Clinical Nurse Specialist Mental Health (Discharge Support Service)

 For informal enquiries please contact:

Name: Colette Clarke, Assistant Director of Nursing Louth/Meath Mental Health Services 

Tel: 086-8228614  

Email: Colette.clarke@hse.ie 

The CNS Discharge Support Service provides an intensive service for people with acute mental health needs during an acute phase of illness and support in their recovery. The team is a CNS led service which includes the skillset and experience to carry out comprehensive mental health nursing assessments, nursing care plans, risks screens and management of those risks. The CNS Discharge Support also supports and facilitates early transfer of care back to the community environment from the hospital setting and back to the care of their known Consultant Psychiatrist and Community Mental Health Team. 

1. Statutory Registration, Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc 

   (a) Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:  

   (i) Be a registered nurse/midwife on the active Register of Nurses and Midwives held by An Bord Altranais and Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) or be eligible to be so registered.  

AND  

  (ii) Be registered in the division(s) of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) Register for which the application is being made or be entitled to be so registered.  

OR  

  (iii) In exceptional circumstances, which will be assessed on a case by case basis be registered in another Division of the register of Nurses and Midwives.  

AND  

   (iv) Have a minimum of 1 years’ post registration full time experience or an aggregate of 1 years’ full time experience in the division of the register in which the application is being made (taking into account (ii) (iii) if relevant)  

AND  

   (v) Have a minimum of 1 years’ experience or an aggregate of 1 years’ full time experience in specialist area of Mental Health Care.  

 AND  

   (vi) Have successfully completed a post registration programme of study, as certified by the education provider which verifies that the applicant has achieved a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major academic Level 9 or higher award that is relevant to the specialist area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery 4th ed (2008).  

  Alternatively provide written evidence from the Higher Education Institute that they have achieved the number of ECTS credits equivalent to a Level 9 or higher standard, relevant to the specialist area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery 4th ed (2008).  (See **Note 1 below). 

AND  

   (vii) Be required to demonstrate that they have continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to the specialist area.  

AND  

 (viii) Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her professional responsibility within his/her scope of practice  

  **Note 1: For Nurses/Midwives who express an interest in CNS/CMS roles and who currently hold a level 8 educational qualification in the specialist area (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), this qualification will be recognised up to September 2026.  

  And  

   (b) Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability and clinical, leadership, managerial and administrative capacity for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.  

1. Annual registration  

   (i) Practitioners must maintain live annual registration on the appropriate/relevant Division of the register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) for the role.  

And  

   (ii) Practitioners must confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of the annual Service user Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC). 

Health 

A candidate for and any person holding the office must be fully competent and capable of undertaking the duties attached to the office and be in a state of health such as would indicate a reasonable prospect of ability to render regular and efficient service.  

Character 

Each candidate for and any person holding the office must be of good character. 

Related Attachments:CNS Mental Health (Discharge support Services) HSE Job Spec

The HSE Dublin and North East Region are an equal opportunities employer.