Psychologist

Upper Hutt Psychological Service

**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 maintain a focus on supporting individuals' to desist from offending behaviour and develop new life paths that further aid their, their whānau, and their communities 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 Psychological Service. Our team is based in Trentham, Upper Hutt, next to Rimutaka Prison. At present we have a focus within the Community Probation space but also work within the Prison context; predominately in Rimutaka Prison, and Arohata Prison as needed to support the wahine. 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 psychology colleagues based in Palmerston North and Hawkes Bay, as well as, the Special Treatment Unit Te Whare Manaakitanga. Once a year as a National Psychological Service we also all get together for a National Training Event held in Rotorua. You will be provided with all the core training required to be a Departmental Psychologist, during which you will have the opportunity to get to know other psychologists from across the Department.
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. As part of your work you will have the opportunity to develop, enhance and strengthen your therapeutic skills in a supportive environment. 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 as you progress to a Senior Psychologist. We also support other stakeholders within Ara Poutama and outside service providers to better understand our clients, and offending behaviour to enhance overall outcomes. As a Department, we now have a wahine strategy ‘E rere ana ki te pae hou' (women rising above a new horizon). With our Youth Strategy team currently working on a more comprehensive youth approach.
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 the opportunity to provide training and continue to develop areas of interest, while exploring how they intersect with our work at Ara Poutama. We are building our emphasis and skill in the area of trauma informed intervention, as well as, undertaking neuropsychological assessment as needed. In addition, you will build the skills 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 your client's strengths.
Ara Poutama Psychological Service can be a demanding role, but we have a focus on work life balance and maintaining wellbeing with our Flexible Working policy, while supporting each other to perform to a high level to achieve professional pride and maintain curiosity in our work. We are responsive to our 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 both clinical and Kaupapa Maori, 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 but not required)
- 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
- Has a growth mindset, who wants to continue to learn and develop as a psychologist
- Works well in a collaborative professional environment
- Understands our responsibilities under the Psychology Code of Ethics
- 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 Psy