Case Manager - Arohata Prison

About this role

• Are you a person who is looking for a career change? Where you can use your knowledge and experience to do meaningful work to benefit the community?
• 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 change

 Located at Arohata Women's Prison, Tawa, Wellington

 

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As Kaiwhakahaere Kēhi (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 whānau, 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, whānau, and pro social/community support
• Demonstrating motivational approaches with prisoners and their family, whānau, or key supports
• Demonstrating a multi-disciplinary approach to working with staff and external stakeholders
• Engaging with people in prison based on risk, need and responsivity principles
• Partnering with Māori leadership and expertise to support pathways for Māori

 

Arohata Women's Prison: Arohata Women's Prison is one of three women's prisons within the network in New Zealand. At Arohata, we've been working hard to better serve the unique needs of women. Our Women's Strategy, "Wāhine: E Rere Ana Ki te Pae Hou," Wāhine: E Rere Ana Ki te Pae Hou Women's Strategy 2021 - 2025 | Department of Corrections sets the stage for a gender-specific, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach. 

Do you have a passion for working with Wāhine? 

At Arohata Women's Prison you will join a dedicated and supportive team managing the well-being, health and safety of the women at our site.   

We recognise the women we manage have different needs to men and we have set an approach that will give our women the care, treatment, encouragement, counselling, skills and support required to shape better futures for themselves, their tamariki and their whānau. 

 

Note: the successful applicant for this position will begin in January 2027.

 

Mōu | About you

Using a range of services and techniques, you will partner with external agencies and the whānau 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.

Please see below for the skills and experience we are looking for. Candidates also require a current and full, clean New Zealand class 1 drivers license.

 

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

You 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 offenders
• Strong written skills including the ability to prepare written reports to meet legal standards. 
• Excellent time management skills with the ability to prioritise and meet deadlines
• The ability to give, receive and take on feedback in a highly reflective environment
• Highly developed relationship management, effective at building and maintaining rapport
• An ability to motivate and support people in our care to make positive changes over the long-term
• Think critically and explore bias in thinking and decision making
• Knowledge and experience working with Māori and Pacific peoples, their families and communities

 

Ngā painga | The benefits

The salary for this position starts at $71,056 per annum. Once in the role we have 5 step competency framework where you are able to increase your salary over time up to $92,057 per annum.

Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

 

Mō mātou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, 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.

 

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To 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: Sunday 8^th November, 2026

An assessment centre for this role will be held on Friday 13^th November, please be prepared to make yourself available for this.

 

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact jess.escott@corrections.govt.nz, 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.