Clinical Nurse Specialist, Mental Health - MECF at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Auckland (Tamaki Makaurau)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Shape the future of mental health services across Ara Poutama Aotearoa
• Join a values-based agency committed to advancing health equity for Māori
• Full time perm role based at Mt Eden Corrections Facility

'Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi'  –  ‘There is only one purpose to our work:  the wellness and wellbeing of our people.

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) Health Services lead the delivery of patient-focused health care services to tangata within corrections facilities across Aotearoa.  Hōkai Rangi, our over-arching strategic direction, places the focus on health at the heart of our business.  Building our frameworks from a Matauranga Māori basis is our focus to drive and support equity for Māori, which in turn will contribute to achieving our outcomes of reducing reoffending. 

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Working within a multi-disciplinary team, your role as Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will be to provide a comprehensive range of specialist mental health nursing services to enhance mental health care for the people in our management.  Effective clinical caseload management will include triage, assessment and evidence informed treatments that are aligned to, and integrated with primary health and tertiary mental health provision, as well as overall promoting the delivery of holistic and recovery-oriented health services across the wider prison environment.  Our Mental Health team enjoy professional development opportunities, clinical and cultural supervision, and an environment with a vibrant and supportive team culture.

A key leadership function of the Clinical Nurse Specialist role is to also support the professional development pathways of mental health nurses who also work as part of the Intervention and Support Practice Team delivering mental health services to those most vulnerable people in our care.  

This opportunity will suit a clinical professional who demonstrates a strong commitment to culturally safe practice and partnership.  Our teams are committed to modelling expert clinical practice and ensure a strong focus on Humanising and Healing - respecting the human dignity and inherent mana of all people in our care, and their whānau.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We invite applications from suitably qualified candidates who demonstrate strong alignment to our kaupapa and who can evidence in a written application how they meet the below essential requirements:

• Registered Nurse who holds a current Nursing Council of NZ Annual Practising Certificate;
• Post-grad qualification in mental health or working towards, or equivalent learning;
• Strong cultural competence - understands the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application, and has cultural knowledge and experience of working with and for Māori, whānau and iwi;
• Specialist mental health nursing experience in a primary/community, secondary or tertiary setting;
• Demonstrable relevant experience including working with people presenting with acute and complex mental health and/or addictions issues; and
• A proven understanding of the professional, ethical and legislative requirements of providing mental health service care and treatment within a prison context.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The salary steps are $92,687, $96,030, $102,178 depending on skills and experience relevant to the role.

Ko wai mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is a name that has been gifted to us and is our commitment to improving the oranga and safety of the people, whānau, and that of the communities we serve across the motu. 

As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship) and whānau (relationships) to shape how we work and deliver the outcomes in our strategy - Hōkai Rangi (https://careers.corrections.govt.nz/strategy).

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To apply, please submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience. Alignment to our kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples which reflect and demonstrate our organisation values. 

It is an exciting time to join us and we continue to seek out talented individuals who are committed to an inclusive, vibrant workplace. We recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of individuals, and that of the collective talent in our whānau.  All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered. 

If you want to find out more about a career with us, visit careers.corrections.govt.nz or email our team at careers@corrections.govt.nz.