Associate Charge Nurse Manager - Te Whare Manaaki

We are looking for an experienced Registered Nurse with a strong mental health background to join the leadership team at Te Whare Manaaki, our acute medium secure forensic mental health unit. 

• 1x fixed-term Associate Charge Nurse Manager (ACNM), 0.94 FTE, from 17 November 2026 to 2 May 2027, covering extended leave
• Senior operational and nursing leadership role within acute forensic mental health 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the role

Te Whare Manaaki is an acute medium secure inpatient unit within the Forensic Mental Health Service. The service provides specialist assessment, treatment and rehabilitation for tāngata whaiora who, as a result of mental illness, have seriously offended or are assessed as being at high risk of serious offending. 

Forensic mental health nursing brings together therapeutic mental health care with the management of complex clinical, behavioural and forensic risk. The environment is dynamic and requires strong nursing leadership, sound clinical judgement, effective communication and an ability to maintain a therapeutic, recovery-focused approach while supporting the safe and secure operation of the unit. 

As Associate Charge Nurse Manager, you will provide day-to-day operational leadership of Te Whare Manaaki and support the Charge Nurse Manager with the effective running of the unit. You will coordinate staff and nursing resources, respond to changing acuity and operational demands, and provide visible senior nursing leadership to the team. The position description also requires the ACNM to work across Forensic Mental Health Service to support operational functioning, workforce management, care coordination and tangata whaiora flow. 

This is a predominantly operational senior nursing role, while also having an important part in promoting clinical excellence, professional nursing practice, teaching, learning, quality improvement and positive outcomes for tāngata whaiora and their whānau. 

The role works a rotating four days on/two days off roster across morning and afternoon shifts. 

About you

You will be an experienced mental health nurse who is comfortable providing leadership within a busy and complex inpatient environment. You will be able to balance the immediate operational needs of the unit with the provision of safe, equitable, culturally responsive and high-quality care. 

Working alongside the Charge Nurse Manager, Clinical Nurse Specialist and wider multidisciplinary team, you will provide leadership to the nursing team and support a culture of professionalism, accountability, respect and continuous improvement. 

A key part of the role is coordinating and responding to escalating clinical and operational situations, supporting workforce and resource management, providing CNM cover when required, and contributing to staff success and development planning, performance management, quality assurance and improvement activities. 

You will be a visible and approachable leader who can make sound decisions under pressure, communicate clearly, support staff through challenging situations and maintain effective relationships across the wider Forensic Mental Health Service and Specialist Mental Health Services. 

Cultural responsiveness and a commitment to equity are particularly important within forensic mental health. You will role-model professional, equitable, tikanga-informed and inclusive practice and work alongside cultural supports to ensure the voice and aspirations of Māori and Pacific tāngata whaiora are reflected in the planning and delivery of care. 

Skills and experience 

To be successful in this role, you will:

• Hold a current Nursing Council of New Zealand Registered Nurse practising certificate with scope to practise in mental health.
• Have a minimum of three years’ post-registration nursing experience within a tertiary-level specialist mental health service.
• Have strong clinical credibility and the ability to provide effective nursing and operational leadership.
• Have an in-depth understanding of the health sector and issues affecting tāngata whaiora and equity in healthcare.
• Have experience implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice and be able to apply its principles meaningfully within your leadership role.
• Be receiving clinical supervision and be willing to be trained to provide clinical supervision to other SMHS clinicians.
• Must either hold or be working towards a relevant post graduate diploma.
• Demonstrate strong communication, relationship-management and decision-making skills.
• Be able to respond effectively to changing clinical acuity, risk and operational pressures.
• Be self-motivated, flexible, organised and solutions-focused.
• Be able to work autonomously while contributing effectively within nursing, multidisciplinary and wider service leadership teams.
• Demonstrate high standards of professional behaviour, integrity and self-awareness. 

These requirements reflect the essential criteria in the current ACNM position description. The position also places emphasis on developing leadership practice, building positive working relationships and contributing to change, quality improvement and nursing development.

Previous forensic mental health experience would be advantageous; however, applications are welcomed from experienced mental health nurses who can demonstrate strong leadership capability, sound risk assessment and management skills, and an interest in developing their practice within forensic mental health. 

Please include a covering letter outlining your relevant clinical and leadership experience and what you would bring to the Associate Charge Nurse Manager role within Te Whare Manaaki. 

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. 

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by Thursday, 17th September. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Recruitment Partner Lisa Gray on Lisa.Gray2@tewhatuora.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.

Position description Apply now

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