Associate Charge Nurse Manager - Consult Liaison

• Waikato Hospital
• Permanent – 80 hours per fortnight – Monday to Friday
• Lead Acute Mental Health care across Hospital and Crisis Services

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

An exciting senior leadership opportunity is available within Acute Mental Health Services at Waikato Hospital. We are seeking an experienced and values-driven Associate Charge Nurse Manager (ACNM) to provide clinical and operational leadership within the Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (CL) Service, and the wider Acute Services portfolio.

This role sits within an integrated leadership structure across acute mental health services, supporting safe, responsive, and culturally grounded care delivery across hospital and crisis settings.

As the Acute Services and Consultation Liaison Associate Charge Nurse Manager, you will work in partnership with the Charge Nurse Manager and alongside the CAHT Associate Charge Nurse Manager / Associate Team Leader to provide coordinated leadership across Acute Mental Health Services.

While this role has a primary focus on Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, it contributes to the broader acute service leadership structure, supporting alignment of clinical practice, workforce capability, and operational processes across services.

Key aspects of the role include:

• Supporting integration across hospital and crisis pathways
• Strengthening workforce capability, wellbeing, and professional development

• Contributing to acute service development and system improvement

   

Leadership and People Management:

• Provide visible, supportive leadership to staff within the Consultation Liaison service
• Support recruitment, onboarding, and professional development
• Foster staff wellbeing, engagement, and retention
• Support performance development, coaching, and reflective practice

Clinical Leadership:

• Provide senior clinical oversight for complex hospital-based presentations
• Support high-quality mental health assessment, risk management, and care planning
• Promote best practice across adult and paediatric hospital services
• Role model recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, culturally safe practice

Operational and Service Delivery:

• Support day-to-day operational coordination within Consultation Liaison
• Contribute to safe staffing, workflow management, and service responsiveness
• Liaise with inpatient teams, emergency department, and community services
• Contribute to incident management, quality improvement, and audit processes

Acute Service Leadership contribution:

• Support alignment of clinical and operational practice across Acute Services
• Collaborate with the CAHT Associate Charge Nurse Manager to strengthen acute pathways
• Contribute to service redesign and system-level improvement initiatives

Cultural Leadership:

• Uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles in leadership and service delivery
• Support equitable and culturally responsive care for Māori and diverse communities
• Promote culturally safe practice and partnership within teams

Click here to view the position description.

About Acute Mental Health services

Acute Mental Health Services at Waikato Hospital include:

• Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Service
• Crisis Assessment and Home-Based Treatment Service (CAHT)

These services operate under one overarching Charge Nurse Manager, supported by two Associate Charge Nurse Managers / Associate Team Leaders, reflecting a distributed leadership model across hospital-based and crisis care.

The Consultation Liaison Psychiatry Service provides specialist mental health assessment, consultation, and intervention across adult and paediatric medical and surgical wards.

CAHT provides acute mental health assessment, crisis intervention, and short-term intensive support across the Waikato district, including emergency departments, community settings, and interagency environments.

Together, these services form a critical part of the acute mental health pathway, supporting tangata whaiora with complex needs across hospital and community interfaces.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora – Waikato Mental Health and Addictions Services are committed to a culturally led, clinically underpinned model of care focused on equity, partnership, and improved outcomes for whaiora and whānau.

The Waikato region is a dynamic mix of stunning scenery and cultural richness, providing a variety of experiences for every age. Whether you're catching epic surf, discovering breathtaking underground wonders, or immersing yourself in the magic of a famous movie landscape, there's something for everyone to enjoy. 

For more information on living and working in Waikato click here

Why join us

• Influence acute mental health care delivery at a system level
• Be part of an integrated acute leadership structure
• Work within a supportive and experienced leadership team
• Contribute to meaningful service improvement and workforce development
• Join a values-based organisation committed to equity and wellbeing

We offer

• Comprehensive orientation and leadership support
• Access to professional development and leadership training
• Clinical supervision and peer support
• Opportunities to contribute to service innovation and quality improvement
• A workplace culture grounded in respect, collaboration, and whanaungatanga

About you

You will be an experienced mental health nurse with strong leadership capability and a passion for improving acute mental health services.

You will bring:

• Current registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and a valid APC
• Significant experience in acute mental health settings
• Demonstrated leadership experience
• Strong clinical assessment and risk management expertise
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and decision-making skills
• A commitment to culturally safe, equity-focused care
• Confidence working within complex hospital systems and multidisciplinary teams

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 online” or apply via our Waikato Careers website by clicking here.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal before 11:59 pm on 12 April 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Kim Maskell on +64 7 839 899.

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