Clinical Nurse Specialist for the Wellington Locality Adult Mental Health and Addiction services

Location: This position is expected to work from the Wellington Home Base in Adelaide Road and in the Wellington Community.

Contract:  Permanent, Full Time (1 FTE)

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

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) for the Wellington Locality Adult Mental Health and Addiction services works across the speciality community services in the Wellington Locality including Wellington Central CMHT, Wellington South CMHT, Tū Honohono, Nga Tai Oranga and TACT, to ensure continuity of care and best practise standards are applied by the nursing workforce. In addition, they provide expertise and specialty advice as required throughout the organisation. This role will work across the continuum of health care contributing to the multi- disciplinary team (MDT) with the aim of improving nursing practices and achieving equitable health outcomes. 

 Quality improvement is an important priority. The CNS will provide leadership across clinical environments to identify and support practice improvements and the implementation of evidence-based practice.

 Supporting change implementation is an important aspect of this role. The environment is one of continuing change. The CNS role needs to be an advocate for the organisation’s strategic direction and change programme providing leadership that enables and supports the change.

 The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) working in mental health, addiction and Intellectual Disability services must actively reflect on their work and practice, they will work in ways that enhance the team to support the recovery of service users. 

 The CNS will respond to the changing needs of the service, performing other tasks as required. The

CNS is expected to contribute to the implementation of District and nursing goals and values, and to promote Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley as a centre of excellence for nursing practice.

 About the Team/Service Location

The Local Specialist Adult Mental Health and Addiction Services are delivered from three identified localities (Wellington City, Kāpiti-Porirua, and Hutt Valley-Wairarapa), to provide the specialist mental health and addiction treatment for tāngata whaiora who live in each locality. Each locality operates as a single team of clinicians who provide a set of core functions to the local community from the home bases.  This role is based in the Wellington City locality which covers from Tawa to Wellington South.

 About you

Essential qualifications, skills and experience  

• Have at least four years’ experience aligning with Mental Health, Addiction or Intellectual Disability Nursing.
• Has experience in leadership, coaching and mentoring approaches
• Excellent communication, interpersonal and facilitation skills 
• Experience in practice development and quality improvement strategies
• Comprehensive knowledge of NZ Health System understanding including equity issues, professional leadership and emerging issues for the nursing profession.

 Essential Professional Qualifications / Accreditations / Registrations:

• Registration with Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ)
• Current Annual Practicing Certificate (APC) and scope appropriate to MHAIDS 
• Completion of an undergraduate (leading to registration) or post graduate program in mental health or intellectual disability nursing.
• Masters in Nursing or enrolment in same (60 credits)
• Expert (or equivalent) on PDRP, and a personal commitment to on-going learning and development including attainment/maintenance of PDRP
• Full drivers licence

 Someone well-suited to the role will place a high value on the following:

• Demonstrates an understanding of the significance of and obligations under Te Tiriti ō Waitangi, including how to apply Te Tiriti principles in a meaningful way in the nursing role
• A commitment to achieving equitable outcomes for Māori
• Knowledge of national and local reviews/polices/strategies that inform the direction of mental health, addiction and intellectual disability services
• Knowledge of contemporary nursing professional development strategies
• Proven experience in facilitating and managing change at a local level 
• Knowledge of quality improvement processes and principles including managing projects.
• Knowledge and understanding of the relevant legislation, standards and guidelines

 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 5^th November. 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.