Clinical Nurse Specialist - Rimutaka Prison

Provide specialist mental health care in a unique prison environment and support some of Aotearoa's most vulnerable people to heal and thrive. Grow your leadership in a culturally safe, values-led team. Join us now.

Ngā kawenga | About the role

Are you ready for a role that genuinely matters? As a Clinical Nurse Specialist Mental Health, you'll join a skilled, multi-disciplinary team delivering specialist nursing care within the prison environment. This is an opportunity to work at the forefront of mental health practice, supporting people with complex needs while contributing to meaningful, long-term change.

In this role, you'll lead clinical assessment, triage, and evidence-based interventions, working across primary health and tertiary mental health services to ensure seamless, person-centred care. You'll play a key role in shaping rehabilitation-focused practice, grounded in respect, dignity, and humanising, healing approaches to care.

As a senior clinician within the Intervention and Support Practice Team, you'll also guide and support the professional development of fellow mental health practitioners. You'll contribute to a collaborative, reflective team culture that values clinical excellence, strong supervision, and ongoing learning.

This is a role for someone passionate about culturally safe practice and meaningful partnership with Māori. Our teams honour the mana and inherent worth of all tangata and their whānau, and we are committed to care that is compassionate, equitable, and clinically robust.

Download the job description from the application page to learn more about this opportunity.

He kōrero mōu | About you

We're looking for an experienced, values-aligned mental health nurse who brings both clinical expertise and cultural humility to their practice. You will:

Be a Registered Nurse with a current Nursing Council of NZ Annual Practising Certificate

Ideally have 5+ years' experience in mental health nursing

Hold, or be working towards, a postgraduate qualification in Mental Health

Your experience may come from primary/community, secondary, or tertiary mental health settings, and you'll be confident supporting people with acute and complex mental health and/or addiction needs. You'll also demonstrate:

Strong understanding of professional, ethical, and legislative requirements for delivering mental health care within a prison context

Proven cultural competence, including knowledge of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and experience working with Māori, whānau, and iwi

A commitment to reflective practice, collaboration, and leadership within a multidisciplinary environment

Experience working within the New Zealand health system, along with relevant NZ qualifications and registration, is highly desirable and will support a smooth transition into the role.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The full salary range for this role is $116,306 - $123,873, with appointment and remuneration reflecting your skills, experience, and clinical competency.

Ko wai mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) Health Services deliver patient-centred primary and mental health care to tangata across corrections facilities nationwide. Our strategic direction, Hōkai Rangi, places health and wellbeing at the centre of everything we do. By strengthening our systems through a Mātauranga Māori lens, we are working to improve equity for Māori and contribute to our shared goal of reducing reoffending.

You can learn more about us at corrections.govt.nz.

Tono ināianei | Apply now

Applications close: 11pm Sunday, 1 November 2026

Apply online and tell us what motivates you to join Ara Poutama Aotearoa. Please include a tailored CV and/or cover letter that clearly demonstrates your skills, experience, and alignment with our kaupapa and organisational values. We value diversity and are committed to a fair and inclusive recruitment process. If you require reasonable accommodations, we encourage you to discuss this with us.

To find out more about careers with Ara Poutama Aotearoa, visit our careers page or contact our team at [email protected].