Pharmacist Prescriber – Adult Community Service, Specialist Mental Health Service (SMHS)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country’s largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders. We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

About the Role

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora – Waitaha Canterbury is seeking an experienced Pharmacist Prescriber to join our Adult Community Service within the Specialist Mental Health Service (SMHS). This is a senior clinical role providing expert prescribing, medicines management, and collaborative care within our community mental health teams.

As a Pharmacist Prescriber, you will provide advanced clinical care, prescribing, and medicines optimisation for people accessing SMHS. Your practice will be grounded in evidence‑based pharmacotherapy, partnership with tāngata whaiora and whānau, and collaborative work within multidisciplinary teams.

Key responsibilities include:

• Community based interventions and providing repeat prescription services.
• Delivering complex medicines management to improve wellness, reduce disease progression, and prevent avoidable hospital admissions.
• Providing written clinical advice to general practice and responding to SPOE requests.
• Working collaboratively with within the MDT and with Māori and Pacific health providers, primary care, and pharmacy services.
• Leading and contributing to case conferences, multidisciplinary meetings, and service improvement initiatives.
• Providing expert education, training, and clinical leadership across SMHS and Pharmacy.
• Upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and embedding culturally safe practice.

About You

You will be an experienced mental health pharmacist with advanced prescribing capability, strong clinical judgement, and a commitment to equity.

Essential requirements:

• Registered Pharmacist and Pharmacist Prescriber with the Pharmacy Council of New Zealand.
• Relevant undergraduate Pharmacy degree plus postgraduate diploma/master’s degree and prescribing qualification.
• A Pharmacy Council‑approved practice plan covering outpatient psychiatry (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety).
• Minimum 5 years’ clinical experience in mental health as a pharmacist or pharmacist prescriber.
• Demonstrated commitment to bicultural practice and equitable outcomes for Māori.
• Experience in multidisciplinary teaching, supervision, and staff development.
• Experience making complex clinical decisions with incomplete information.
• Experience in leadership, service improvement, and research activities.
• Strong communication skills, including report writing.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.

Working at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

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 19/08/2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Courtney Bell at Courtney.bell@cdhb.health.nz

Please note this role is open only to current staff of Health New Zealand. Please do not apply if you are not currently employed by Health New Zealand.