Consultant Psychiatrist (Addictions)

New Job. New Lifestyle. New Zealand 2021.

We’re seeking a Consultant Psychiatrist (Addictions) for the multidisciplinary specialist Addiction Service based in Tauranga in the stunning Western Bay of Plenty region – one of New Zealand’s most desirable lifestyle locations.

The main focus of this role is to provide Opioid Substitution Treatment (OST) for patients across the district in accordance with the New Zealand OST guidelines.

Why not combine a fresh, professional challenge with the fabulous beach lifestyle in Tauranga, the fastest growing city in NZ (with over 230,000 people), just 2.5 hours drive south of Auckland on the East Coast of the North Island.

• Pack the kids and come on down – enjoy life on the beach!
• Permanent role, commencing 2021
• FRANZCP or equivalent specialist qualifications, e.g. MRCPsych/ FRCPsych with CCT
• Ideally, experience working in the alcohol and other drug sector; preferably within Opioid Substitution Treatment and/or substance withdrawal treatment
• Qualifications in Addiction Medicine advantageous
• Well-established team with a vision for the future of their service
• Excellent schools and affordable housing
• Enjoy paddleboarding, surfing, fishing, kayaking, hiking, swimming, cycling, jetskiing, golfing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, sailing.... and more
• See diverse marine life; dolphins, whales and orcas

For this role, you will have broad experience and skills in Psychiatry. Experience working in specifically in Addiction Medicine will be advantageous. But it is not essential. The team has a wealth of collective experience and you will work with both psychiatrists and registrars; and have close liaison with local general practitioners and pharmacists.

You will have a sound understanding of contemporary models of care and experience of working in a culturally diverse setting.

You will have proven leadership skills and experience working in a multidisciplinary team environment; an interest in medical education and teaching, including providing supervision and education to medical students, registrars and other clinical staff; and of course, a commitment to ongoing quality improvement programmes.

There are opportunities to be involved in teaching and medical education, and  the Bay of Plenty District Health Board’s Clinical School also provides clinical research opportunities.

Your qualifications, training and experience will be compared to that of the NZ specialist training programme and therefore your CV should reflect these details.  Please click the link to view the NZ standard for Psychiatry.

What’s on offer?

• Total package ranges NZ$180,000 - $300,000 per annum, depending on experience
• This includes: Base salary from NZ$164,369 to $244,560 pa, depending on level of experience; On call calculated on top of your base; Continuing Medical Education Allowance NZ$16,000 + 10 days CME leave pa.
• Plus relocation assistance

The Hospital

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board delivers services to a catchment area spanning from Waihi Beach down to Whangaparaoa on the coastline and inland to the Urewera, Kaimai and Mamaku ranges. This incorporates the towns and cities of Tauranga, Katikati, Te Puke, Whakatāne, Kawerau and Opotiki.

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has two main sites. Tauranga Hospital (359-bed) provides health services to the people of the Western Bay of Plenty. A secondary hospital, it provides level 4-5 services including medical, surgical, paediatrics, obstetrics, gynaecology and mental health. Whakatane Hospital (110-bed) is approx. a 1 hour drive from Tauranga and covers the Eastern Bay of Plenty.

The wider Mental Health & Addiction Service includes General Adult Inpatient and outpatient services, Psychogeriatrics, Consult Liason, Child and Adolescent, Drug and Alcohol and Maternal Mental Health services. There are opportunities for research and teaching with the Bay of Plenty District Health Board’s own Clinical School as well as the close links with University of Auckland. They are an accredited site for Psychiatry Registrars training through the Upper Central North Island (UCNI) training scheme and 5^th and 6^th year medical students through the University of Auckland.

The Location

Tauranga is now the 5th largest city in New Zealand with an urban population of 130,000 (regionally 230,000) and is only a 2.5 hour drive south of Auckland. It has always been a premier destination, but with the strong NZ economy and a buoyant housing market, Tauranga is now the fastest growing city in New Zealand.

Tauranga, and in particular the suburb of Mount Maunganui, is well known for many things - the mountain (Mauao), the sunshine, the café and restaurant scene, the surfing, the white sandy beaches and natural salt water hotpools, the local markets with fresh produce, the safe and family-friendly lifestyle with excellent schools, and high-end real estate.

There is a domestic airport with regular daily flights to Auckland's International airport (35 minutes), making connections to/from Tauranga very easy.

For more details on the fabulous lifestyle for all the family, please visit Tauranga & the Bay of Plenty

Medical Registration

Ideally, you will hold FRANZCP and full Vocational registration with the Medical Council of New Zealand (MCNZ).

If you are an overseas specialist psychiatrist, you will hold equivalent specialist qualifications from either Australia (FRANZCP), the UK (MRCPsych/ FRCPsych via CCT), Canada (FRCPSC) or USA (American Board Certification) that will enable Provisional Vocational (long term) registration or Locum Tenens (short term) registration. 

These are the two specialist pathways for medical registration in NZ for psychiatrists and we can assist with medical registration and facilitate the work visa, if successfully appointed.

** Primary Source Verification using EPIC **

From 1st November 2017, all relevant qualifications must be verified by ECFMG using the EPIC system on behalf of the Medical Council of New Zealand.  If you are committed to working in New Zealand, we encourage doctors to start this process off as soon as possible if you hold qualifications from outside NZ.  Candidates are invited to log on to EPIC and complete this step online.  EPIC verifies your identity and your qualifications directly with you. 

Log on to EPIC here and read the FAQs section about how to get started.

*Photo credit: Mount Maunganui Main Beach, taken by Caroline O'Hagan