Mental Health Speciality Clinical Nurse ED

Location: Wellington / Hutt Emergency Department Contract: Permanent, Full Time (1.0 FTE) About the Company At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we are deeply committed to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and strive to serve all New Zealanders effectively. Through our focus on integration and collaboration, we are building a health system that emphasizes partnership, equity, sustainability, whanau-centered care, and excellence in all aspects of healthcare delivery. About the Role We are excited to offer an opportunity for a Mental Health Specialty Clinical Nurse (SCN) to join our team within the Emergency Departments (ED) at Wellington and Hutt Hospitals. In this senior clinical position, you will be responsible for providing rapid mental health triage, assessment, and intervention for individuals presenting to the ED with mental health concerns, including those who are current MHAIDS service users. You will work closely with both the ED and MHAIDS teams to ensure timely and effective care planning and coordination, facilitating connections with community, primary, and specialist mental health services when necessary. Your role requires you to bring expert mental health nursing knowledge, clinical leadership, and the ability to work autonomously while remaining engaged in a collaborative team environment. A core focus of your work will be on early identification and intervention, thereby improving outcomes for tangata whaiora and their whanau through culturally responsive and person-centered care. Key Responsibilities - Provide comprehensive, rapid assessments of mental state, risk, and urgency. - Develop and implement crisis response plans and deliver immediate interventions as needed. - Engage with whanau and support networks to enhance assessment and planning. - Support safe and timely transfers of care to appropriate MHAIDS or community services. - Offer consultation and advice to ED staff regarding mental health presentations. - Collaborate with the MH-ED Nurse Educator to deliver training and mentoring to ED teams. - Provide support to MHAIDS clinicians working with clients within the ED. - Contribute to quality improvement, safety, and service development initiatives. About the Team/Service/Location The MH-ED SCN operates as part of a larger team within the Emergency Department. In this role, you will collaborate closely with ED clinicians to ensure a safe and coordinated response to mental health presentations. This dynamic and rewarding position sits at the critical intersection of physical and mental health care. We are committed to diversity, inclusion, and pro-equity practices, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. About You We are looking for a senior mental health nurse who demonstrates advanced clinical decision-making skills, cultural competency, and the ability to work across service boundaries. The ideal candidate will possess: - Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) and a current Annual Practising Certificate. - Experience working toward or holding a Level 4 PDRP or equivalent. - A strong understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a commitment to achieving equitable health outcomes for Māori. - Proven ability to work autonomously in a fast-paced environment. - A commitment to ongoing professional development. Working at Health New Zealand At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we are dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our people are at the core of everything we do. We are committed to being good employers and honoring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all individuals, including those of all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and abilities. A diverse and inclusive workforce enhances our ability to understand and serve our community effectively. We are a pro-equity health organization, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. How to Apply To apply, please visit our online careers portal and submit your application by 13th August. If you have any questions about the role, feel free to contact Marianne Lovgren at marianne.lovgren@tewhatuora.govt.nz. We will review applications as they come in and may initiate the recruitment process before the closing date.