Description:
Details of the Service
The HSE provides a comprehensive range of community- and hospital-based Mental Health Services across Ireland. These services continue to evolve as care increasingly shifts from a hospital-centred model to community-based supports and care in service users’ own homes. It is estimated that up to one in five people will experience mental health difficulties during their lifetime, and Mental Health Services continue to expand to meet these needs.
The service is committed to delivering high-quality, recovery-focused nursing care to individuals with a broad spectrum of mental health needs, ranging from basic to complex and severe psychiatric presentations. Services include:
Adult Mental Health
Older Adult Mental Health
Psychiatry of Later Life
Intellectual Disability with a Mental Health Diagnosis
Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)
Mental Health Services offer rewarding nursing career opportunities within nurse-led, multidisciplinary teams, working collaboratively with Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Behavioural Therapists, Counsellors, Occupational Therapists, General Practitioners, and Social Workers to achieve optimal outcomes for service users.
The service actively promotes continuous professional development and provides structured career pathways, including opportunities to progress into management roles (e.g. Clinical Nurse Manager) or specialist practice roles such as Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS).
Essential Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Candidates must, by the closing date for applications, meet the following requirements:
1. Professional Registration and Qualifications
Be registered as a Nurse/Midwife on the active Register maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), or be eligible for registration
And
Be registered in the Psychiatric Division of the NMBI Register relevant to the application, or be entitled to be so registered
And
Have a minimum of one year post-registration experience, or an aggregate of one year full-time experience, in the Mental Health Division of the register
And
Have a minimum of one year’s experience in a specialist area of Mental Health care
And
Have successfully completed a post-registration programme of study at Level 9 (or higher) on the National Framework of Qualifications (QQI), relevant to the specialist area of care (minimum 60 ECTS), in line with the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery – Framework for Specialist Practice (4th Edition, 2008)
OR
Provide written evidence from a Higher Education Institution confirming attainment of equivalent Level 9 credits relevant to the specialist area of care
And
Demonstrate evidence of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) relevant to the specialist area
And
Demonstrate the ability to practice safely and effectively within their professional scope of practice
Note:
Level 8 qualifications (minimum 60 ECTS) in the specialist area will be recognised for CNS/CMS eligibility up to September 2026.
2. Competence
Candidates must demonstrate the required clinical, leadership, managerial, and administrative capacity to discharge the duties of the role effectively.
Annual Registration
Maintain active annual registration on the appropriate division of the NMBI Register
Confirm annual registration to the HSE via the Service User Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC)
Health
Candidates must be medically fit and capable of performing the duties of the role, with a reasonable prospect of providing regular and efficient service.
Character
Candidates must be of good character and suitable for appointment.
Post-Specific Requirements
Successful candidates must formally apply for entry to the Interim ONMSD CNS/CMS Database within three months of commencement
CPD evidence must relate to the three-year period prior to the closing date (2022–2025) and must exclude mandatory training
Other Requirements
Access to transport is required to fulfil the duties of the post