primary care.

Find out more:

• Coastal Health: https://coastalhealth.co.nz/

• Te Nīkau Health Centre: https://westcoasthealth.nz/your-health/seeing-a-doctor/primary-care-practices/te-nikau-health-centre

About you – successful applicants will

• Hold a relevant registered health professional qualification and full registration without conditions under one of the following:

  • Health Practitioners Competency Assurance (HPCA) Act

  • DAPAANZ

  • Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB)

  • New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC), with Te Whatu Ora accreditation.

• Have a minimum of three years' professional experience in your registered field.

• Ideally have experience working in general practice, primary care and/or community settings.

• Have qualifications or experience in CBT, ACT or FACT. This is an advantage but is not essential.

• Be empathetic and open-minded, with excellent communication skills.

• Be committed to ongoing professional development and education.

• Hold a full, clean New Zealand driver's licence.

Important information

West Coast Health requires workers based in General Practice to be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of employment. This means having received the two original vaccinations. Applicants who progress through the recruitment process will be required to provide proof of their vaccination status.

Find out more and apply

For more information about the role and the Integrated Primary Mental Health and Addictions programme, visit:

https://westcoasthealth.nz/your-health/mental-health/hips-and-health-coaches

Please email Ayla Green at ayla.green@westcoasthealth.nz for a copy of the position description.

We look forward to hearing from you!