Consultant Psychiatrist - Youth Forensic - Dunedin Hospital at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Southern, Otago

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Consultant Psychiatrist

• Youth Forensic Team, 0.4 Permanent
• Salary : ASMS MECA 2024(NZD $185,380–$267,980)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora invites applications for a Consultant Youth Forensic or general Psychiatrist to join our collaborative team at Wakari Hospital.

About Us
A small multidisciplinary team dedicated to delivering youth forensic psychiatric care to young individuals within the Southern region. 

This role is pivotal in delivering specialised mental health services to youth involved in the forensic system. The ideal candidate will combine clinical expertise with a deep understanding of the legal and ethical landscape, ensuring the highest standards of care.

About the role
This role will oversee comprehensive psychiatric assessments, including risk assessments for self-harm, harm to others, and vulnerability.   It is essential that you have experience with child services and neurodevelopment pathways along with interest in community care for adolescents with mental health  disorders. This is a district wide role and travel within the Southern District is expected

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement individualized treatment plans incorporating pharmacological interventions, psychotherapy, and behavioural strategies.
• Prepare forensic reports and provide expert testimony in court, clearly communicating complex psychiatric concepts to legal professionals.
• Ability to build strong relationships with young patients, taking into account their developmental stage, cultural background, and individual experiences.

There is an expectation to be on the service-wide general psychiatry on-call roster (supporting the on-call registrar) and participate in professional development activities such as CPD groups, journal clubs and grand rounds. With our strong links to the Otago Medical School you will be able to enjoy teaching medical students and registrars. Opportunities to be appointed as a Clinical Lecturer in the Department of Psychological Medicine also exist.

To be successful in this role you'll need to be committed to quality service delivery and development and able to work effectively as a senior clinician within a multidisciplinary team.

About you
Fellowship with the RANZCP or the equivalent is essential and a current Vocational /Provisional Vocational registration with the NZ Medical Council.

About 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 a pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on providing equitable outcomes for Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disabled Community.

Salary range
This role belongs to the ASMS Collective Agreement and falls between the Step 1 ($185,380) and Step 15 ($267,980 per annum pro rata)

How to Apply
To view the position description and/or apply for the role please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on 24 June 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Agatha Chen, Recruitment Advisor – Senior Medical Officers at agatha.chen@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.

Pre-Employment checks
In the interests of protecting our people and our patients, all appointments will be subject to:

• Occupational Health Assessment
• Police Vetting / Ministry of Justice safety checks
• Serious misconduct checks (previous Public Service departments and statutory Crown entities only)