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 tÅ«nga

This role requires a passion to actively keep tamariki in the hearts and minds of everything we do. You will apply the principles of mana tamaiti, whakapapa and whanaungatanga to your practice, to ensure you are responsive to tamariki and whānau Māori.  It's more than a job, it's an opportunity to improve the lived experiences of tamariki and their caregiving communities. We recognise the importance of Kaimahi ora (staff wellbeing) and are committed to ensuring you receive regular supervision and take the necessary breaks needed to restore Oranga and wellbeing.

• 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 pÅ«manawatanga 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