Social Worker

3 x Permanent, full time vacancies up for grabs
- Competitive salary, including a post-graduate initiative, ranging $74,839.35 - $90,714.36, depending on expereience
- Based in our Kaikohe Site, Te Tai Tokerau region

Hei awhitanga nga mahi o Te Tai Tokerau. Tu te Tangata, Tu te Rohe, Tu te Mana. Tihei, tihei mauri ora (embrace the collective response with communities).

'It takes a whole village to raise tamariki' we are offering a renewed sense of community and a unique opportunity for social workers to join our growing whānau orientated team at Kaikohe site - where you will be encouraged and supported to work effectively with Māori using Te Toka Tumoana, our indigenous and bicultural principled framework.

Te Toka Tumoana is built on the integrity and distinctness of Māori beliefs and practices, to advance tamariki ora within the context of our work. We believe an entire community of people must actively support, promote, and advance the mana of tai tamariki for those tamariki to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment.

In these fast-paced roles, you will be expected to operate collectively with a team of social workers and other critical thinkers, inclusive of whānau hapū, iwi and communities. Tamariki do not live-in isolation; they sit at the centre of a whānau and sometimes caregiving families.

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki is a name that has been gifted to us and is our commitment to improving the safety and wellbeing of tamariki and that of the community we serve, north of Whangarei. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of mana (prestige), tika & pono (doing things the right way), aroha (love) and whākapapa (relationships) to shape how we work and deliver the outcomes in our site plan.

This role represents an opportunity to shape a new way of working with culturally grounded solutions and innovations that support our approach and direction toward transformational change for the care and protection system - one that builds on the good things that are already happening, and, most importantly, innovates to find new ways of doing things to achieve better outcomes for all.

About the role | Mō te tūnga
- hear tamariki and rangatahi voices and support them or their family/whānau to make positive changes
- work alongside various cultural groups and people from different backgrounds
- complete initial safety checks and assessments on the child, young person, and whānau
- work alongside partners in our community, non-government organisations and state sector agencies
- transition children and young people back to their families/whānau or into their forever home
- be an advocate on behalf of tamariki to ensure they have the support and resources needed to reach their full potential

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

**Key requirements of the role include**:

- cultural awareness and an understanding of Tikanga Māori principles
- a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
- full registration with New Zealand's Social Work Registration Board (SWRB)
- a social worker qualification recognised by the SWRB
- a full, clean and valid driver's licence
- the ability to analyse and prepare social work and financial plans
- sound judgement skills
- strong organisational skills
- the ability to manage risk and make tough decisions
- excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt to your audience
- good written skills as you will need to write court reports and case notes
- a positive outlook and supporting nature

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

At Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children, our highest priority is the safety and welfare of our kaimahi and the tamariki and whānau we support. Many of our roles require our kaimahi to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, in line with the COVID-19 Public Health response 2021 and in accordance with Oranga Tamariki's Vaccination Policy.

As an employee with Oranga Tamariki you may also be asked to undertake COVID-19 tests during your employment.

We will require evidence of your vaccination status or a valid exemption if it is required for the position you have applied for.