Te Whare o Matairangi
The Te Whare O Matairangi team provide acute and intensive inpatient services for people whose mental health needs cannot be met in their usual environment and require intensive care, treatment and support.
Aims
Te Whare O Matairangi provides services for people experiencing severe mental distress who are too unwell to be cared for at home. The focus for treatment at the unit is on recovery and returning people to their usual life, with community support if needed. We aim to provide the best possible clinical care in a respectful, supportive, safe and caring environment.
Patients are welcome to have whanau/family members or a friend with them when they are first admitted to the unit, though this could be subject to restrictions if the person is being treated under the Mental Health (CAT) Act and safety or other factors need to be considered.
The acute unit is currently located in three buildings at Kenepuru hospital as the ward in Wellington is being refurbished. This work is due to be completed during the first half of 2012 and the unit will return to the Wellington hospital campus.
Contact
| Te Whare O Matairangi |
Te Whare o Rangatuhi - Te Taha Tauira |
Staff
There is a range of professional and support staff that work at the unit. Treatment and care are provided by a range of trained professionals who work together as a multi-disciplinary team (MDT). In addition to your psychiatrist and allocated nurse, you may also meet with a social worker, occupational therapist, pharmacist or clinical psychologist. Staff from the community or specialist teams may also be involved.
Treatment and care covers the following:
- Assessment and treatment planning
- Individual and group therapeutic activities
- Information about mental illnesses and medication
- Links to community mental health teams and services
- Information and links to services in the community, including recreation, social, training, education, accommodation.
Cultural Support
Te Whare O Matairangi endeavours to work in a culturally appropriate way with all tangata whairor/consumers and their whanau and family. The unit has a whanau room available for tangata whairor/consumers , whanau and family to meet. The unit receives support on cultural matters from:
- Te Whare Marie
The Capital & Coast Directorate (MHD) Maori Mental Health Service provides support and input to the unit from a Maori cultural perspective. Kaumatua visits and attendance at hui about care may be requested by patients, their whanau or by staff - Health Pasifika
The Capital & Coast MHD Pacific Mental Health Service is available to support care from a Pasifika cultural perspective. - Cultural Liaison Worker
Provides individual support and advice to the care team on cultural matters
Te Whare O Matairangi treats people from an increasingly wide range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds and languages. Sensitivity to differing cultural practices and backgrounds is an important part of the unit’s philosphy.
Interpreters for a wide range of languages, including sign language, can be accessed as required by asking staff.