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Let’s get real: Real Skills for people working in mental health and addiction

Date of publication (online): September 2008

Summary of publication


Let’s get real is a framework that describes the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes required to deliver effective mental health and addiction treatment services. It is explicit in stating the expectations for people who work in mental health and addiction treatment services irrespective of their role, discipline or position in the organisational structure.

Values and attitudes underpin all the work of mental health and addiction treatment services. They are expressed in action through each of the seven skill sets. Each skill set has a broad definition and three levels (essential, practitioner and leader) of performance indicators.

Let’s get real will be phased in over time, starting from late 2008. The Ministry’s goal is that the implementation of Let’s get real has a practical focus. With that aim in mind, guides, tools and other resources that support the use and application of the framework in different contexts will be developed. Let’s get real will become part of the nationwide service framework.


Related information


Other Mental Health publications

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PDF: Let’s get real: Real Skills for people working in mental health and addiction (PDF, 1 MB)

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Hard copies can be ordered by emailing moh@wickliffe.co.nz or calling 04 496 2277 quoting
HP number 4628.

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Date of publication (hard copy): September 2008

ISBN numbers: 978-0-478-31793-0 (Print)

HP number: 4628

Citation: Ministry of Health. 2008. Let’s get real: Real Skills for people working in mental health and addiction. Wellington: Ministry of Health.


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