Angela McWatters
Waikato / Te Manawa Taki Mental Health & Addictions Services
Hamilton
23
years of professional experience
1
Certification
Registered Nurse with extensive experience across mental health crisis, forensic mental health, corrections, community and acute care settings. Currently working within the Crisis and Home Treatment Team (CAHT) across both the Mental Health Crisis Clinician and Police Co-Response Team roles. I bring strong clinical assessment, risk management, crisis intervention, service coordination and interagency collaboration skills, together with experience supporting clinical shift coordination and daily operational requirements. I am confident working in complex and rapidly changing environments, balancing clinical priorities, staffing and service demands while maintaining a clear focus on safe, person-centred care. I have a particular interest in strengthening relationships and communication between mental health services, the Emergency Department, Police and other community agencies to support timely, coordinated pathways for people experiencing mental health crisis. I am committed to culturally responsive practice, the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, equitable access to care and supporting positive outcomes for Tangata Whaiora and whānau.
Work History
Registered Nurse – Crisis and Home Treatment Team
4 Years 5 Months- Work across two complementary roles within the crisis service: Mental Health Crisis Clinician within the Crisis and Home Treatment Team (CAHT) and Duly Authorised Officer (DAO) within the Police Co-Response Team.
- Mental Health Crisis Clinician – CAHT
- Provide comprehensive mental health assessment, crisis intervention, risk assessment and management, safety planning and coordination of care for people experiencing acute mental health difficulties.
- Coordinated clinical shifts and daily service requirements, ensuring optimal staffing, workload allocation, and continuity of service delivery.
- Respond to changing clinical priorities and operational demands while maintaining safe and responsive service provision.
- Apply sound clinical judgement and problem-solving skills when managing competing priorities, limited resources and complex presentations.
- Work collaboratively with Tangata Whaora, whānau, multidisciplinary teams, Emergency Department staff, community services and other agencies to support appropriate pathways of care.
- Contributed to delivering CAHT information to new Emergency Department staff, supporting understanding of the crisis service and strengthening communication between services.
- Fostered a team environment prioritizing effective communication, collaboration, and safe clinical practice.
- Duly Authorised Officer – Police Co-Response Team
- Work alongside Police to respond to people experiencing acute mental health distress and crisis in the community.
- Undertake clinical assessment, risk assessment and management and provide specialist mental health input in complex and high-pressure situations.
- Apply knowledge of mental health legislation and statutory responsibilities to support safe and appropriate decision-making.
- Balance clinical, operational and safety considerations when determining appropriate pathways of care.
- Established and maintained professional relationships with Police and other agencies, enhancing coordinated responses.
- Communicate effectively with multiple stakeholders while maintaining a clear focus on the needs, rights and safety of the person experiencing crisis.
Registered Nurse
3 Years 9 Months- Established Prison Adult Transition Team alongside lead Social Worker, enhancing service focused on transition and continuity of care.
- Managed caseload of up to 40 Tangata Whaiora with complex mental health needs within Forensic Prison Team, ensuring tailored support and care.
- Worked within a rehabilitation-focused model, supporting recovery, strengths and longer-term outcomes.
- Redeployed to CAHT during the COVID-19 lockdown and Red setting, contributing to continuity of acute mental health services during a period of significant operational pressure.
- Developed strong clinical judgement, adaptability and the ability to work effectively across different service environments.
- Redeployed to CAHT during COVID-19 lockdown, ensuring continuity of acute mental health services under significant operational pressure.
- Worked across different mental health teams to support service requirements, including undertaking a small sector caseload.
Registered Nurse / Occupational Health Nurse
5 Months- Collaborated with occupational health and rehabilitation service contracted to ACC to enhance patient care.
- Facilitated employment retention and return by assessing rehabilitation barriers and creating actionable strategies.
- Gained expertise in collaborative rehabilitation planning, empowering individuals to reach functional goals.
Registered Nurse – Ward M6 Orthopaedics
9 Months- Delivered comprehensive nursing care in acute orthopaedic surgical and rehabilitation setting, ensuring patient safety and comfort.
- Enhanced assessment, clinical decision-making, and multidisciplinary communication skills to improve patient outcomes and support rehabilitation efforts.
- Assessed patient conditions and prioritised nursing interventions for safe, timely care delivery.
- Administered medications and treatments while maintaining accurate clinical documentation and observations.
