After 18 months of planning, the Dannevirke office of Tararua Mental Health and Addictions Service is on the move.

The service will move from its current site at Dannevirke Hospital, on the corner of Barraud and Waterloo Streets, to 20 Allardice St, at the end of November.

The new site allows for an expanding team and the addition of a new child, adolescent and family (CAFS)/early intervention in psychosis (EIS) clinician, who will sit alongside the adult mental health team of five, and an alcohol and other drug (A&OD) clinician.

Also moving in with MidCentral Mental Health Services are five kaimahi (staff) from Rangitāne o Tamaki nui a Rua - two mental health support workers, two alcohol and drug workers and a counsellor.

Tararua Mental Health Services clinical manager Jill McElwee said this joint venture would allow a closer bond between primary and secondary services and allow sharing of resources and knowledge.

The kaimahi will have their own office and will share the other facilities within the building.

McElwee, who has been with the service since July 2017, said this was the first time a CAFS/EIS clinician had been based with adult services in Dannevirke to cover the whole Tararua region.

“The new position created in August shows MidCentral’s commitment to constant improvement of services in Tararua,” she said.

“This would not have been possible without the pending move at the end of November.”

McElwee said the new premises were much bigger, allowing for future growth, and ensured privacy for patients and service users.

“I am pleased that the move is becoming a reality and we are looking forward to relocating to the building.”

The new location has a doctor’s room, an A&OD office, a CAFS/EIS office, a clinical manager’s office, a large shared office, an admin/reception area, a duty room, three interview rooms, a clinic room and staff/tea room. There will also be a media/meeting room, which will allow video conferencing for staff training and meetings conducted in Palmerston North, and some clinical reviews.

A joint blessing and opening with MidCentral and Rangitāne o Tamaki nui a Rua will be held on Monday 3 December, followed by an open day later in the morning.

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