Kia Ora Ake | Kaiārahi (Clinical Practitioner)
Pukekohe-based | Full-time | Fixed-term maternity leave cover
Bring your clinical skills into a role that takes you beyond the therapy room, working alongside tamariki, whānau and kura to strengthen wellbeing where it matters most.
Ko wai mātou | About us
This role is a collaboration between Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri Trust and the Anglican Trust for Women and Children (ATWC).
Te Whare Ruruhau o Meri Trust was established in 1992 by Te Hāhi Mihingare to respond to the needs of whānau facing adversity. As a kaupapa Māori social service provider, Te Whare's practice is grounded in Te Kawa o te Marae, an indigenous wellbeing framework that supports whānau toward healing, positive change, and restored oranga.
ATWC has supported families in Auckland since 1858 and brings a long history of early intervention, whānau, school and community-based support. Together, these organisations bring strong local relationships, clinical and social service experience, and a shared commitment to tamariki and whānau wellbeing.
Mō te tūnga | About the role
Kia Ora Ake is the locally co-designed tamariki hinengaro wellbeing approach for Counties Manukau and forms part of the national Mana Ake programme. We support primary and intermediate-aged tamariki, their whānau and schools through whole-school approaches, classroom and group programmes, and individual support where needed.
We have an opportunity for a Kaiārahi (Clinical Practitioner) to join our established Franklin team, providing maternity leave cover.
Based at our Pukekohe office, you will work across more than 21 schools in the Franklin area, with occasional travel to our wider team base in Manukau. This is a varied, school-facing clinical role where no two days look quite the same. You might be undertaking a clinical assessment, working individually with a tamaiti, meeting with whānau, supporting a group programme, or working alongside school staff to respond to emerging wellbeing needs.
Working alongside our Kaimanaaki, you will bring clinical knowledge and judgement to the team's mahi, including:
Undertaking clinical assessments and developing appropriate, brief intervention plans.
Delivering evidence-informed therapeutic support to tamariki and whānau.
Identifying and responding to risk, including safeguarding, safety planning and referral to specialist services when needed.
Contributing to small group, classroom and whole-school wellbeing programmes.
Working closely with Kaimanaaki, whānau, kura and community providers to ensure support is practical, coordinated and responsive.
Our work is grounded in relationships, early intervention and practical strategies that make sense in the everyday lives of tamariki.
You will be joining a rōpū of kaimahi who are fun, wholehearted and genuinely passionate about what they do. We value creativity, good clinical practice and people who are willing to get stuck in. It's a team where we support each other, share ideas and care about getting things right for the tamariki, whānau and kura we serve.
Mōu | About you
We are looking for a grounded, capable clinical practitioner who enjoys working with tamariki and understands the value of early intervention.
You will have sound clinical judgement, be confident managing your own mahi and know when to seek guidance or involve specialist services. You can build trusted relationships with whānau and school staff, communicate clearly and bring a calm, practical approach to complex situations.
You will thrive in a busy, meaningful environment, be agile in how you deliver support and have a genuine willingness to make things happen for tamariki, whānau and kura. You'll be someone who can adapt an intervention to suit a child's needs, take initiative when something needs doing and follow things through.
We are particularly interested in practitioners who enjoy being out in schools and communities, are comfortable working as part of a multidisciplinary team and can bring their clinical knowledge into everyday settings.
Qualifications and experience:
A relevant tertiary qualification in social work, counselling, psychology, nursing, occupational therapy or another recognised clinical discipline.
Current professional registration or recognised membership with an appropriate New Zealand professional body, with the ability to practise within the scope of this role.
Experience working with tamariki and whānau, ideally in mental health, education or community settings.
Confidence undertaking clinical assessments, identifying risk and delivering brief, evidence-informed interventions.
An understanding of child development, trauma-informed practice and the social, emotional and behavioural needs of tamariki.
Experience delivering or contributing to therapeutic groups or school-based wellbeing programmes.
Strong communication, clinical documentation and workload management skills.
A commitment to whakawhanaungatanga, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, cultural safety and whānau-centred practice.
A full, current New Zealand driver's licence.
Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you?
Meaningful clinical mahi supporting tamariki and whānau through early intervention.
A welcoming, passionate team who enjoy working together and are committed to what they do.
A structured training package through Whāraurau.
Ongoing clinical supervision and professional development.
Up to 10 days gifted leave per annum.
Variety in your day, with opportunities to work individually with tamariki, alongside whānau and across school and community settings.
The chance to be part of a partnership that brings together kaupapa Māori practice, clinical early intervention and strong community relationships.
This is an opportunity to bring your skills and experience into a well-established team doing meaningful mahi across Franklin.
If this sounds like a role you'd enjoy, we'd like to hear from you.
Applications Close: 26th October 2026