For informal enquiries please contact:

Name: Edel Gavin, Assistant Director of Nursing, CAMHS Louth/Meath Mental Health Service 

Email: edel.gavin@hse.ie 

Phone: 0861438845 

The post of Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) - Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) has a pivotal role in the delivery of effective, recovery orientated, high quality team-based, integrated care for children and persons under 18 years of age with moderate to severe mental health difficulties. 

The purpose of the post is the delivery of care in line with on the five core concepts of Clinical Nurse Specialist role as defined by the NCNM 4th edition (2008) in order to fulfil the role. The concepts are: 

• Clinical Focus 
• Patient/Client Advocate 
• Education and Training 
• Audit and Research 
• Consultant 

Caseload 

Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) — Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services will focus on children and persons under 18 years of age who present with mental health difficulties to the service for assessment and interventions. 

Candidates must have at the latest date of application:   

1. Professional Qualifications, Experience, etc.

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

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

And 

• Be registered in the Psychiatric division 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. 

And 

• 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 

• Have a minimum of 1 years’ experience or an aggregate of 1 years’ full time experience in specialist area of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Care. 

And 

• 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). Child and Adolescent Care/CAMHS care prior to application* (See **Note 1 below). 

 And 

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

 And

• 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. 

2. 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) Confirm annual registration with NMBI to the HSE by way of the annual Service user Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC) 

3. Health

Candidates 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.  

4. Character

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

Please note that appointment to and continuation in posts that require statutory registration is dependent upon the post holder maintaining annual registration in the relevant division of the register maintained by Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann (Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland) by way of the Service user Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC) 

Related Attachments:

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