Social Worker Mental Health - Whanganui Prison

About this role

Ngā kawenga | About the role

As a Social Worker your primary objective is to foster and improve the well-being of individuals under our care. Your responsibilities include conducting comprehensive assessments and developing long-term plans and interventions for individuals dealing with various complex physical and psycho-social needs, particularly those exhibiting self-harming behaviour or suicidal tendencies.

Emphasising the principle of whanaungatanga in all aspects of our work, your role involves close collaboration with a dedicated multi-disciplinary team, including corrections officers, case managers, programs, and broader health staff. Collectively, we are dedicated to delivering culturally safe practices and approaches for those in our care. This involves acknowledging their intricate and interconnected histories of severe trauma, mental health challenges, substance use, unhealthy relationships, and socio-economic factors, which often contribute to their involvement in offending.

He kōrero mōu | About you

In this role, we are seeking applicants who can demonstrate a strong alignment with our kaupapa and organisational values. As you compose your cover letter, highlight how you meet the following lead requirements:

You will need a Social Work qualification recognised by the Social Workers Registration Board NZ, with a preference for candidates holding a post-graduate degree in mental health.

It's crucial that you possess an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and can effectively navigate a Māori cultural setting. Your experience in utilising trauma-informed practice models and working with at-risk patients will be instrumental in this position.

Your role will require the ability to make sound professional judgments tailored to individual circumstances. Building effective working relationships with a diverse range of people to achieve work goals is a key aspect of success in this role.

We value qualities such as flexibility, adaptability to diverse situations, and a positive approach to handling challenges. Additionally, you should demonstrate the ability to balance work and personal life while effectively managing workload and personal development.

Experience, qualifications, and registration in New Zealand are highly desirable. Preference will be given to candidates who have proven experience working within the New Zealand healthcare system, hold relevant New Zealand qualifications, and are currently registered with the appropriate regulatory bodies. This will ensure a smoother integration into our workforce and a deeper understanding of the local context and standards of care.

Utu ā-tau | Salary

The full salary range is $82,886 - $102,194. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

Ko wai mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections) Pae Ora Services lead the delivery of patient-focused primary health care services to tangata within corrections facilities across Aotearoa. Hōkai Rangi, our over-arching strategic direction, places the focus on health at the heart of our business. Building our frameworks from a Mātauranga Māori basis is our focus to drive and support equity for Māori, which in turn will contribute to achieving our outcomes of reducing reoffending.

You can find out more about us here.

Tono ināianei | Apply now

Applications Close 11pm Monday, 23 November 2026.

Please apply and describe your motivation for joining the department in a cover letter, highlighting relevant skills and experience. Please include a tailored CV if you have one. Alignment to our Kaupapa is critical to our success - we ask that you provide examples that reflect and demonstrate our organisation values.

Ara Poutama Aotearoa values diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce which reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair and inclusive, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

If you want to find out more about a career with us visit our careers page or email our team at careers@corrections.govt.nz.