Team Leader Psychologist - Early Intervention

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Auckland; On-site; NZD 100,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remuneration progression

Training and professional development

Wellbeing focus

Inclusive workplace

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children seeks a senior psychologist to lead a team delivering intensive, psychology-led care for tamariki with complex needs. You will provide clinical guidance, oversee assessment and treatment planning, and manage a 4–6 psychologist team within a national service framework.

You will bring a postgraduate psychology qualification, APC registration, and at least 5 years post-graduate experience, including supervision.

Qualifications

• Must hold NZ Psychologists Board APC to be considered.
• Postgraduate qualification in Psychology is required.
• At least 5 years post-graduation experience including training in and providing clinical supervision of other Psychologists.
• Ability to lead a team, determine workloads and balance demands of a busy service.
• Demonstrated passion and experience working with tamariki, whānau and caregivers.

Responsibilities

• Provide clinical guidance and oversight for a team of 4–6 service psychologists.
• Deliver a psychology-led intensive co-working response with a defined clinical sequence.
• Maintain a clinical caseload and oversee assessment, formulation and treatment planning.
• Flex across locations/regions as needed to apply expertise.

Skills

APC registration

Postgraduate psychology

Team leadership

Clinical supervision

Tamaiti and whānau experience

Developmental trauma expertise

Neurodivergence expertise

Assessment and intervention expertise

Psychometric assessment

Stakeholder engagement

Tikanga Māori & Pacific culture

Risk management

Public sector knowledge

Oranga Tamariki Act understanding

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Psychology

Tools

Psychometric tools

Job description

Lead, inspire, and innovate alongside a team of Psychologists to create life-changing outcomes for tamariki with complex needs. These roles will be part of a new national intensive clinical services team that will be located across the country. These are permanent full-time roles.

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values: We putTamarikifirst We believeArohais vital We respect theManaof people We areTikaandPono We valueWhakapapa We recognise thatOrangais a journeyWe are committed to ensuring that NewZealandis the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

Mō te tūnga| About therole

In this role, you will be providing clinical guidance and assistance to some of our most vulnerable tamariki and their caregivers/ whānau, providing best practice models of assessment and intervention. You will have training and experience in working with tamariki presenting with complex issues including developmental trauma, neurodivergence, attachment disruption, and emotion and behaviour dysregulation. You will hold a clinical caseload within the service, and provide clinical leadership and oversight for a team of 4–6 service psychologists. Your team will deliver a timely, psychology-led, intensive co-working response that moves through a defined clinical sequence: contact, triage, allocation, assessment, formulation, treatment planning, intensive intervention predominantly oriented towards caregivers and whānau, and supported transition. The service will be delivered over 12 weeks, with post transition follow-up. At times this may require you to work across multiple locations within your region and flex across regions if your expertise is needed.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

• Applicants must hold a current New Zealand Psychologists Board Annual Practising Certificate (APC) to be considered.
• A postgraduate qualification in Psychology.
• Have practiced for at least 5 years post‑graduation including training in, and providing, clinical supervision of other Psychologists.
• Ability to lead a team, determining workloads and balancing demands of a busy service.
• A passion for, and experience working with tamariki, whānau and/or caregivers and the networks that support them.
• A genuine desire to make a difference to the lives of tamariki and whānau facing adversity.
• Proven practical experience in a wide range of applied psychology, including assessment, intervention, consultation, training and evaluation.
• Sound knowledge of psychological models and theories and their application in relation to tamariki in care.
• Experience in administration and interpretation of psychometric tools, alongside clinical ability to assess developmental functioning, trauma, behavioural concerns, risk, relationships and other domains in tamariki and rangatahi populations.
• Strong engagement and relationship building skills with internal and external stakeholders.
• Understanding and appreciation of cross‑cultural practices particularly knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples’ culture.
• The ability to manage risk in the context of complex situations.
• Understanding of the public sector context and agencies involved in providing services for children and young people.
• Some understanding of the Oranga Tamariki Act1989.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offers a step‑based remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure.

We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.

We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way.

To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/.