Practice Lead

Purapura Whetu; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Purapura Whetū Trust is seeking a Practice Lead to establish and lead the Uru Whetū Rangatahi Counselling Service for rangatahi aged 12–24 across Waitaha. This full-time role involves after-hours delivery two days and three evenings per week, with clinical leadership and workforce management.

You will design and implement a high-quality, youth-focused service, uphold kaupapa Māori values, and manage partnerships while achieving contractual outcomes and continuous quality improvement.

Qualifications

• Qualified in Counselling, Clinical Psychology, Child and Family Psychology, or related discipline.

Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment and implementation of the Uru Whetū Rangatahi Counselling Service.
• Provide clinical leadership, supervision, and practice oversight.
• Recruit, lead, support, and manage the Uru Whetū workforce.
• Coordinate service delivery and achieve contractual outcomes.
• Develop referral pathways with schools, health providers, and communities.
• Build strategic partnerships across Waitaha.
• Monitor quality, outcomes, and reporting.
• Support quality improvement initiatives.
• Provide counselling and wellbeing support to rangatahi and whānau when required.
• Promote kaupapa Māori, strengths-based service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Organisational skills

Communication

Cultural safety Kaupapa Māori

Clinical supervision

Group facilitation

Community partnerships

Education

Counselling qualification or licensed profession

Current professional registration

Experience establishing new services

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Purapura Whetū Trust is seeking an experienced and passionate Practice Lead to establish and lead Uru Whetū Rangatahi Counselling Service, an innovative kaupapa Māori after-hours counselling and wellbeing service supporting rangatahi aged 12-24 years across Waitaha. This is a full time role to be worked: 2 days 8.30am - 5.00pm and 3 days: 1.00pm -9.00 pm.

This exciting leadership opportunity combines service establishment, clinical leadership, workforce management, partnership development, and direct service delivery. Working closely with the Clinical Quality Manager, you will play a pivotal role in designing and implementing a high-quality, youth-focused service that supports positive outcomes for rangatahi and whānau.

As Practice Lead, you will provide clinical leadership and supervision to the Uru Whetū team, develop strong referral pathways and community partnerships, and ensure the successful delivery of contractual outcomes while upholding kaupapa Māori values and best practice standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the establishment and implementation of the Uru Whetū Rangatahi Counselling Service.
• Provide clinical leadership, clinical supervision, and practice oversight.
• Recruit, lead, support, and manage the Uru Whetū workforce.
• Coordinate service delivery and ensure achievement of contractual and organisational outcomes.
• Develop and maintain strong referral pathways with schools, health providers, community organisations, and government agencies.
• Build and strengthen strategic partnerships across Waitaha.
• Monitor service quality, client outcomes, performance measures, and reporting requirements.
• Support continuous quality improvement and service development initiatives.
• Provide counselling and wellbeing support to rangatahi and whānau when required.
• Promote culturally safe, strengths-based, and responsive service delivery aligned with kaupapa Māori practice.

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• A relevant qualification in Counselling, Clinical Psychology, Child and Family Psychology, General Psychology, or a related discipline.
• Current professional registration.
• Demonstrated experience establishing new services or programmes.
• Extensive experience working with rangatahi, whānau, and communities.
• Proven leadership experience within a clinical, counselling, or multidisciplinary environment.
• Experience providing clinical supervision and supporting counselling practitioners.
• Strong knowledge and application of kaupapa Māori practice and whānau-centred approaches.
• Excellent relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Strong organisational, project coordination, and service development capabilities.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• A current Full New Zealand Driver Licence.
• Experience working with Māori, Pacific, and Rainbow communities.
• Experience managing partnerships and subcontracted services.
• Knowledge of youth mental health services within Waitaha.
• Experience facilitating group programmes and community-based initiatives.
• Understanding of outcomes reporting, evaluation, and continuous quality improvement processes.

At Purapura Whetū, you will join a dedicated kaupapa Māori organisation committed to empowering people to achieve positive mental health, wellbeing, and personal growth. This is an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of rangatahi while contributing to the development of an innovative and impactful service.

For more information about the role, including key responsibilities and requirements, please refer to the Position Description on our website www.pw.maori.nz/job-vacancies.