Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for The Intellectual Disability Forensic Service

Location: Porirua

Contract: Permanent, Full Time

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. 

About the Role 

Looking for the next step in your nursing career and require a challenge? Well look no further! We require a Senior Nurse to join our team in the role of Clinical Nurse Specialist to work in partnership with the Team Leaders within the Intellectual Disability service. 

The role will provide specialist nursing advice, care and expertise, both in delivering direct service user care and in supporting nursing and support workers caring for our service user group.  You will be required to actively reflect on your work and practice, find ways to enhance the team support, care and rehabilitation and quality of all our service users.

You will work across our service and ensure the continuity of care and best practice standards are applied consistent with the Intellectual Disability Service Model of Care. Give expert advice, contribute to the multi-disciplinary team with the aim to improve nursing practices.  Required to provide leadership across clinical environments to identify and support practice improvements and implementation of the Intellectual Disability Service Model of care. 

About the Team/Service/ Location 

The Intellectual Disability Forensic Service has adult, youth and community services and is part of the Mental Health Addictions and Intellectual Disability Service (MHAIDS). 

Located on the Ratonga Rua-o-Porirua and Kenepuru Hospital campus in Porirua the Intellectual Disability Inpatient Service has four units: 

• Haumietiketike a regional intellectual disability adult secure forensic unit which has eleven beds. 
• The Cottages, a step down unit of eight adult beds
• Manawai the National Individualised Service Unit is a new national unit with six beds for people with intellectual Disability and/or mental health disorders. 
• Hikitia Te Wairua is the national intellectual disability secure forensic youth unit which has six beds and is co-located with the Youth Acute Inpatient Mental Health Unit and the National Secure Youth Forensic Unit in a Centre of Excellence for Youth Services located at Kenepuru Hospital, Porirua. 

We have a Model of Care which incorporates all the features of current best practice within forensic secure services including Positive Behaviour Support, nuanced risk assessment, and psychological formulation. All staff receive training on Positive Behaviour Support (PBS) as this is the basis for our philosophy of care within the service.

We also hold two community contracts, a regional mental health contract and a regional community contract associated with the inpatient service.

About you 

To be successful in this role we are looking for the following:

Qualifications

• Registration with the Nursing Council of NZ and maintain a current annual practicing certificate.
• Relevant post-graduate qualification and/or working towards a Clinical Masters in Nursing.

Skills, knowledge & Experience

• Have minimum of three years or more knowledge of Mental Health/Intellectual Disability Service experience 
• Minimum practice at Expert/Senior Level on PDRP or prior experience of working as clinical nurse specialist or equivalent senior nursing role
• Leadership skills 
• Expert speciality knowledge and clinical experience
• Full NZ Drivers Licence 

Working at Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. 

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 21st April If you have any questions about the role, please contact Marianne.Lovgren@tewhatuora.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advertisement.