Clinical Nurse Specialist – Older Persons Mental Health

• West Coast – Older Persons Mental Health, Clinical Nurse Specialist
• 0.6 FTE – 24 hours per week
• Permanent part - time

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

Are you a highly skilled and passionate nurse, looking for a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in the lives of older people with complex needs in rural communities?

 We have an exciting opportunity for a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) – Older Persons Mental Health (OPMH) to join our Older Persons Health and Disability team within the Complex Clinical Care Network (CCCN – needs assessment service) on the beautiful West Coast, Te Tai o Poutini. This is a unique opportunity for a role embedded in the principles of rural generalism, where you can utilise your extensive experience in OPMH to ensure equitable, high level of care is delivered to our community.

As the OPMH CNS, you will provide advanced clinical expertise, leadership, and consultancy to enhance access to quality care for older people in Aged Residential Care (ARC), specialist dementia care, and community living settings. Working within an interdisciplinary model, you will play a key role in improving standards of care, advancing nursing practice, and supporting sustainable dementia care services. Whilst the role is predominantly community based you will also be providing consult support in Te Nikau Hospital and other West Coast health centres and clinics.

The West Coast of the South Island is a rugged, isolated and beautiful part of Aotearoa New Zealand.  From Karamea in the north, to Haast in the south, the coast is the largest geographical Te Whata Ora locality, but with a small population of 32,500. Whilst your role will be based in Greymouth there will be travel coast wide to meet community need. You will work in a supportive team with close clinical support from our trans-alpine psychogeriatrician.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the provision of high-quality, advanced clinical care for older persons with mental health needs.
• Work closely with Transalpine Psychogeriatricians & the MDT to enhance dementia care services.
• Support and empower staff across the care continuum through mentoring, coaching, and leadership.
• Develop and implement evidence-based practice and quality initiatives.
• Collaborate with national and international healthcare professionals to ensure best-practice models of care.
• Act as a consultant and educator, supporting both clinical staff and whānau.
• Maintain accurate and professional clinical documentation while ensuring data security.

About You

To be successful in this role, you will be an experienced, forward-thinking nursing professional with a passion for older persons’ mental health. You will have strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills, along with a commitment to improving health outcomes.

Essential Requirements 

• Registered Nurse with the Nursing Council of New Zealand
• Current NZ practising certificate
• Minimum 5 years’ experience in Older Persons Mental Health or Psychiatric

Nursing, with community experience

• Holds or is actively working towards a Postgraduate Diploma (to be completed within an agreed timeframe)
• Advanced nursing skills, comparable to Senior Nurse or Expert PDRP level
• Proven leadership, mentoring, and coaching abilities
• Full NZ Driver’s License (no restrictions)
• Strong understanding of mental health, geriatric care, and medico-legal responsibilities
• Computer literate and comfortable with clinical documentation
• Be an inclusive multidisciplinary team member

Desirable

• Senior Nurse Competent PDRP portfolio
• Experience in developing nursing standards and quality initiatives
• Research involvement leading to improvements in nursing practice

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellnesses. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes.

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.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.
• We particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

Health NZ West Coast is situated on the West Coast of New Zealand’s South Island. It is unmatched for the scale, diversity, and accessibility of its natural attractions, including rugged coastline, sandy beaches, rainforests, and some of the highest mountain peaks in the country. The region boasts robust tourism and primary production industries, which provide the backbone of the local economy. The town of Greymouth is central to Te Tai o Poutini West Coast and is located alongside the historically rich and picturesque Grey river.

Health NZ West Coast are proud of how we do things. We have a way of working that we consider unique. It's about trying new things, listening to ideas from wherever they come from and working together as one. We are passionate about attracting, recruiting, and retaining talented people – to become part of our team.

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. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Kerri McCarthy at Kerri.McCarthy@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.