Primary Mental Health Service Leader

FTE: 0.8–1.0 FTE (32–40 hours per week)
Location: West Coast, Te Tai o Poutini
Salary: $96,000–$120,000 (pro rata based on 0.8–1.0 FTE)

West Coast Health (WCH) is seeking an experienced and passionate Primary Mental Health Service Leader to provide clinical leadership and direction for our Primary Mental Health team.

Based across WCH service locations, with regular engagement in general practice and community settings, this pivotal role will help shape the future of primary and community mental health services across Te Tai o Poutini West Coast.

About West Coast Health

West Coast Health is the Primary Health Organisation (PHO) for the West Coast. As a community trust, we are committed to improving the health and wellbeing of our communities by supporting accessible, equitable, and culturally responsive healthcare.

Working alongside general practice, Kaupapa Māori providers, Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora, NGOs, and community organisations, WCH is leading the transformation of mental health and addiction services across the region.

Our vision is a connected, recovery-focused, community-based system where tangata whaiora and whānau receive timely, coordinated, and person-centred support.

About the Role

The Primary Mental Health Service Leader provides clinical leadership, guidance, and oversight to WCH’s Primary Mental Health team, supporting the delivery of high-quality, safe, and effective services.

You will play a key role in strengthening access to mental health support within primary care and community settings, developing collaborative pathways, and supporting a workforce that delivers compassionate, evidence-informed care.

This role combines clinical leadership with hands-on practice, including maintaining a small personal caseload delivering evidence-based brief interventions.

Key areas of responsibility include:

• Providing visible clinical leadership to the Primary Mental Health team, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, equity, and continuous improvement.

• Supporting service development, improvement initiatives, and the delivery of strategic priorities.

• Providing clinical governance and oversight across brief intervention counselling, Health Improvement Practitioner, and youth counselling services.

• Supporting a positive, inclusive, and high-performing team culture through supervision, coaching, mentoring, and professional development.

• Building strong partnerships with general practice, specialist mental health services, Kaupapa Māori providers, NGOs, and community agencies.

• Supporting culturally safe, equitable, and recovery-oriented approaches to care.

• Using evidence, service information, and stakeholder feedback to inform ongoing improvement.

About You

You are an experienced mental health professional who combines strong clinical capability with confident leadership skills.

You will bring:

• A relevant registered health professional qualification and current registration without conditions under an appropriate professional body (such as HPCA Act, DAPAANZ, SWRB, NZAC with Te Whatu Ora accreditation).

• A minimum of three years’ professional experience in your registered field.

• Proven experience providing mental health services, including evidence-based brief interventions.

• Experience leading, supporting, and developing teams.

• An understanding of Māori mental health issues and commitment to tikanga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.

• Excellent relationship-building, communication, and problem-solving skills.

• The ability to work collaboratively across health and community sectors.

• A current practicing certificate and NZ driver’s license.

Ideally, You Will Also Have

• Experience working in primary care, general practice, or community-based mental health settings.

• A passion for improving access to mental health and wellbeing support.

• Experience supporting service innovation and quality improvement.

• A commitment to developing and maintaining a positive team culture.

• Familiarity with Microsoft Office and health information systems.

Why Join West Coast Health?

This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in a rural community where strong relationships, collaboration, and innovation matter.

You will join an organisation committed to:

• Improving health equity and access for our communities.

• Supporting tangata whaiora and whānau to achieve wellbeing and recovery.

• Building a connected and responsive mental health system.

• Growing and supporting our health workforce.

If you are a compassionate clinical leader who wants to help shape the future of primary mental health care on the West Coast, we would love to hear from you.

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