Mental Health Clinician - Trauma Focus at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Multiple Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• 0.6FTE part time, 3 days a week, based at Northland Correctional Facility, opportunity to travel to Auckland Prison, Albany.
• Exciting opportunity for an experienced trauma focused clinician (Psychologist, Social worker or Senior Nurse) to work with people in our care who have experienced trauma through adverse life experience.
• Opportunity to learn and grow.
• Join a values-based agency committed to advancing health equity for Māori.
• Open to local and international applicants.

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Corrections) Health Services lead the delivery of patient-focused primary health care services to tangata within corrections facilities across Aotearoa.  Hōkai Rangi, our over-arching strategic direction, places the focus on health at the heart of our business.  Building our frameworks from a Matauranga Māori basis is our focus to drive and support equity for Māori, which in turn will contribute to achieving our outcomes of reducing reoffending. 

Mō te tūnga | About the roles

Working within a multi-disciplinary team, your role as an experienced practitioner (holding current registration as a social worker, mental health nurse, occupational therapist, or psychologist) who is able to deliver medium term interventions that help restoring wellbeing – Trauma focussed will primarily work with the people in our care who have experienced historical trauma and are vulnerable in the wider environment, and in need for evidence-informed interventions that support wellness and recovery.

Effective clinical caseload management will include triage, assessment and evidence informed treatments that are aligned to, and integrated with primary health and tertiary mental health provision. The role will promote the delivery of holistic and recovery-oriented health services across the wider prison environment.

This opportunity will suit a clinical professional who demonstrates a strong commitment to culturally safe practice and partnership. A clinician suited to working autonomously, interested in service development, and with good communication skills. Our teams are committed to modelling expert clinical practice and ensure a strong focus on Humanising and Healing - respecting the human dignity and inherent mana of all people in our care.

This role reports to the clinical manager based at Auckland Prison, Albany. 

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

We invite applications from suitably qualified candidates who demonstrate strong alignment to our kaupapa and who can evidence in a written application how they meet the below essential requirements:

• Registration with a relevant board (registered health professional – HPCAA, Social Work Act or NZ Psychologists Board)
• A relevant clinical qualification in clinical social work, psychotherapy, nursing, or psychology at a level sufficient to provide psychological therapy.
• Training and experience in a trauma informed therapeutic model
• Minimum three years of therapy experience preferred
• Sound knowledge and experience in working with people with trauma histories
• Flexible, safe, and creative approaches in supporting vulnerable people
• Skills in group delivery would be advantageous
• Experience or a strong willingness to work with Kaupapa Māori frameworks and services;
• Have effective communication skills, verbally and in writing
• Demonstrable relevant experience including working with people presenting with acute and complex mental health and/or addictions issues.

The salary range for these roles is dependent on role and experience.

Ko wai mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is a name that has been gifted to us and is our commitment to improving the oranga and safety of the people, whānau, and that of the communities we serve across the motu. 

As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship) and whānau (relationships) to shape how we work and deliver the outcomes in our strategy - Hōkai Rangi (https://arapoutama.nz/hokairangi).

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To apply, please submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience. Alignment to our kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples which reflect and demonstrate our organisation values. Applications close 15^th October 2023. For more information about the role, please contact hiring manager Jiajia Chen Jiajia.chen@corrections.govt.nz

It is an exciting time to join us and we continue to seek out talented individuals who are committed to an inclusive, vibrant workplace. We recognise and celebrate the uniqueness of individuals, and that of the collective talent in our whānau. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered. 

If you want to find out more about a career with us, visit careers.corrections.govt.nz or email our team at careers@corrections.govt.nz.