Te Pou Oranga Whaiora | Full-time

Te āheinga - The opportunity:

Reporting to the Clinical Lead, this role is based at Te Pou Oranga o Te Whakatōhea Social & Health Services, where you'll play a key role in supporting individuals and whānau affected by alcohol and other drug challenges to achieve positive and lasting recovery outcomes.

As an Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) Clinician, you will provide culturally grounded, evidence-informed assessment, counselling and therapeutic interventions across both community and residential services. Working within a kaupapa Māori, whānau-centred and harm reduction framework, you'll support tangata whaiora through assessment, recovery planning, individual and group interventions, relapse prevention, and transition planning.

This is part of an iwi-led service delivered by Te Pou Oranga o Te Whakatōhea in collaboration with the Eastern Bay Iwi Provider Alliance – including Tūwharetoa ki Kāwerau, Tūhoe Hauora, and Te Tohu o Te Ora o Ngāti Awa – working together to provide Kaupapa Māori-based healing and support for whānau impacted by methamphetamine harm.

 Ngā Kawenga me ngā Mahi – Duties & responsibilities:

• Deliver culturally responsive clinical services to whaiora and their whānau impacted by methamphetamine and other substance use.

• Complete comprehensive assessments, including triage, risk evaluation, and care planning using Kaupapa Māori frameworks and evidence-based tools.

• Provide therapeutic interventions such as motivational interviewing, relapse prevention strategies, and harm reduction approaches.

• Facilitate whānau engagement and support wraparound services, ensuring holistic care pathways that include housing, health, and social supports.

• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team (clinical, cultural, and support staff) to ensure integrated service delivery.

• Maintain accurate and timely documentation in client management systems and contribute to reporting requirements.

• Participate in case reviews, clinical supervision, and team meetings to ensure best practice and continuous improvement.

• Provide crisis intervention and after-hours support as required, ensuring safety and wellbeing for whaiora and whānau.

• Advocate for whaiora and whānau within health and social service systems, ensuring equitable access to resources and support.

• Contribute to service development initiatives, including quality improvement, cultural capability building, and programme innovation.

• Support education and awareness initiatives for whānau and community around addiction recovery and wellbeing. 

Ngā wheako me ngā pūkenga - Experience & Skills required:

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in Addictions Studies, Social Work, Counselling, Nursing, Psychology, or related health discipline.

• Current professional registration and practising certificate relevant to the clinician’s professional discipline. DAPAANZ registration is required where the role is appointed under an addiction practitioner scope; an equivalent recognised professional registration may apply for nursing, social work, counselling, psychology, or another approved health discipline.

• Minimum three years’ relevant experience in alcohol and other drug, mental health, kaupapa Māori health or related social and health services, including direct work with tangata whaiora and whānau.

• Strong understanding of tikanga Māori, Te Ao Māori, and ability to integrate cultural practices into clinical care.

• Skilled in comprehensive assessments, risk evaluations, and therapeutic interventions such as motivational interviewing, relapse prevention, and harm reduction strategies.

• Ability to work effectively with whānau, providing wraparound support and facilitating holistic care pathways.

• Experience in planning, implementing, and reviewing care plans, ensuring continuity and quality of service.

• Proven ability to work within multidisciplinary teams, including clinicians, cultural practitioners, and support workers.

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills for engaging whaiora, whānau, and professional networks.

• Competent in client database systems and Microsoft 365; ability to maintain accurate records and contribute to service reporting.

• Knowledge of Ngā Paerewa Health and Disability Standards and commitment to continuous improvement.

• Full NZ licence essential.

If your skills and experience match this role, please APPLY NOW! Submit your expression of interest to peopleandculture@whakatohea.co.nz

Check us out at: https://www.whakatohea.co.nz

Due to the substantial number of applications, we will only contact shortlisted candidates.