Operations Manager For Intellectual Disability Service

Location: Porirua

Contract:  Permanent, Full time (1 FTE)

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

Intellectual Disability (ID) Forensic Services is part of the Mental Health Addiction and Intellectual Disability Service Directorate (MHAIDS).  It has adult, youth and community services.

We currently have a vacancy for an Operations Manager in the Intellectual Disability Service, working across our inpatient and community service.

We are a progressive service committed to providing a culture of ongoing professional development for staff through regular clinical supervision, excellent professional development and recognition programme (PDRP) for nursing, regular in-service training and support towards external education.

This role partners with the Clinical Leader and works alongside the Group Manager and Clinical Director of the service, particularly supporting the Group Manager in the efficient and effective operation of the service to improve outcomes for clients and their whanau. Supporting staff and working closely with internal and external stakeholders will be a key part of the work. The salary range for this role is $138,000 -$160,000 depending on experience. 

About the Team/Service Location 

The Intellectual Disability Secure Services has regional and National services: 

Haumietiketike is a regional intellectual disability adult secure forensic inpatient unit which has eleven beds. 

The Step-Down Rehabilitative Cottages include two separate houses providing four adult beds in each cottage. 

Hikitia Te Wairua is the National intellectual disability secure forensic inpatient unit for young people with six beds. This building is co-located with the Rangatahi (Youth Acute Mental Health Inpatient Unit) and Nga Taiohi (National Secure Youth Forensic Unit).

Manawai Individualised Service Units (ISU) is a six bed National inpatient facility for adults with an intellectual disability and/or mental illness who have conditions of such severity that they have been subject to long-term hospital level care compromising their quality of life.

Our community team provides a regional tertiary service for adults with an intellectual disability and co-existing mental illness.  The team also delivers services for community forensic clients with an intellectual disability.  As a consultation liaison team, our input is generally short term, providing intensive assessments, recommendations and advice for clients and their care team.

We have a Model of Care, which incorporates all the features of current best practice within forensic secure services including Positive Behaviour Support, nuanced risk assessment, and psychological formulation. All staff receive training on Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) as this is the basis for our philosophy of care within the service.

About you

This role partners with the Clinical Leader and works alongside the Group Manager and Clinical Director of the service, particularly supporting the Group Manager in the efficient and effective operation of the service to improve outcomes for clients and their whanau.

Skills & Experience

To be considered in this role the candidate is requested to have

• Relevant business or health qualification (or equivalent experience).
• Be a registered health professional with a current APC.
• Experience in senior operational leadership in health, preferably in mental health and/or intellectual disability sector.
• Has operated within a complex, high-pressure environment, ideally within an inpatient and community mental health or intellectual disability service, which includes meeting the needs of multiple services at the same time.
• Experience of managing a business/operation effectively.
• Successful experience in managing internal and external relationships with an assortment of stakeholders, with demonstrated management success in building relationships and gaining the support and participation of key individuals and groups.
• Successful experience in leading staff during times of change and change management.
• Demonstrated ability to find common ground and solve problems for the good of all, represent his/her own interests and yet be fair to other groups.
• Strength for solving problems with peers with a minimum of noise, gaining trust easily and encouraging collaboration.
• Experience in taking ownership, accountability and responsibility for the role.
• Experience in anticipating, identifying, resolving clinical and administrative/management problems to the desired goals.
• A high level of judgment, flexibility, self-motivation and responsiveness.
• Commitment to personal and professional development.
• Commitment to equity, equal employment and educational opportunities.

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.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 3rd August. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Marianne.Lovgren@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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