Mental Health Clinician

Part time - 24 hours per week, based at Northland Regional Correctional Facility - Kaikohe
- 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.
- Working as part of a team of experienced mental health professionals to help shape the future of mental health services across Ara Poutama Aotearoa.
- Join a values-based agency committed to advancing health equity for Māori.
- Opportunity for professional development.

'Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi' - ‘There is only one purpose to our work: the wellness and wellbeing of our people'.
Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of 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 a Mental Health Clinician - Trauma focussed will primarily work with the people in our care who have experienced historical trauma (including childhood sexual, emotional, or physical abuse that might constitute complex PTSD) or current circumstances of trauma, and provide evidence informed appropriate interventions that support wellness and recovery. This position is based at Northland Regional Corrections Facility and reports to the Clinical Manager Mental Health based at Auckland Prison, Albany.
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.
Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience
- 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.
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.