Practice Lead – Client Services

Practice Lead – Client Services

Wellington Sexual Abuse Help Foundation

Wellington Central, Wellington

Social Services  

Full time (permanent) – 37.5 hours per week.

Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation | Wellington

 Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation is seeking an experienced Practice Lead, Client Services to provide professional and practice leadership across our frontline services supporting survivors of sexual harm.

We support individuals, whānau and communities impacted by sexual violence in Wellington, Porirua and the Kāpiti Coast.

Sexual harm can happen to anybody in our community. HELP offers support to anyone who has encountered sexual abuse or assault. We recognise that sexual violence does not only impact an individual in isolation, so we extend support to friends and whānau.

This role has oversight of service delivery across social work, crisis response, court support and other therapeutic services. The Practice Lead ensures services are safe, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and compliant with ACC, Ministry of Social Development, Oranga Tamariki and professional practice standards.

About the Role:

The Practice Lead – Client Services plays a critical role in ensuring that our services are survivor-centred, trauma-informed, culturally responsive and aligned with contractual, professional and legislative requirements.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing professional and practice leadership across all client service delivery streams, including social work, crisis response, court support and other therapeutic services
• Oversight of all service delivery, including compliance, quality assurance and workforce support
• Line management, supervision and professional development of social work and support staff
• Ensuring safe, ethical and effective practice aligned with social work standards, safeguarding expectations and organisational policies
• Contributing to service development, continuous improvement and workforce capability building

• Working closely with the Operations Manager and senior leadership to ensure integrated, high-quality service delivery.

About you

You are an experienced practitioner and leader who brings both strong clinical judgment and people leadership skills. You are confident working in complex environments and supporting teams delivering emotionally demanding work.

You will ideally bring:

• A recognised social work qualification and registration with the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) or other relevant qualification to lead social service delivery staff.
• Significant experience in frontline service delivery within trauma, sexual harm, family violence or related sectors
• Experience leading, supervising or mentoring social work and/or support staff
• Knowledge of, or experience working within, the ACC Sensitive Claims framework
• Strong understanding of trauma-informed, survivor-centred and culturally safe practice

·         Excellent communication skills and the ability to build trust with staff, contractors and stakeholders

Why work with Wellington HELP

At Wellington HELP, we are deeply committed to survivor dignity, safety and empowerment. We offer:

• Meaningful work in a mission-driven organisation
• A supportive, values-led workplace culture
• The opportunity to shape and strengthen specialist services for survivors of sexual harm
• Competitive remuneration aligned with experience

If you are passionate about high-quality practice, safeguarding and supporting the people who do this critical work, we would love to hear from you.  Please email your CV and cover letter to stephanie.croft@wellingtonhelp.org.nz and marguerita.harris@wellingtonhelp.org.nz

The closing date for this vacancy is Thursday 5 March 2026 @ 5:00pm. We will be interviewing candidates throughout this process, which means an offer/appointment may well occur before this deadline.

If you are passionate about high-quality practice, safeguarding and supporting the people who do this critical work, we would love to hear from you.  Please email your CV and cover letter to stephanie.croft@wellingtonhelp.org.nz and marguerita.harris@wellingtonhelp.org.nz