Job Description
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
Ngā kawenga | About the role
Research indicates that a significant portion of wahine in prison have experienced victimisation, including family violence, rape, and other forms of sexual assault. Many of these individuals carry extensive and intergenerational histories marked by poverty, discrimination, grief, and violence.
These traumatic backgrounds can manifest in diverse and persistent effects on women, a situation that may be exacerbated in a prison environment, impacting their ability to participate in rehabilitative programs and navigate prison life more broadly. At Ara Poutama Aotearoa, we are in the process of recruiting a counsellor specifically to support women dealing with histories and ongoing circumstances of trauma.
The primary focus of the counsellor's role is to collaborate with women to address both historical and current trauma. The key responsibilities of this position include assessing women's trauma needs, developing tailored treatment plans, actively involving women in addressing their trauma-related requirements, making referrals to relevant groups and agencies when necessary, and providing support to prison staff in managing women with trauma-related needs and behaviours.
He kōrero mōu | About you
In this role, you will play a vital part in the team dedicated to supporting women, focusing on assessing their trauma needs and actively engaging them in the treatment process. Your role extends to providing valuable assistance to other prison staff, leveraging your skills and experience to enhance their effectiveness in working with women grappling with the enduring effects of trauma. Embracing innovative approaches, you will contribute to the improvement of women's well-being, empowering them to build brighter futures for themselves, their children, and their wider whānau/families.
Successful applicants will need to hold relevant counselling qualifications and demonstrate a track record of working with women who have experienced trauma. Your enjoyment of working with women, coupled with a proven ability to work effectively across cultures—especially with Māori women—and build rapport in challenging situations, will be instrumental to your success in this impactful position.
Experience, qualifications, and registration in New Zealand are highly desirable. Preference will be given to candidates who have proven experience working within the New Zealand healthcare system, hold relevant New Zealand qualifications, and are currently registered with the appropriate regulatory bodies. This will ensure a smoother integration into our workforce and a deeper understanding of the local context and standards of care.
Utu ā-tau | Salary
The full salary range is $68,546 - $88,648. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.
Ko wai mātou | About us
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 Mātauranga Māori basis is our focus to drive and support equity for Māori, which in turn will contribute to achieving our outcomes of reducing reoffending.
You can find out more about us here.
Tono ināianei | Apply now
Applications Close 11pm Monday, 13 January 2025.
Please note that our recruitment team will be on leave from 20 December 2024 to 13 January 2025 and will not be available to respond to queries during this period. From 13 January, we will begin reviewing all applications and aim to distribute suitable candidates for further consideration to our Hiring Mangers. Applicants will be contacted regarding the status or outcome of their applications following this review process.
Please apply and describe your motivation for joining the department in a cover letter, highlighting relevant skills and experience. Please include a tailored CV if you have one. Alignment to our Kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples that reflect and demonstrate our organisation values.
Ara Poutama Aotearoa values diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce which reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair and inclusive, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.
If you want to find out more about a career with us visit our careers page or email our team at careers@corrections.govt.nz.