Attendance Advisor

School Attendance Support

Job Description

Organisation: CAPS Hauraki Inc. (Child Abuse Prevention Services)
Location: Thames / Hauraki
Reports to: Team Leader
Hours: 37.5 hours per week, permanent
Date prepared: November 2025

About CAPS Hauraki

Mission: Be responsive to the needs and aspirations of learners, their families/whānau and communities.
Vision: A peaceful, safe and secure Hauraki, supported and nurtured by the community.

Purpose of the Role

Work across schools, kura and communities to lift regular attendance for students who are chronically absent and/or non enrolled (Years 1–12). Use data insights, culturally sustaining practice and strong relationships with whānau, hapū, iwi and Pacific communities to remove barriers and build enduring solutions.

Key Responsibilities

1) Identify & analyse attendance patterns
- Use school and community data to pinpoint chronic absence and/or non enrolment absence, trends and drivers.
- Surface attitudes, behaviours, systems and processes that impact engagement and attendance.

2) Advise & coach schools/kura
- Share effective, culturally sustaining practices that are mana enhancing and inclusive.
- Support consistent processes, systems and universal/targeted responses across schools and kura.

3) Whānau‑centred support
- Partner with whānau, hapū, iwi and Pacific communities to understand barriers (including impacts of racism, discrimination and bias) and co‑design responses that improve attendance and wellbeing.
- Connect families to appropriate community/social services where non‑educational issues are affecting attendance.

4) Community partnerships
- Build and sustain trusted relationships with iwi, hapū, school leaders, community leaders and agencies.
- Contribute to inter‑agency forums/roundtables; share promising practice across the network.

5) Record‑keeping & reporting
- Maintain accurate, confidential student records and statistics in line with the Privacy Act and CAPS policies.
- Provide timely reporting to schools, CAPS and the Ministry as required; monitor workload and outcomes.

6) Youth‑appropriate practice & values
- Engage effectively with rangatahi and their whānau; provide services that support positive change.
- Demonstrate CAPS values in all interactions; uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori and Pasifika protocols.

7) Team contribution & flexibility
- Work collaboratively within the CAPS team; seek guidance when work is outside scope.
- During low referral periods (e.g., school holidays) assist with youth/whānau support, education programmes or admin tasks.

8) Health, safety & compliance
- Follow all CAPS policies/procedures and actively support a safe workplace.

Success Measures (KPIs)

• Warm, timely and culturally safe responses to students, parents and teachers.
  
  
• Schools and kura supported to implement effective, consistent attendance systems and practices.
  
  
• Accurate, timely data, records and reports.
  
  
• Positive, solution‑focused relationships across iwi, schools, agencies and communities.
  
  

Person Specification

Knowledge & Experience
- Knowledge of the NZ education system; case management, file management and report writing.
- Experience working with young people, whānau/families, school staff and agencies.
- Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori and Pasifika values.
- Attendance service experience is an advantage.

Skills & Attributes
- Knowledge of local community, iwi, hapū and schools; in‑depth local networks.
- Deep belief in the importance of regular attendance; understands drivers of chronic absence and/or non enrolment and leading‑practice approaches.
- Data‑confident: analyse, interpret and use insights to inform action and decisions.
- Relationship builder: trusted partnerships with whānau, hapū, iwi, Pacific communities and schools; able to vary interpersonal style to suit context and achieve outcomes.
- Strong interpersonal, communication and influencing skills.
- Works with students and whānau in ways that value and affirm identity, language and culture.
- Proven youth‑support skills, including a broad knowledge of adolescent development and behaviours.
- Efficient case management and administration; organised, accurate record‑keeping and report writing.
- Upholds Te Tiriti o Waitangi; familiar with tikanga Māori; knowledge of mana whenua in the area; familiar with Pasifika protocols and values.
- Discretion, confidentiality, tact and diplomacy; culturally aware and sensitive; approachable and accessible; non‑judgemental and non‑threatening.
- Continuous‑quality mindset; uses initiative; adapts to changing circumstances; knows limits, seeks support and pursues professional development.
- Digital literacy (Microsoft Office, email, internet; text and modern communications).
- Able to work autonomously and as a strong team player.

Equipment & Technology

• Excellent computer skills; proficient in Microsoft Office.
  
  
• Confident using email, text and other modern communication tools.
  
  
• Full, current New Zealand driver's licence.

Key Relationships

• CAPS Hauraki governance, management and staff.
  
  
• School management teams/Boards, Ministry of Education.
  
  
• Parents/whānau, iwi, hapū, Pacific community leaders and groups.
  
  
• Community, church groups and NGOs; Hauraki Family Violence Intervention Network.

Professional Development & Supervision

• Participate in supervision, team meetings and performance reviews.
  
  
• Take responsibility for continuous learning to sustain safe, effective practice.

Other

• Duties may evolve to meet organisational and community needs.

Agreement

Employee: ______________________________ Date: __________

Manager: _______________________________ Date: __________