- Coordinated multidisciplinary care plans with doctors, allied health staff, and whanau.
Registered Nurse
7 Years 1 Month- Provided healthcare within a nurse-led health centre for diverse custodial population, navigating complex clinical and institutional challenges.
- Outlined key responsibilities and experiences in healthcare role.
- Management of complex health presentations and treatment plans.
- Managed complex health presentations and developed comprehensive treatment plans to address patient needs.
- Medication management and clinical documentation.
- Cultivated therapeutic relationships and utilized effective communication and conflict resolution strategies to enhance patient care.
- Asthma nurse specialist portfolio, including care planning, evaluation and follow-up.
- Therapeutic relationships, communication and conflict resolution.
- Working within health policy, legislation and custodial requirements.
- Working effectively with people from diverse cultural and social backgrounds.
- NZNO Representative, 2016–2017, including completion of Level 2 training.
Registered Nurse
3 Months- Started nursing role in a primary healthcare facility.
- Cultivated skills in autonomous nursing practice, assessment, and communication for effective primary healthcare delivery.
- Conducted comprehensive mental health and risk assessments for forensic psychiatric patients.
- Developed individualized care plans supporting recovery, stabilization, and safe reintegration.
- Collaborated with multidisciplinary teams to coordinate treatment and discharge planning.
Community Support Worker
3 Years- Assisted individuals with intellectual disabilities, mental illness, acquired brain injury, and autism in achieving independent living within the community while pursuing Bachelor of Nursing.
Case Manager
2 Years- Delivered case management, advocacy, and employment and education support to clients facing diverse and complex challenges.
Education
Bachelor of Nursing
- Clinical placements included:
- Mental Health Nursing – inpatient and community
- General Medical and Surgical
- Orthopaedics
- Cardio-Thoracic Care
- District Nursing
- Public Health Nursing
- Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP)
- Attained competency on the PDRP Programme for Nurses and Midwives.
New Entry to Nursing Expansion Programme
Skills
Clinical and operational coordination
Mental health crisis assessment and intervention
Risk assessment and management
Clinical decision-making in complex and high-pressure environments
Shift coordination
workload allocation and resource planning
Interagency collaboration and relationship development
Emergency Department and community mental health pathways
Police and mental health co-response
Mental Health Act and statutory processes
Crisis planning
safety planning and coordination of care
Multidisciplinary teamwork and communication
Staff support and collaborative leadership
Service development and improvement
Rehabilitation-focused and recovery-oriented practice
Culturally responsive and person-centred care
Te Tiriti
Waitangi principles in clinical practice
Complex presentations and forensic mental health
Conflict resolution and de-escalation
Certification
Intellectual Disability Training – Margaret Burns-Carroll, 2026, Te Wananga Training with Tapi and Josh, 2025, WLS Resuscitation Refresher, 2025, WLS Resuscitation eLearning, 2025, Nōku Te Ao Wānanga, 2024, Kaitiaki Ahurea: Effective Engagement in Māori Communities – 16 hours, 2024, Community De-Escalation – 8 hours, 2024, CAHT Information Session for Emergency Department New Staff, 2023, Borderline Personality Disorder, 2022, Waikato Hospital Point of Care Testing: Rapid Antigen Testing, 2022
Personal Information
- ID Type: Registration Number
- ID Number: 172827
Timeline
Registered Nurse – Crisis and Home Treatment Team
Waikato / Te Manawa Taki Mental Health & Addictions Services
05.2022 - CurrentRead More
Registered Nurse
Puawai: Midland Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service
08.2018 - 05.2022Read More
Registered Nurse / Occupational Health Nurse
APM Workcare NZ
03.2018 - 08.2018Read More
Registered Nurse – Ward M6 Orthopaedics
Waikato District Health Board
06.2017 - 03.2018Read More
Registered Nurse
Spring Hill Corrections Facility
05.2010 - 06.2017Read More
Registered Nurse
Pinnacle, Fairfield Medical Centre
02.2010 - 05.2010Read More
Community Support Worker
Community Living Trust
01.2007 - 01.2010Read More
Case Manager
Ministry of Social Development / Work and Income New Zealand
01.2004 - 01.2006Read More
Waikato District Health Board / Te Whatu Ora
Read More
Waikato District Health Board
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Waikato Institute of Technology
Bachelor of Nursing
Read More