Nurse Practitioner - Forensic Prison Team

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Waitaha Canterbury is seeking a Nurse Practitioner for the Forensic Prison Team. The role involves leading clinical care for inmates, making complex health decisions, and coordinating with multidisciplinary teams in a forensic setting.

You will perform comprehensive assessments, diagnose, and manage pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatments, contributing to quality improvements and service development.

Qualifications

• Must be a Nurse Practitioner with a current APC or be awaiting approval.
• Must hold a valid driver's license due to travel involved in the role.
• Experience in forensic mental health is favorable.

Responsibilities

• Lead clinical care for Tangata Whaiora in a prison setting within the Forensic Prison Team.
• Perform comprehensive assessments, order/interpret tests, and prescribe medications as needed.
• Participate in local and national quality improvement and health committees.

Skills

Admin skills

Risk assessment

Rapport development

Education

Nurse Practitioner registration

Job description

1.0FTE, Fixed-term position from 02/11/2026 - 01/12/2028 toprovide cover while a recruitment process takes placeDrivers license required as travel is involved in this roleMust be a Nurse Practitioner and hold a current APC *or PendingHealth New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principlesof Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system thatserves all New Zealanders.

About the role

Nurse Practitioner/Matanga Tapuhiare highly skilled health professionals who practice beyond the level of aregistered nurse, with the legal authority to diagnosis, order and interpretdiagnostic tests and prescribe medications. Nurse Practitioners within theForensic Mental Health Service, primarily in the Forensic Prison Team (FPT)lead the clinical care of Tangata Whaiora who arewithin the prison setting. Nurse Practitioners undertake comprehensive healthassessment, including diagnostic interpretation and treatment planning, bothpharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. The Nurse Practitionerrole includes complex health care decision making, along with engaging in bothlocal and national quality improvement, and health committees.

About You

The Forensic Prison Teamprovides a consult liaison role into the Canterbury Prisons where you wouldundertake assessment and ongoing intervention for prisoners identified ashaving mental health needs. This role may also require engagement with thewider justice service including courts. You will work closely with yourinter-disciplinary colleagues and with community agencies to ensure thatclients receive wraparound services that support their rehabilitation andcommunity reintegration.Applications will be accepted from Nurse Practitionerswith a current APC *or Pending

Skills and experience

• Strong administrative and organisational skills are vital in this busy role where you need to be flexible to meet the changeable nature of your work.
• Your assertiveness and experience with risk assessment and management will assist you in developing plans to meet the needs of individual clients.
• You will also have an ability to develop good rapport with the people you work with.

About Us

Specialist Mental Health Services are an interdisciplinary team that forms part of Te Whatu Ora - Waitaha (Canterbury). We are committed to working and partnering with tāngata whaiora and their whanau. Constantly striving to work within our philosophy; we develop therapeutic, supportive and empowering relationships with our consumers, enabling them to achieve their personal goals and aspirations.

Working at Health New Zealand

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