Corrections Officer - Canterbury

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

'Kotahi anō te kaupapa, ko te oranga o te iwi' –‘There is only one purpose to our work: the wellness and wellbeing of our people.

Ngā kawenga | About the role

Corrections Officers work inside our prisons and are responsible for ensuring the security and wellbeing of people serving sentences or on remand. They induct people into their unit, help them to navigate life in prison, and supervise daily routines. By being prosocial role models, our Corrections Officers also play a significant part in creating change and making our communities safer.

With different prisons, the role of a Corrections Officer varies including tasks across specialised units, security levels and site-specific activities. Some of our Officers work in specialised areas such as drug and alcohol treatment units, youth units, Pasifika units, Māori and tikanga focused units, mothers and babies units and special treatments units.

All new officers attend an intensive, fully paid training programme to equip them with necessary skills required for the job. This involves an initial week-long induction at your allocated prison site, six weeks at our National Learning Centre in Upper Hut, then a further five weeks back on site before graduating. From there the learning journey will be ongoing. Our Corrections Officers are all part of a wider custodial team, and there is plenty of support and guidance available.

We currently have opportunities available at our 3 prisons here based in Canterbury – Christchurch Men's Prison, Christchurch Women's Prison and Rolleston Prison.  

To learn more about the role you can visit our website at https://careers.corrections.govt.nz/campaign/corrections-officer and we also have a short YouTube video outlining the role which you can watch here: Whats Your Why - YouTube.

He kōrero mōu | About you 

We are looking for a diverse range of candidates, from different cultures with varied backgrounds and experience. We are interested to hear from people who:

• Possess solid interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate clearly
• Can operate with high levels of integrity
• Have excellent problem-solving skills and the ability to think critically
• Can operate effectively in a culturally diverse setting and have an understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Be able to work rostered shifts across a 24/7 pattern including weekends and public holidays
• Have a full, clean New Zealand driver licence (or be eligible to obtain one)

If successful, you will be required to complete a full disclosure criminal history check (clean slate does not apply), pre-employment medical, physical and drug testing as a part of the recruitment process.

Utu ā-tau | Salary and Benefits

The starting salary for this position is $65,019 per annum. Once in the role there are opportunities to increase your salary as you achieve national qualifications (Level 3 at $69,697, and Level 4 at $75,213).

We are also able to offer:

• 5 weeks annual leave
• $4000 shift allowance per annum, in addition to your salary
• 11 week fully paid training programme
• Clear pathway for career progression and continuous learning and development
• Free parking and on-site gym facilities
• A supportive team-environment
• Rosters provided 12 months in advance so you can plan your leave
• Health and well-being benefits including access to EAP, eye care benefits, health checks and more

Ko wai mātou | About us

Ara Poutama Aotearoa is a name that has been gifted to us and conveys the responsibility for those in our care to reach their potential and our commitment to improving the oranga and safety of the people, whānau, and that of the communities we serve.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To apply, please submit a tailored CV and cover letter describing your motivation for applying, and outlining your relevant skills, experience and personal qualities which align with the role and our values.  

All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency. Applications received via email will not be considered. 

If you want to find out more about a career with us, visit careers.corrections.govt.nz or email our team at careers@corrections.govt.nz.