Auckland District Health Board
Position Description
Position Description Authorised By:
Type: Department Specific
Title: Service Clinical Director
Last Review Date: March 2017
Next Review Date: 2019
Position Details:
Title:
Community Support Worker (ACOS)
Department:
Assertive Community Outreach Service, Community Mental Health
Service
Service:
Mental Health Service
Reports to (title):
Clinical Team Leader – Assertive Community Outreach Service
Purpose of Position:
Contribute to the care and treatment of people with complex needs who require long term intensive support
to assist them in their recovery from enduring mental illness and distress.
To provide intensive community support to service users with a consistent pattern of problematic
engagement with services, a history of being assessed as high risk during periods of relapse, and a history
of multiple acute admissions or acute relapse. There is an emphasis on working with families and other
significant stakeholders where possible.
Key Accountabilities of Position:
Specific annual objectives to meet these accountabilities will be agreed
separately with the one-up manager during the performance planning process
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To work collaboratively with ACOS clinicians to enable a range of therapeutic treatment options, case
management and intensive support within the Assertive Community Outreach Service model.

To provide a comprehensive range of recovery focused therapeutic mental health skills.

To provide active collaboration, planning and liaison with other services.

To work in accordance with Treaty Principles to provide culturally appropriate support for Tangata Whai i
te ora and ethnic minority groups.

To actively participate in and contribute to service development and service evaluation.

To actively seek opportunities for ongoing professional development and peer supervision.
Position Authorities:
Direct Reports (total FTE):
Nil
Delegated Authority:
Nil
Budget Accountability:
Nil
Relationships:
External
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Primary health care services.
Other community cultural,
health and social services.
N.G.O’s.
Professional bodies and
Internal
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ACOS Clinical Team Leader
ACOS team
Mental health community and
inpatient services
Other Clinical Staff.
Committees/Groups
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Service and team meetings as
required.
Peer Supervision
Page 2 of 2
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associations.
Other mental and general
health services.
Position Description for Clinician

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Clerical & Administration
Staff.
Cultural Staff.
Clinical Support/ Supervision
Staff.
Consumer advisors
Person Specification:
Key Attributes

Education & Qualifications

Essential
Desired
Necessary for safe & effective
performance in the position
May contribute to immediate &/or
improved performance in the position
National Certificate in Mental
Health
NZ Drivers licence

Work Experience
Skills and Abilities
Critical Competencies

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Minimum two year experience
in mental health setting.

Experience in a Community
Support Worker Role or MH
related position.
Experience working with
family/whanau and community
development.
Able to work with electronic
clinical records.
Description
1. Organisational Skills
Demonstrated ability to manage caseload requirements and team related
tasks and responsibilities.
2. Communication Skills
Ability to communicate effectively with service users, family / whanau,
care givers, Primary care providers, N.G.O’s, both oral and written. Basic
Microsoft computer skills are essential (Outlook, Word)
3. Ability to work with a
team
Ability to work within a multidisciplinary team and participate fully in
service quality initiatives, including service evaluation and service
development.
4. Clinical skills
Ability to contribute to and support a range of therapeutic interventions in
the areas of assertive outreach services, with an ability to practice
autonomously. Would suit people with an enthusiasm for working with
service users of this description, and a capacity to work effectively with
high levels of risk. Commitment to own professional development,
5. Flexibility
Ability to be flexible and innovative in service delivery models and practise
and a willingness to be involved in action research model. Includes the
ability to be flexible in regards to hours of work to meet the needs of an
evolving service.
6. Cultural safety
Demonstrated ability to work with Maori and Pacific Island service users
and services. Commitment to working in a culturally safe way with ethnic
minorities.
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