Psychologist, Special Treatment Unit - Rimutaka

New Zealand Government; Wellington; On-site; NZD 83,000 - 133,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

5 weeks annual leave

International Relocation Package

Airfares for candidates and travelling

4 weeks accommodation

4 weeks rental vehicle

Professional development funding

Health and wellbeing support

Job summary

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) is seeking a psychologist for the Te Whare Manaakitanga Special Treatment Unit at Rimutaka Prison. The role involves building therapeutic alliances, developing treatment plans, and delivering a CBT group program over eight months, with flexibility to conduct individual sessions as needed.

Strong professional boundaries, cultural practice guidance, and collaboration with custodial staff are essential.

Qualifications

• Develop meaningful therapeutic alliances with men in care.
• Co-facilitate an eight-month cognitive-behavioural group program.
• Design and deliver complementary individual sessions as required.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, assess and develop treatment plans for 10 men.
• Co-facilitate eight-month CBT group program.
• Complete specialist reports on treatment progress.
• Provide supervision opportunities as senior psychologists are available.

Skills

Relational skills

Adaptability

Collaboration with custodial staff

Education

NZ Registered Psychologist

Job description

Become a part of a world‑leading treatment unit for men with serious violent offending where you can develop and share your expertise as a treatment provider.

• Make a real difference in the lives of offenders, their whānau and the community
• Be part of a close‑kith, diverse and innovative team of passionate people

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Te Whare Manaakitanga Special Treatment Unit (TWM) is a dedicated 30‑bed therapeutic community at Rimutaka Prison, renowned for its success in supporting the rehabilitation and reintegration of men with histories of serious violent offending. As a psychologist at TWM you are at the heart of a transformative journey. You will be required to develop meaningful therapeutic alliances with men who have been entrenched in the criminal / gang world and often had few safe relationships in their lives, and will work closely with colleagues to maintain an environment that allows these men to let down their defences so real change can occur. Your annual workload will involve recruiting, assessing and developing individualised treatment plans for 10 men. You will then co‑facilitate an eight‑month cognitive‑behavioural group treatment programme with these men, after which you will complete specialist reports outlining their treatment progress. Throughout this time, you will have the ability to design and deliver complementary individual sessions as required. Senior psychologists will also have opportunities to deliver supervision. Due to the intensive nature of our work – it is essential that all staff interested in working at TWM have strong professional boundaries and understand the importance of proactively navigating transference issues to keep our clients and staff safe. All staff will get to benefit from the expertise of our full time Kaupapa Māori Practitioner who guides cultural practises in our whare.

Mōu | About you

Join TWM and work alongside a dedicated team to make a genuine impact. As a psychologist at Rimutaka Prison, you’ll have the opportunity to empower individuals in our care to better themselves. 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.

Ngā painga | The benefits

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
• Te Reo Māori and Tikanga allowance
• APC reimbursement and Professional Indemnity Insurance contribution
• Expert Witness Allowance (where applicable)
• Health, wellbeing, and EAP support
• International Relocation Package
• Freight forward of $10,000
• Airfares for candidates and travelling family
• 4-weeks accommodation
• 4-weeks rental vehicle hire
• Airport transfers of up to $300 and any stop‑over accommodation

International Relocation Package Ara Poutama has relocation packages available for candidates relocating from overseas. For international applicants, please confirm your eligibility to register as a psychologist in New Zealand.

Mō mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) Pae Ora leads the delivery of patient‑focused primary health and mental health care services to tangata within corrections facilities across Aotearoa. Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa, 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. You can find out more about us here.

Tono ināianei

Applications Close : Sunday, 22nd November

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.