About the Role:
An exciting leadership opportunity is now available to join our Forensic Mental Health Service as a Nurse Unit Manager. This role offers the chance to lead a dedicated team delivering high‑quality, patient‑centred care within a specialised and rewarding clinical environment.
The Forensic Mental Health Service is a state-wide specialised service. The service provides assessment, treatment and care services to meet the needs of mental health consumers placed by the SA court system or prisoners transferred for assessment and treatment from the Department for Correctional Services.
As a Nurse Unit Manager, you will draw on your advanced clinical expertise to coordinate and oversee the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate care. You will provide strong line management, leadership and direction to nursing and multidisciplinary teams, ensuring continuity, quality and positive outcomes for patients.
In this role, you will be pivotal in:
- applying contemporary evidence and expert clinical knowledge to support sound decision‑making, innovation and service improvement
- leading and coordinating patient care delivery to ensure seamless patient flow and high‑quality outcomes
- providing clinical leadership, mentorship and guidance to nursing staff, supporting ongoing learning and professional development
- working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to implement evidence‑based practices
- managing staffing resources effectively to ensure efficient and cost‑effective service delivery
- contributing to the development and implementation of policies, procedures and protocols
- promoting a supportive, inclusive and wellbeing‑focused work environment
To be eligible for this position, you must Registered or eligible for registration as a Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and who holds, or who is eligible to hold, a current practicing certificate. Must be enrolled in an approved Mental Health course or holds a qualification in mental health practice.
About You:
You will thrive in this role if you bring demonstrated leadership experience within a clinical setting. strong communication and interpersonal skills, a commitment to quality improvement, patient safety and evidence‑based practice, and the ability to inspire, support and lead teams in a complex and dynamic environment.
Join a passionate team of professionals dedicated to delivering world‑class forensic mental health care. If you’re ready to take the next step in your leadership journey, we encourage you to apply.
About Us:
The Northern Adelaide Local Health Network (NALHN) is a leading provider of public healthcare services in South Australia.
NALHN serves over 400,000 people in northern Adelaide with a comprehensive range of high-quality medical services, including emergency, surgical, obstetric, neonatal, paediatric, oncology, geriatric, palliative care and rehabilitation, and mental health care. Recently, NALHN has upgraded its facilities and plans to expand further. The network provides primary health care with a focus on community health promotion and chronic disease management. With nearly 6,500 employees, NALHN emphasises quality care and a supportive work environment guided by respect, integrity, and accountability. Our core values foster excellence, innovation, and equitable health outcomes.
At NALHN Everyone Has a Story, Everyone Matters, Everyone Contributes and Everyone Grows.
Benefits of working at NALHN:
From salary packaging to flexible working arrangements, a large range of opportunities for movement and career progression, you’ll find there are lots of benefits of working with Northern Adelaide Local Health Network.
Salary packaging is an option for saving money by paying for some of your everyday expenses from your salary before it is taxed.
Relocation assistance may be available for successful applicants from interstate or overseas.
NALHN supports and fosters a culture in which employees feel they belong and feel safe at work. The culture aims to encourage all people to use their talents and to be valued and rewarded for their contributions.
SA Health is committed to providing an inclusive workplace that embraces diversity and inclusion for all employees. We strongly encourage applications from people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, culturally diverse backgrounds, members of the LGBTIQA+SB community and people who live with disability and/or neurodivergence.
We are committed to making workplace adjustments to provide a positive and supportive work environment. You are encouraged to let us know if you have any support or access requirements during the recruitment process and beyond to ensure you can perform at your best.
The South Australian public sector promotes diversity and flexible ways of working including part-time. Applicants are encouraged to discuss the flexible working arrangements for this role.
Appointment will be subject to a satisfactory Criminal History Check.
Check(s):
- DHS Working With Children Check (WWCC)
- National Police Check (National Police Certificate) for general employment probity, vulnerable person-related employment and aged care sector screening – apply to any of the accredited bodies approved to offer a service direct to the public. Accreditation is provided by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. See our National Police Certificate accredited bodies page for links to lodge screening requests.
Immunisation Risk for this position is – Category A (direct contact with blood or body substances)
SA Health Services are required to implement the Addressing vaccine preventable disease: Occupational assessment, screening and vaccination policy in the workplace.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander applicants are encouraged to apply. Job Ref: 927936
Enquiries:
Shelagh Latham
Nurse Manager
Phone: 0434 852 428
E-mail: shelagh.latham@sa.gov.au
Application Closing Date:
20 February 2026 – 11.55PM
Role Description and Further Information:
927936 - Nurse Unit Manager - Ken O'Brien and Clare Wards - Forensic Mental Health Service - RN3 - role description.pdf
For more information about Mental Health Nursing at NALHN visit our Mental Health Nursing Careers page.
* Refer to the SA Health Career Website – How to apply for further information.
