POSITION DESCRIPTION
Position: Mental Health Worker
Reports to: Charge Nurses or
Senior Nurse Co-ordinators
Accountable to: Director of Nursing & Allied Health
Purpose of the position
A Mental Health Worker contributes to the promotion, growth and maintenance of the therapeutic
community culture at Ashburn Clinic by ensuring that the philosophy, mission and values of the Clinic are
demonstrated in everyday work practices.
Context for the position
Ashburn Clinic is a not-for-profit therapeutic community in Dunedin, offering a professional and
supportive environment for assessment, treatment and recovery from mental illness and addictions.
Established in 1882 as an alternative to state hospital care, Ashburn Clinic is owned by the Ashburn Hall
Charitable Trust and governed by a Board of Trustees. The Clinic provides public and private inpatient
psychiatric services for people from all over NZ, aged 17 years and above.
The Ashburn therapeutic community evolved through its association with UK therapeutic communities
which developed a group approach to treating the effects of trauma, where staff and patients work
alongside each other in an atmosphere of open communication. The Ashburn residential programme
provides treatment for a variety of health problems, including personality disorders, trauma-related
conditions, eating disorders, mood and anxiety disorders and addictions.
Ashburn Clinic employs psychiatrists, psychotherapists, nursing and occupational therapy staff as well as
general practitioners, a dietitian and a social worker. The Management Team consists of the Medical
Director, Director of Nursing and Allied Health, Quality Director and the Business Director who leads a
team of non-clinical staff responsible for finances, administration, catering, cleaning, quality, buildings
and grounds.
As part of its core purpose and Charitable Trust status, Ashburn Clinic provides educational opportunities
to internal and external staff. It is a teaching hospital with the capacity to provide placements for
students of various disciplines, training for psychiatrists and psychotherapists, as well as educational
seminars.
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Key accountabilities of the role
Therapeutic intervention: relates in a professional manner and communicates effectively to support
the patient through the healthcare experience, incorporating therapeutic use of self and
psychotherapeutic communication skills as the basis for care for patients with mental health care
needs.
Clinical practice: provides nursing care in a manner that is responsive to the patient’s needs, and
which is consistent with the principles of the Therapeutic Community.
Professional development: undertakes responsibility for own professional development and
contributes to the development and recognition of professional nursing practice.
Health and Safety: takes reasonable care of own health and safety and reasonable care that others
are not harmed by this employee’s actions. Follows any reasonable instructions given by the
Employer, and co-operates with any reasonable health and safety policy or procedure.
Key relationships
The Director of Nursing and Allied Health
The Unit team
Ashburn Clinic treatment team
Members of the Management Team
Charge and Associate Charge Nurses
Senior Co-ordinators
Non-clinical managers and their teams
The Ashburn Community
Other health professionals
The family/whānau of patients.
General information
Delegations
A Mental Health Worker has no delegated financial authority. All spending on capital or operational items
is to be referred to the Director of Nursing and Allied Health for approval.
Personal development
Every Mental Health Worker is expected to maintain their professional development and ongoing
education.
This Position Description is not an employment agreement or contract and can be changed at any time
due to the changing strategic, clinical or business needs of Ashburn Clinic.
I acknowledge that I have received a copy of my Position Description and that it has been discussed with
me.
Mental Health Worker Signature Date
Director of Nursing & Allied Health Signature Date
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Key accountabilities
Clinical practice: Annual appraisal to be completed on or within one month of
Provides nursing care in a anniversary date.
manner that is Practice within ethical and legal requirements as stated in the Ashburn
responsive to the Clinic orientation package.
patient’s needs, in Active participation within groups and activities that facilitate the
consultation with the Therapeutic Community philosophy, which may include other duties
Charge Nurses or Senior relevant to the service.
Co-ordinator. Use of assessment and intervention skills to provide safety and meet
patient needs, following Policies & Procedures documentation
standards.
Active in the teaching of new staff and students.
Development of interpersonal relationships that enables an awareness
of an individual’s spiritual, cultural, psychological and physical
dimensions to provide holistic care.
Team work and Evidence of commitment to multi-disciplinary approach through active
individual accountability involvement in clinical discussion.
Ability to demonstrate autonomy and accountability.
Ensures appropriate equipment and supplies are readily available and
functioning as well as demonstrating an awareness of the standard and
safety of the physical environment.
Professional Analysis of personal records shows evidence of ongoing education to a
development: minimum of 10 hours annually.
Undertakes responsibility Issues of development identified in appraisals are acted upon.
for own professional Demonstrates positive working relationships with peers and has the
development. ability to use available forums to ensure supervision of issues arising.
Accesses sufficient appropriate training to maintain practice.
Health and Safety: Takes reasonable care of own health and safety, and reasonable care
Ensure health and safety that others are not harmed by this employee’s actions.
policy and procedures Follows any reasonable instructions given by the Employer, and co-
are adhered to. operates with any reasonable health and safety policy or procedure.
Reports in a timely manner any hazard, incident or health and safety
concern that is apparent.
Supports maintaining safe systems and healthy practices in the
workplace through active participation and consultation.
Role requirements
Therapeutic Community: Works under the supervision of a Registered Nurse.
Mental Health Workers Where appropriate attends and is actively involved in Forum and
at Ashburn Clinic Community meetings and other groups as required.
implement the Works to ensure there is a safe environment and patients are safe.
philosophy and practice
of a therapeutic
community.
