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Psychologist job in New Zealand

Position: Psychologist
Industry: Justice
Service: Violent Offender Rehabilitation
Contract: Permanent Full Time
Location: New Zealand
Job #: 12

These prison located roles suit psychologists interested in working in purpose-built, therapeutic units, which provide intensive cognitive behavioural programmes and promote a community of change environment. The group interventions are designed to help participants understand why they have committed violent offenses, increase awareness of victim harm, develop meaningful life goals and practice new thinking and behavioural skills that will lead them away from future offending. By focusing on evidence-based practice and targeted psychological treatment, positive results are being obtained with this high risk group of offenders.  

In this role you would use your skills and experience to provide high quality treatment. The work includes all the various aspects of treatment delivery, ranging from risk assessment to group therapy, and preparing offenders to reintegrate into society by working closely with community based support networks.

Expressions of interest are welcomed from recently qualified through to highly experienced psychologists.  Senior level psychologists will provide supervision to other staff, including trainees and  may undertake managerial tasks when required.

These jobs offer the ability to further develop your career in a stimulating and professional team environment, with access to a wide range of training and research opportunities. Successful applicants will be encouraged to show initiative and develop clinical skills further through a well developed competency-based progression system. Good working conditions and competitive salaries are provided. Psychologists new to this field would be supported in transitioning into this area of work.  

Our client is an internationally recognised market leader in offender rehabilitation and community safety. Their goal is to reduce rates of re-offending. They seek psychologists who are passionate about forensic psychology and offer an opportunity to join a highly skilled and valued workforce.   

To be considered you will need to:

  • Have a grounding in cognitive behavioural theory.
  • Be able to complete risk and clinical assessments.  
  • Demonstrate an ability to work with prisoners.
  • Possess an understanding of the dynamics of individual and group behaviour.
  • Be an active verbal communicator with strong relationship management skills.
  • Have excellent English writing skills, including report writing.
  • Evidence a willingness to develop competencies in Tikanga Maori.
  • Be prepared to consent to criminal conviction and substance misuse checks.

Click the button below to check our preliminary short-listing criteria and then register your interest

Suitably matched psychologists will receive additional information about the role, employer, locations, an estimate of salary and details of any relocation assistance.

Psychologists wishing to proceed to an application will receive guidance in the job application and interview preparation. Job alerts will then be forwarded as roles become available.

Expressions of interest are encouraged from both local and overseas psychologists.  These opportunities would support New Zealand immigration visas for qualifying candidates and their families.

Shortlisting Criteria

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Case Study

Natalie is a clinical psychologist recruited from the UK. This is what she had to say.

Job hunting from halfway around the world proved no barrier. After two years working in forensic mental health services in the UK, she says New Zealand sounded like an ideal change.

"I wanted to move away from the hectic London lifestyle but was not yet ready to move home to Ireland. I applied for the job in Wellington before moving and was pleasantly surprised at how easy the process was. I was interviewed over the phone, then it was relatively straightforward to obtain visas and to register as a clinical psychologist in New Zealand,"

Natalie says her favourite part of the job is working therapeutically with a complex group of people. "I love the diversity of the role. I work with individuals in prison and the community; I have the opportunity to complete assessments, provide interventions, work on research projects, and supervise others."

Empathy, understanding and analytical skills are vital, along with the ability to step back and make clear decisions about how best to help each individual. "Working therapeutically with offenders requires patience, tolerance and a willingness to work with the person at their level and their pace."

My employer welcomes psychologists with clinical or forensic backgrounds and provides excellent working conditions and a clear career structure. "It is a progressive organisation that respects its psychologists. There's a strong emphasis on rehabilitation and psychologists play a key role in this," says Natalie.

As for her new home: "New Zealand is an easy place to move to and a great place to live, especially if you enjoy the outdoors. It's every bit as beautiful as it is made out to be."