Community & Justice Liaison Nurse - Central Region Forensics and Rehabilitation Inpatient MH Service
Location: Whanganui
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
Our service is looking for an enthusiastic, resourceful and motivated experienced Mental Health Nurse aka Forensic Community & Justice Liaison Nurse. To provide liaison and consultation to and between Courts, Prisons, Justice Departments, Mental Health, Police, Government and Community Agencies on mental health and addiction matters and the management of associated problems within the identified agency.
The nurse will utilise clinical and medical-legal knowledge and skills to provide a quality rapid assessment of our tangata whiaora identified as having or who may have a mental health & addiction problem.
About the Team/Service Location
The forensic community teams are multidisciplinary based with their principal role as providing mental health services to all prisons (there are 6 prisons and a third of New Zealand’s total prison population in the Central Region) and courts (there are 17 court systems) in the region. These teams also follow up in the community certain tangata whaiora/consumers that transition from the inpatient units. The Central Regional Forensic Service also is involved with the Youth Court providing a Court Liaison Service and completing specialist psychological or psychiatric assessments ordered by the Court through Children Young Persons & Family Act, 1989 (Section 333).
About you
We are looking for someone who is able to demonstrate professional, legal and ethical responsibilities and cultural safety. These include being able to demonstrate knowledge and judgement and being accountable for own actions and decisions, while promoting an environment that maximises patients’ safety, independence, quality of life and health.
The ideal candidate will be able to demonstrate interpersonal and therapeutic communication with clients, other nursing staff and inter-professional communication and documentation. A big part of this role is client assessment and managing client care, which is responsive to clients’ needs, and which is supported by nursing knowledge and evidence based research.
- Registered Nurses must have a pre-registration or post registration qualification in MH nursing (or ID) to work in MHAIDS
- Full NZ Driver’s 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. 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.
Permanent/Full Time
Job no: MHN060-26
Location: Wanganui
Closing Date: Sunday, 18 October 2026