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Pay & Conditions - salary, benefits, leave, hours

What is the salary range?

Staff progress through three competency based steps to the top level salary.

The base salary for these steps are:

Appointment: $51,645
Competent: $57,384
Advanced: $63,122

The department has a performance management system which controls eligibility for movement and the provision of performance payments.

What are other additional benefits?

Additional benefits include:

  • a focus and emphasis on professional support and training and development for frontline staff.
  • opportunities for secondment, special projects, and head office work.
  • the chance to work for an organisation that is recognised as forward-thinking and innovative on the international Corrections stage (New Zealand is respected internationally and provides guidance and advice to other countries in terms of correctional issues and initiatives)
  • Corrections staff also have access to some special banking and insurance discounts and can participate in KiwiSaver.
  • KiwiSaver is a voluntary savings scheme open to all New Zealanders that aims to increase saving through encouraging a long-term saving habit and asset accumulation. More information about KiwiSaver is provided to successful applicants on appointment or go to www.kiwisaver.govt.nz for more information.

What are the leave/holiday entitlements?

Staff receive five weeks annual leave after 12 months service, increasing to six weeks after six years current continuous service. There are also provisions for sick leave, bereavement leave and leave without pay.

What hours will I work?

Program Facilitators work a 40 hour week between Monday and Friday.

Do I have to wear a uniform?

No, but there is a dress code and smart/corporate dress is required. No jeans, jandals etc.

Are there unions I can join?

Yes, there are unions you can choose to join. There are two main unions, the PSA (Public Service Association) and NUPE (National Union of Public Employees).

I live in Auckland, is there car parking?

Street and on site parking is not guaranteed, especially in the wider Auckland metro area. Some sites do have limited staff car parking and/or off street parking.

Qualifications - Skills, formal qualifications, training

What qualifications do I need to become a Programme Facilitator?

A background in psychology, social work, counseling or a related area is desirable, as is knowledge and experience of Te Reo and protocols of Maori and Pacific peoples.

There is a wide range of backgrounds that may be suitable for facilitation including relevant experience. When short listing we look for evidence that you can learn and apply theoretical ideas to your work. We are also looking for people who think about the work they do and are seeking to do it better (self reflection).

What training is given?

Corrections provide a full training curriculum for new Programme Facilitators.

The initial training is a ten week programme including five weeks in a training environment and held in either Wellington,Christchurch, Auckland or Hamilton. Corrections arrange and cover the costs of travel, accommodation and all meals related to the training.

In between the modules there are structured activities to be completed back at your home base so you begin to see and learn about the facilitator role. The content of the training includes the theory and practice of being a facilitator.

The programmes are based on psychological theory and are designed to assist offenders to understand the cause of their offending. Training also includes group skills, working with offenders, understanding Maori and Pacific Island concepts and programme content.

What skills are needed?

Being a Programme Facilitator is challenging and rewarding work that requires initiative and passion to make a real difference

People who make good Programme Facilitators are able to:

  • use knowledge of relevant psychological concepts and practices to promote behaviour change in offenders
  • communicate well with and motivate others
  • assess and respond to complex issues effectively and appropriately
  • adapt presentation and language to meet the interest and learning level of the audience
  • build positive relationships with offenders and their families/whanau, corrections staff, community groups and stakeholders
  • understand and respect the values, beliefs and protocols of Maori, Pacific peoples and people of different cultures
  • approach changes to work demands with flexibility
  • handle sensitive and confidential material with impartiality and integrity

I have a learner driver licence, is this ok?

We require you to have a full driver licence. However, note that you have a learner licence when you apply on your application form. Your application will be assessed and we may ask to come back to you on job opportunities once you have your full driver licence.

What if I have a criminal conviction?

Having a criminal conviction will not necessarily preclude you from being offered employment. It depends on the position applied for and the offences that might be on your criminal record. Your criminal conviction record will be reviewed against our policy to assess your suitability for employment with the Department.

Applicants with the following kinds of criminal record will not usually be considered for appointment:

  • Any person who has received a custodial sentence (includes periodic detention and corrective training) regardless of when the offence occurred.
  • Any conviction for violence, dishonesty, drugs, a sexual offence, or any offence which incurred a sentence of supervision within the last 20 years.
  • Any criminal conviction within the last 10 years, with the exception of minor convictions (minor convictions are those incurring small fines)
  • A continued history of minor offences

For more information go to Criminal conviction checking process page.

Does it matter if a family member has been in trouble and on probation?

No, but if you are offered a job, you will have to declare any possible instances of conflict of interest. As part of an offer of employment, a Code of Conduct policy is signed off which covers this sort of thing.

The Work

What kind of work could I be doing as a Programme Facilitator?

Programme Facilitators deliver specialised, rehabilitation programmes to offenders serving sentences in the community or in prison.

The programmes aim to encourage participants to take responsibility for their offending and motivate them to change.

The role includes planning and preparing programme sessions and monitoring progress to enable optimal participation and effective learning.

The role involves working with probation and corrections officers, and sentence planners, as well as offender's families/whanau, hapu, iwi and community groups.

What do Programme Facilitators enjoy about their work?

Programme Facilitators are usually passionate about their work and enjoy its diversity. They want to help make the community safer and to motivate offenders to turn their lives around - make a positive change, a change that matters.

Their work is not about putting people away, it is about reintegrating offenders back into society, moderating their behaviour, and facilitating positive change for the individual and their communities. They provide the opportunity for change for those who have the motivation to change, and help to motivate those who do not.

I'm from another culture - are there others of my culture that work there?

We have a rich and diverse staff and have staff networks such as Maori, Pacific, Asian (and other ethnic) networks.

What are the careers prospects; Where can I go to from being a Programme Facilitator?

Within the Service, you can become a Supervising Facilitator, Team Leader and Manager Programme Delivery. There are also opportunities to work on projects at Area, Regional and National level.

While you are working as a Programme Facilitator there are opportunities for secondment, special projects, and head office work.

Dependant on qualifications, you may also apply for a Psychologist role.

Overseas Applicants

What happens for overseas applicants?

We are interested in overseas candidates too.

Just send your CV and application form in by email. If you are short listed we will interview you by phone and use some additional selection tools to determine if you were suitable for the position and if you and your family would enjoy living in New Zealand.

It is particularly important that you do your research and make sure you really want to work here. It is a long way to come. So you would need to be very clear about why you want to come to NZ and what about the role and the way we manage Community Probation & Psychological Services here that attracts you.

To be employed you must either be a NZ citizen or have a valid work permit.

You will need to apply for residency or a work permit (see Immigration New Zealand). If you are offered employment, this will help your application for a visa/permit/residency.

If I get appointed, can I choose the Service Centre and do I stay there the whole time?

A person is appointed to the area advertised and can be expected to work from any office in the location within its metropolitan area. This can be moved from time to time depending on the demand for programmes.

What next?

What happens after I apply?

During the recruitment campaign there will be closing dates. You will receive an acknowledgement letter, and if you are shortlisted you should be assessed through interviews and testing within four weeks.


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