Pou Arataki Peer Support Specialist

Pou Arataki Peer Support Specialist – Maternal Mental Health

Based within the Maternal Mental Health Team, Te Uru Rauhi – Mental Health & Addiction Services
Location: Palmerston North

Use your lived experience to inspire hope, strengthen recovery and amplify whānau voice

Mana o Te Tangata Trust is seeking a Pou Arataki Peer Support Specialist to provide peer-led, non-clinical and experience-informed support within the Maternal Mental Health Team.

Working alongside the clinical team within Te Uru Rauhi – Mental Health & Addiction Services, you will use your lived expertise to build trusted relationships with māmā, tangata whaiora and their whānau. You will help strengthen engagement and ensure their voices are heard throughout pregnancy, early parenthood, care and recovery.

This is a relational, strengths-based and culturally informed role grounded in connection, hope, empowerment and mutual understanding.

About the role

As a Pou Arataki within the Maternal Mental Health Team, you will complement clinical care by:

• Providing one-to-one peer support, advocacy and guidance to māmā, tangata whaiora and whānau
• Building mana-enhancing relationships that foster trust, safety and connection
• Supporting people to identify recovery and wellbeing goals aligned with their values, parenting journey and aspirations
• Helping māmā and whānau understand services, overcome barriers and participate meaningfully in care planning
• Attending appointments where appropriate to support understanding and advocate for people’s preferences
• Supporting transitions between hospital, specialist maternal mental health and community services
• Connecting māmā and whānau with community resources, programmes and practical support
• Offering emotional, cultural and practical support during key stages of care
• Contributing a peer-informed perspective at team hui, Integrated Discharge Planning meetings and multidisciplinary meetings
• Maintaining accurate documentation, calendars and caseload information
• Working collaboratively across Mana o Te Tangata, the Maternal Mental Health Team and community services

You will have a visible and active presence within the Maternal Mental Health Team while remaining connected to Mana o Te Tangata’s community services and leadership.

About you

Central to this position is your own lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery. Relevant experience of maternal or perinatal mental health challenges would be particularly valuable. You will be able to draw on your experience safely, thoughtfully and purposefully to support others.

You will also bring:

• A genuine belief in hope, recovery and self-determination
• The ability to form respectful and authentic relationships with māmā, tangata whaiora and whānau
• Sensitivity to the experiences and pressures associated with pregnancy, birth, parenting and maternal mental health
• Strong listening, communication and advocacy skills
• An understanding of professional boundaries and the non-clinical nature of peer support
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and culturally responsive practice
• An understanding of manaakitanga, whanaungatanga, tino rangatiratanga and kotahitanga
• The confidence to contribute constructively within a multidisciplinary environment
• Good organisation, documentation and time-management skills
• The ability to work independently while remaining connected and accountable to the wider team
• Flexibility to work across different services and locations as operational needs change
• A commitment to ongoing learning, supervision and professional development

Previous peer-support, maternal mental health or community-sector experience would be valuable, although your lived expertise, values and ability to connect meaningfully with others are equally important.

Understanding the Pou Arataki role

Pou Arataki provide relationship-based, recovery-focused support that differs from and complements clinical care.

The role does not involve undertaking clinical assessments, making diagnoses or treatment decisions, completing risk evaluations, providing clinical crisis intervention or acting as a case manager. Maintaining the integrity and boundaries of peer support is fundamental to the position.

Our guiding principles

The mahi of Pou Arataki is underpinned by:

• Te Tiriti o Waitangi – honouring tino rangatiratanga, partnership, participation and protection
• Manaakitanga – upholding dignity, compassion and respect
• Whanaungatanga – fostering authentic relationships and trust
• Tino rangatiratanga – supporting autonomy and self-determination
• Kotahitanga – working collaboratively with services, whānau and communities
• Hua Oranga – supporting holistic wellbeing and recovery planning

Why join us?

This is an opportunity to:

• Make a meaningful difference for māmā, tangata whaiora, pēpi and whānau
• Help embed lived-experience knowledge within maternal mental health services
• Strengthen connections between specialist care, community services and whānau support
• Join a kaupapa-driven team committed to dignity, equity and recovery
• Access ongoing training, reflective support and professional development

Any appointment will be subject to the employment and safety-checking requirements applicable to the role.

Mana o Te Tangata welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds and communities. We particularly encourage applications from people who understand the experiences, aspirations and cultural contexts of the māmā, tangata whaiora and whānau we serve.