Senior Mental Health Practitioner

Te Whiwhinga mahi | The opportunity 

At Whānau Āwhina Plunket we are looking for an experienced Senior Mental Health Practitioner to join our online perinatal wellbeing service, focused primarily on supporting whānau in the Waikato region. This is a fixed term role until 31st January 2028, we are ideally looking for full time hours but can negotiate 0.8 or 0.9 FTE 

This pilot service supports whānau with tamariki aged from birth to five years who are experiencing mild to moderate distress, anxiety or depression. Working as part of a multidisciplinary team, you will provide accessible, evidence-based support that strengthens mental wellbeing, parenting confidence, resilience and the parent-infant relationship. 

As the senior practitioner within the team, you will lead the triage and risk assessment of referrals and provide comprehensive assessment, therapeutic support, care planning and case management. You will work directly with individuals and whānau through therapeutic conversations and facilitate workshops and group programmes. 

You will also provide day to day leadership, coaching and professional guidance to a small team of support workers, helping ensure the care we provide is safe, effective and of a consistently high quality. 

This is an exciting opportunity to help establish and shape a new service, contribute to the evaluation of a virtual delivery model and support its potential sustainability and growth. 

He kōrero mōu | About you 

You will be a registered and experienced mental health professional who can build trust with whānau and provide culturally safe, mana-enhancing care in a virtual environment. 

You will bring: 

• A recognised Level 7 degree qualification in psychology, nursing, occupational therapy, social work, counselling or another relevant discipline 
• Current professional registration and certification in accordance with the requirements of your registration board 
• At least five years’ practical experience delivering mental health services 
• Experience or specialist knowledge in perinatal or infant mental health, ideally 
• Experience using evidence based approaches such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy or Solution Focused Therapy 
• Leadership experience, with the ability to coach and support others 
• Experience coordinating or facilitating workshops and group programmes 
• A demonstrated commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, culturally safe practice and equitable health outcomes 
• Confidence using technology to connect with and support whānau; experience providing virtual services would be an advantage 
• A current full New Zealand driver licence and the ability to complete a satisfactory Police vetting check. 

As this is a new service, you will be collaborative, proactive and comfortable working in an evolving environment. You will enjoy sharing ideas, trying new approaches and contributing to the continued development of the service. 

Ngā hua mahi o Te Whānau Āwhina | What we offer 

Whānau Āwhina Plunket is the largest service in Aotearoa supporting the health and wellbeing of tamariki under five and their whānau. We are committed to making a meaningful difference for whānau and ensuring every pēpi and tamaiti has the opportunity to thrive. 

In this role, you will have the opportunity to: 

• Help shape an innovative new perinatal wellbeing service 
• Work alongside a supportive and collaborative multidisciplinary team 
• Provide meaningful clinical support to whānau during an important stage of their lives 
• Flexible working arrangements that support balance and connection.  
• Ongoing learning and development, including cultural development.  
• Additional benefits through our employee wellbeing programme including Fitness Passport.  

Our values of Māia, Tūhono, Manaaki and Māhaki guide how we work together and how we support whānau. 

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply 

If you are passionate about perinatal mental health and want to help us develop an accessible, culturally responsive service for whānau, we would love to hear from you. 

Applications must be made online, for any specific questions about the mahi, contact Perinatal Service Manager maree.eales@plunket.org.nz. Application close date: 21st September 2026. 

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He huanui oranga mo ngā mokopuna whakatipuranga roto I ngā hapori  heke  iho, heke  iho  - Setting the path of wellness in our communities for the early years, for generations to come  

Whānau Āwhina Plunket is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of pēpi, tamariki and their whānau/family. We have committed to adopting a pro-equity approach where we give life to Te Triti o Waitangi principles of tino rangatiratanga, partnership, active protection, equity and options in our mahi/work to ensure healthy tamariki, confident whānau and connected communities.  

This journey is creating exciting career opportunities - If you would like to contribute to the important mahi we do, nau mai, haere mai.

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