Intensive Therapy Caseworker

• 2 Permanent roles covering South Auckland based at our Manurewa site
• Remuneration starting from $90,429-$100,019 based on experience

Mō te tūnga | About the role

This role requires a passion to actively keep tamariki in the hearts and minds of everything we do.

Primarily the purpose of this role is to deliver clinical and therapeutic intervention services as set out within a multi-systemic therapy (MST) framework to children and young people presenting with offending behaviours, ages 10-17 years) who have been accepted onto the Reducing Youth Offending Programme (RYOP).

• Therapists work predominantly with caregivers. Treatment is 5 months, reducing dependency on services with an aim to generalisation and sustainability.
• Ensuring that the services meet the specified MST quality and standards and adhere to a model of best practice, including the provision of services to clients on a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week basis.
• Identify and engage key participants in setting the objectives and goals of intervention that are culturally pertinent with relevant strategies to reduce offending behaviours, to maintain their level of commitment to achieve the objectives and goals.
• Maintain clear and concise documentation of clinical and therapeutic interventions and manage and comply with all requirements for other documentation and reporting
• developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders across the Auckland region.

You will apply the principles of mana tamaiti, whakapapa and whanaungatanga to your practice, to ensure you are responsive to tamariki and whānau Māori. It's more than a job, it's an opportunity to improve the lived experiences of tamariki and their caregiving communities. We recognise the importance of Kaimahi ora (staff wellbeing) and are committed to ensuring you receive regular supervision and take the necessary breaks needed to restore Oranga and wellbeing.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

Key requirements of the role include:

• Understanding of the multi-factor determinants and influences of youth offending.
• Understanding of the model of Multi Systemic Therapy, the analytic process and how this is applied to clinical and therapeutic interventions.
• Understanding of Social systems theory, ecological theory and how this informs assessment and intervention.
• Understanding of behavioural theories and/or Cognitive behavioural theory and how they inform assessment and intervention.
• Sound knowledge of the theories of Child Development and pragmatic Family Therapy and experience in applying these to intervention.
• Demonstrated competence in applying the principles of risk assessment in relation to youth offending.
• A sound understanding of issues relating to mental health disorders in youths and adults, and alcohol and substance abuse in youths and adults.
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural issues and concerns, in particular, knowledge of tikanga Māori, and those of the Pacific peoples.
• Knowledge of, and established links to, community networks and experience working in collaboration and conjunction with community service providers, other government departments, including effective work in cross cultural environments and contexts

Successful applicants will need to have the following qualifications and experience:

• Relevant graduate degree level qualification in psychology, social work, counselling, mental health or other related subject domains.
• Twelve months minimum clinical and therapeutic experience, relevant to the treatment of whanau.
• A current, full clean driver's licence

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do.

We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

We are committed to putting tamariki first, we believe aroha is vital, we respect the mana of people, we are tika and pono, we value whakapapa and we recognise that oranga is a journey.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address.

If you have any questions about role, please contact

Hurry as applications close Friday 10th July 2026. However we will be reviewing CVs and interviewing as we go so get your applications in today as we will close the role early if the preferred candidate is found.

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.