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Communication: Incorporates therapeutic use of self and psychotherapeutic
Mental Health Workers communication skills as they relate to Mental Health Workers.
at Ashburn Clinic will Establishes, maintains and terminates therapeutic interpersonal
have self-awareness and relationships with individuals and groups.
skills to communicate
respectfully and develop
effective relationships
with patients and staff.
Cultural safety: Applies the principles of cultural safety in caring for patients.
Mental Health Workers Demonstrates an awareness of cultural diversity.
at Ashburn Clinic
acknowledge the
different cultures of
Aotearoa/New Zealand
and demonstrate
culturally safe care in
partnership with
patients.
Professional judgment: Identifies situations in a mental health setting requiring a nursing
Makes professional response.
judgments that will Assesses situations in a mental health setting in a manner that reflects
enhance practice. an understanding of safety issues and patient/consumer needs.
Identifies the mental health care needs of the patient in partnership
with the patient, their family and whānau.
Incorporates an understanding of therapeutic principles in planning
and implementing nursing interventions.
Makes clinical nursing judgments based on current nursing
knowledge, psychotherapeutic principles and critical reflection.
Identifies the impact of sociopolitical issues and the healthcare
delivery system on the life experiences of patients of mental health
services.
Reflects upon and evaluates the effectiveness of professional
judgments with peers and experienced mental health nurses.
Nursing care: Carries out a mental assessment status as part of a broader nursing
Manages nursing care in assessment, as delegated by the Charge Nurses, Associate Charge
a manner that is Nurses or Senior Co-ordinator.
responsive to the Implements mental health nursing care in a manner which facilitates
patient’s needs, and the independence, self-esteem and safety of the patient.
which is supported by Uses the Therapeutic Community framework to assess, plan and
nursing knowledge. implement mental health nursing care with patients, their family and
whānau.
Implements mental health nursing care which demonstrates an
understanding of psychotherapeutic and partnership principles.
Evaluates the effectiveness of mental health nursing care in
partnership with patients, their family and whānau.
Describes a range of therapeutic modalities including individual
therapy, group therapy, and physical assessments and treatments.
Management of the Understands the principles of mental health.
environment: Maintains a therapeutic environment.
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Promotes an Considers the impact of the milieu on the mental health of the
environment which patient.
maximises patient safety, Identifies potential risk factors within the mental health setting and
independence, quality of community environments, and communicates these to the team.
life, and health. Assesses risk factors and identifies strategies that maintain own,
patient and others’ safety.
Implements nursing responses, procedures and protocols for
managing threats to safety within the clinical environment.
Identifies clinical protocols – for example, for restraint, observation,
treatment against the patient’s will, AWOL, self-harm, aggression.
Describes basic de-escalation, calming techniques, and conflict
resolution.
Legal responsibility: Accesses guidelines, policies and protocols for safe mental health
Practices nursing in nursing practice.
accord with relevant Describes the implications of legislation for mental health nursing
legislation and upholds practice – for example, the Mental Health (Compulsory Assessment
patient rights derived and Treatment) Act 1992, Privacy Act 1993, Health and Disability
from that legislation. Services Act 1993, the Health and Disability Commissioner Act 1994.
Ethical accountability: Discusses ethical issues related to mental health nursing practice – for
Practices nursing in example, informed consent, privacy, refusal of treatment, rights of
accord with values and formal and informal patients.
moral principles which Recognises ethical dilemmas and problems arising in a mental health
promote patient interest nursing context.
and acknowledge the Applies ethical principles to mental health nursing practice.
person’s individuality, Makes appropriate clinical judgments regarding the extent to which
abilities, culture and the patient is capable of participating in decisions related to their
choice. care, in consultation with other team members.
Accepts responsibility for own actions and invites feedback in relation
to these actions.
Consults with experienced mental health nurses when confronted
with an ethical dilemma.
Practices within recognised codes of ethics and codes of conduct.
Health education: Assesses the readiness of the patient to participate in mental health
Assists patients and education strategies.
groups to achieve Provides mental health education appropriate to the needs of the
satisfying and productive patient and within a nursing framework.
patterns of living through Ensures the patient has adequate knowledge of the effects and
health education. consequences of treatment options.
Ensures that patients receive and understand relevant and current
information regarding their mental health care.
Inter-professional Advocates for the patient, their family and whānau within the mental
healthcare: health care team.
Promotes a nursing Provides input from nursing assessments to participate in the
perspective within the decision-making processes of the mental health team.
inter-professional Describes the diagnostic criteria for major mental illness.
activities of the health Utilises knowledge of group dynamics to promote effective mental
team. health team interactions.
Promotes the delivery of integrated and co-ordinated mental health
care.
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Quality improvement: Reflects on patient, family and whānau feedback on the evaluation of
Contributes to ongoing nursing care and mental health service delivery.
quality improvement in Shares knowledge and experience with colleagues and promotes
nursing practice and quality improvement strategies.
service delivery.
Professional Identifies ongoing educational opportunities for mental health
development: nurses.
Undertakes responsibility Participates in appropriate clinical supervision.
for own professional Identifies own learning needs.
nursing development
and contributes to the
development and
recognition of
professional nursing
practice.
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