Lived Experience Advisors

Location: Kenepuru Hospital

Contract:  Two permanent, part-time roles available (20 hours and 32 hours per week)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. 

About the role

Are you passionate about mental health and addiction? Have you used adult mental health and addiction services? Would you like to use your lived experience to make a difference? If the answer is yes, then we'd like to hear from you.

We are looking for two skilled and passionate individuals to work as Lived Experience Advisors. The two roles are:

• Tuhonohono, Regional Addictions Services - 32 hours per week
• Younger Persons Services - 20 hours per week

Lived Experience Advisors are people with lived experience of mental distress and/or addiction and recovery. We have experience of accessing secondary (community team) or tertiary (inpatient unit) mental health and/or addiction services and want to use that experience to bring about systemic change. We are system-focused advisors and work in collaboration with Mental Health Addictions and Intellectual Disability Service (MHAIDS) to provide a lived experience perspective within the organisation. 

The Lived Experience Advisors will ensure the lived experience perspective is presented, valued and implemented in decision-making, policy and quality improvement projects. You will be based with the Lived Experience Advisory Team at their Kenepuru Hospital office, but you will regularly work at various locations around the region. 

Please indicate on your application which role you are interested in applying for.

About our team

The Lived Experience Advisory Team is currently a team of seven people, with a Team Leader responsible for the day-to-day operations, and Lived Experience Advisors working within inpatient units, youth services, serious event reviews, and staff learning and development. We work closely with relevant internal and external stakeholders (local/regional/national) to advise and assist in the development of strategies and processes required to achieve successful outcomes for people with lived experience.

Our team is also part of a larger MHAIDS Lived Experience Team that includes the Director of Lived Experience and Engagement who represents the lived experience voice at the Senior Leadership Team level. There are also three Lived Experience Leads who work within our adult community mental health services across Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, Wellington, Kapiti and Porirua.

About you

Our ideal candidate will have the following skills and experience:

• Personal lived experience of accessing addiction services, secondary (community team) or tertiary (inpatient unit) mental health and/or addiction services and can share appropriate and relevant experiences to influence systemic change.
• Upholds peer values and has an understanding of recovery that is trauma-informed, strengths-based, and wellbeing orientated. 
• Has an understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and how they apply to the health sector. 
• Is committed to improving health equity for Māori, Pacific peoples and priority populations.
• Has an understanding of the lived experience and peer workforce, as well as experience in project, advisory and group work
• Can work alongside people with differences in opinion and move collectively towards a common goal. 
• Can recognise and champion the voices of current tāngata whai ora in quality improvement, service design and delivery.
• Can effectively communicate information to diverse audiences using recovery-focused language. 
• Knows the relevant rights, legislation, policies and standards. E.g. Health and Disability Code of Consumer Rights.
• Applies and demonstrates recovery, self-care and stress management strategies.

Working at Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. 

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now” and indicate on your application form which role you are applying for. All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 30th April. If you have any questions about the role, please contact lucy.britland@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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