Psychologist - Upper Hutt at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Wellington (Te Whanganui a Tara)

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Kotahi anō te kaupapa: ko te oranga o te iwi', ‘There is only one purpose to our work: the wellness and wellbeing of people'

Hōkai Rangi is Ara Poutama Aotearoa's organisational strategy.  A key focus of Hōkai Rangi is the humanising and healing of those people in our care.  Ara Poutama Aotearoa staff focus on having relationships with the people in our care, and their whānau, based on manaaki and contribute positively to their wellbeing.  While also supporting individuals' to desist from offending behaviour and develop new life paths that further aid their wellbeing into the future.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

We are looking for a Registered Psychologist to join our passionate and supportive team in the Upper Hutt Psychologist's Office. Our team is based in Trentham, Upper Hutt next to Rimutaka Prison.  We spend our time working within the Prison context, both Rimutaka and Arohata (female), as well as, Community Probation.  The Upper Hutt and Wellington Psychological Service Teams work closely together as a Greater Wellington region.  We also endeavour to work collectively as a Lower North Region connecting with our Psych colleagues based in Palmerston North and Hawkes Bay.  

Our team undertakes a broad range of clinical tasks including assessment, group and individual treatment and case consultation with men, women and Young Adults (under 25).  We undertake assessment and intervention with men and women identified as high risk of further offending.  As such, we are often working with people who experience a complex array of challenge, but are often motivated for change and engage positively in the therapeutic process.  You will receive the training, supervision and support you need to excel as a therapist both in your assessment and intervention, with opportunities to provide Expert Witness Reports and Testimony to the courts.    

We engage in Multidisciplinary meetings with our colleagues across Corrections and the community, as well as support whanau hui, with an emphasis on collaboration with our clients. You will also have opportunities to provide training and continue to develop areas of interest to you, while exploring how they intersect with our work at Ara Poutama.  We are building our emphasis and skill in the area of trauma informed, as well as, undertaking neuropsychological assessment as needed. In addition, you will build the skill to have difficult therapeutic conversations with clients to really getting therapy moving and, provide empathic but transparent feedback on areas of weakness while pulling on individual's strengths.

Ara Poutama Psychological Service can be a demanding role, but we have a focus on work life balance and maintaining wellbeing while performing to a high level of expertise, skills and client time.  We endeavour to be responsive to psychologists needs while supporting them to achieve great outcomes.  As part of this Ara Poutama will provide you with all the specific training you need to perform the role, ongoing support in the form of supervision, refreshers, in house and external training.    

We are looking for someone who:

• Is reliable with strong verbal and written communication skills
• Has experience in risk assessment in a similar setting (desirable)
• Has strong therapy skills, and has a knowledge of trauma (desirable)
• Can demonstrate and commit to culturally responsive ways of working
• Is an excellent problem solver
• Works well in a collaborative professional environment
• Can demonstrate an understanding of Te Ao Māori/Tikanga Māori and bi-cultural practice
• Has commitment to contributing to the outcomes of Hōkai Rangi
• Wants to begin or progress their career in a development focused service.
• Has a minimum of a Masters degree in Psychology (Clinical or Forensic Psychology and registration with the NZ Psychologist Board in the clinical/counselling and general scope of practice)

Some of the benefits of joining our team include: 

• The pride of working for a Government Organisation leading the charge with a Maori focussed strategy – Hokai Rangi – which we are working to make truly meaningful as a psychological service.

• As part of this we now have in house cultural supervision which is cutting edge and focussed on our clients and their needs, and ensuring we are practicing thoughtfully and skilfully in this area as psychologists.  

• Working with and being supported by other psychologists
• Working in Prison and community based settings
• A chance to work in a culturally diverse region
• An in-depth training programme to equip staff with knowledge in risk assessment and forensic treatment
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Regular clinical and cultural supervision
• Flexible working conditions 
• Free parking

Please note that applicants must hold registration with the New Zealand Psychologists Board and will be required to complete a full disclosure criminal history check and pre-employment drug tests. 

The position is salaried from $76,860-$117,300 depending on the experience and competency level of the successful applicants.

To find out more about working as a Psychologist at Corrections, click on the link to hear from our people: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0EleGUvXR4

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://careers.corrections.govt.nz/strategy).

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. 

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. Applications close August 12. 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.