Psychologist - Karaka Special Treatment Unit

Department of Corrections NZ – Waikato District, North Island Make a real difference in the lives of offenders, their whānau and the community Be part of a close-knit, diverse and innovative team of passionate people Become a part of a world-leading treatment unit for men with serious offending where you can develop and share your expertise as a treatment provider Mō te tūnga | About the role Karaka Special Treatment Unit (STU) is a dedicated therapeutic "community of change" at Waikeria Prison, providing a structured therapeutic environment to support the rehabilitation of people with a history of high-risk and violent and sexual offending. The STU delivers evidence-based psychological programmes to reduce reoffending to a maximum of 44 men annually. As a psychologist at Karaka STU, you play a key role in building meaningful therapeutic relationships with the men in our care, many of whom have faced significant challenges. You will work closely with colleagues to maintain a supportive environment where genuine change can occur. Your work will involve recruiting, assessing, and developing treatment plans, report writing, and group work. You will also contribute to a therapeutic community kaupapa, ensuring a holistic and culturally responsive approach to rehabilitation. Throughout this time, you will have the ability to design and deliver complementary individual sessions as needed. In this critical position, you are at the heart of this transformative journey. You will receive regular clinical and cultural supervision to ensure your success and continuous professional development. This position has flexibility between 0.8 and 1.0 FTE. Join Karaka STU and work alongside a dedicated team to make a genuine impact. We are looking for someone with a passion for creating positive change, strong relational skills, and adaptability. In this role, you will navigate complex environments, collaborate closely with custodial staff, and contribute directly to positive transformations. Your resilience and creativity will be key as you balance multiple perspectives and engage in meaningful work. This is a chance to be proactive and reflective, combining your expertise with the satisfaction of making a real difference in the lives of those we serve. The salary range for this role is $83,286-$133,370 per annum, with appointment and remuneration based on clinical competency, skills, and experience. Frontline Psychologists may also access additional allowances, professional development funding, flexible working arrangements, and a range of benefits including: 5 weeks annual leave, increasing to 6 weeks Annual Departmental Day National psychology training and development opportunities APC reimbursement and Professional Indemnity Insurance contribution Expert Witness Allowance (where applicable) Health, wellbeing, and EAP support Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy. We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required. Applications close on: Wednesday, 19th August (We will respond to applications as they are submitted) #J-18808-Ljbffr