Clinical Nurse Specialist - Adult Acute Inpatient Unit and Puawai Midland Regional Forensic Psychiat

As a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) within the Adult Acute Inpatient Unit or the Puawai Midland Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service, you will provide advanced nursing leadership, specialist assessment, intervention, and coaching to ensure high‑quality, evidence‑based and culturally safe mental health care. You will work closely with clinical teams to support complex and acute presentations, guide best‑practice nursing care, and strengthen workforce capability through coaching, mentoring, and clinical leadership.

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• Provide advanced nursing assessment, formulation and intervention for people with complex or acute mental health presentations.
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• Deliver expert clinical leadership and guidance to nursing staff, supporting consistent clinical decision‑making and best practice.
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• Coach, mentor and develop nursing staff to strengthen capability across all shifts.
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• Lead the development and implementation of nursing pathways, protocols, guidelines and quality systems.
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• Support acute care planning, risk assessment, escalation processes, service development and continuous quality improvement initiatives.
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The Adult Acute Inpatient team and Puawai Midland Regional Forensic Psychiatric Service provides assessment, treatment and support for people experiencing acute and forensic mental health needs. Our multidisciplinary team is committed to delivering recovery‑focused, person‑centred care that promotes wellbeing, equity and positive outcomes for tangata whaiora and whānau. The service fosters collaborative practice and values clinical excellence, cultural integrity and continuous improvement. Waiora is the model of care across Mental Health and Addictions Services, integrating clinical practice and mātauranga Māori, supporting wellbeing while acknowledging the values, identity and aspirations of our communities.

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• Advanced nursing expertise within acute mental health services.
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• Demonstrated leadership experience with strong coaching and mentoring capabilities.
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• Sound understanding of evidence‑based practice, recovery models and quality improvement principles.
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• Proven ability to work collaboratively across disciplines and services.
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• Commitment to equity, cultural safety and achieving positive outcomes for tangata whaiora and whānau.
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Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora welcomes applications from a diverse workforce, including Māori, Pacific, disabled and rainbow communities.