Case Manager - Whanganui Prison

New Zealand Government; Manawatū-Whanganui; On-site; NZD 71,000 - 91,000; Full time

Job summary

Ara Poutama Aotearoa – Department of Corrections is seeking a Case Manager to support rehabilitation and reintegration of people in our care. You will collaborate with whänau, multi‑disciplinary staff and Maori leadership to develop personal plans that reduce reoffending and promote wellbeing.

You will prepare court reports, assess needs, and apply safety procedures in a correctional setting while upholding manaaki and dignity for all individuals.

Qualifications

• Proven knowledge and experience in case management, rehabilitation and reintegration.
• Ability to work safely in a correctional environment with appropriate procedures.
• Strong written skills to prepare reports meeting legal standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead rehabilitation and reintegration of people in our care using a person‑centred approach.
• Prepare reports for Courts and the New Zealand Parole Board.
• Engage with whänau, Maori leadership and multi‑disciplinary staff to support pathways.

Skills

Case management

Rehabilitation

Relationship management

Report writing

Time management

Reflective practice

Maori and Pacific engagement

Motivation and change support

Education

Bachelor's degree in social services or psychology

Job description

Are you a person who is looking for a career change, where you can use your knowledge and experience to do meaningful work?You may be a recent University graduate looking for an excellent entry point to the Department? Maybe you studied Criminology, Psychology or Social Work? We want to hear from you now!Contribute towards public safety while also helping those in our care make better decisions & positive changes.Mo te tunga | About the roleAs a Case Manager for Ara Poutama Aotearoa, you will work with people in our care and their whanau to address criminogenic behaviours and reduce reoffending. Using principles of manaaki, kaitiaki, wairua, rangatira, and whanau, you will manage people in our care, also preparing reports for the Courts and New Zealand Parole Board.You will contribute to public safety, viewing this through the lens of manaaki, positive relationships, and uplifting the wellbeing of the people in our care. By focusing on the wellbeing of the person who has come into our care, you will help reduce the chances of them returning to past behaviour, better arming them to make better choices for a crime free future. Treating those in our care with the utmost mana and dignity is the foundation of everything we do.Case Managers lead the rehabilitation and reintegration of the people in our supervision, using a person-centric approach. Some core areas of case management practice are:Considering those in our care's rehabilitation and reintegration within the context of their family, whanau, and pro social/community supportDemonstrating motivational approaches with prisoners and their family, whanau, or key supportsDemonstrating a multi-disciplinary approach to working with staff and external stakeholdersEngaging with people in prison based on risk, need and responsivity principlesPartnering with Maori leadership and expertise to support pathways for MaoriMou | About youUsing a range of services and techniques, you will partner with external agencies and the whanau of those in our care to support their rehabilitation. Central to your success as a Case Manager is the ability to exercise sound professional judgement ensuring that a person's needs are appropriately, identified and that the most appropriate treatment and programmes are matched to meet these needs.Hokai Rangi is our commitment and strategy to ensure public safety through the appropriate supervision of those in our care whilst also responding to the over representation of Maori within the corrections system. This strategy sets a new direction, putting the wellness and wellbeing of people at the centre of all our work. Our values further support this and for you to be a part of this vital strategy, you need to believe in this approach and commit to the approach. Your Cover Letter should outline how your approach to being a Kaiwhakahaere Kehi will incorporate our values and the wellbeing of others as well as fit with Hokai Rangi.Nga pukenga me nga wheako | Skills and experienceYou will need to demonstrate the following:Proven knowledge and experience in case management, rehabilitation and reintegration related practices or a person with great life experience who is passionate about learning case management and can relate to a diverse client base, or be a recent graduate with a qualification in social services, psychology or a related field.The ability to operate safely and effectively within a correctional environment, demonstrating some awareness of safety procedures when working with offendersStrong written skills including the ability to prepare written reports to meet legal standards.Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritise and meet deadlinesThe ability to give, receive and take on feedback in a highly reflective environmentHighly developed relationship management, effective at building and maintaining rapportAn ability to motivate and support people in our care to make positive changes over the long-termThink critically and explore bias in thinking and decision makingKnowledge and experience working with Maori and Pacific peoples, their families and communitiesA current and full clean New Zealand driver licenceNga painga | The benefitsThe salary for this position starts at $70,956 per annum. Once in the role we have 5 step competency framework where you are able to increase your salary over time up to $91,307 per annum.Mo matou | About usJoin Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Maori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whanau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hokai 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.Tono inaianei | Apply NowTo submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency - applications received via email will not be considered.When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.Applications close on: Wednesday, 11th November 2026.For transparency purposes, we will be looking to interview those successful shortlisted candidates on mid-late November- please keep this in mind when you're applying.If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact [e-mail], or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.We are not accepting applications via recruitment agencies for this role. Unsolicited CVs submitted by agencies will not be accepted and no agency fees will apply.