Mō tÄ“nei tÅ«ranga mahi | About this role

• Wellington location 
• Fixed term opportunity till February 2023 

Specialised role, focusing on recruiting, assessing and supporting caregivers to provide the best possible care for the tamariki and rangatahi in their care. This is a fixed term opportunity till February 2023. 

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values:

• We put Tamariki first
• We believe Aroha is vital
• We respect the Mana of people
• We are Tika and Pono
• We value Whakapapa
• We recognise that Oranga is a journey

Our purpose is to ensure that all tamariki are in loving whānau and communities where oranga tamariki can be realised.  We believe that by getting involved early in their lives and showing love and care, we give children the best chance of growing into happy thriving New Zealanders.

Mō te tÅ«nga | About the role

The role of a Caregiver Social Worker is varied and rewarding. The needs of caregivers are being brought to the forefront of practice in recognition of the important role they play in the lives of tamariki who cannot live safely at home. You will ensure our caregivers understand their part in a child's journey through care, are prepared with the skills and information they need to care and are supported to provide nurturing, safe and stable homes for tamariki. Your work will include supporting whanau and non-whanau caregivers, emergency and respite caregivers, and long-term caregivers. 

This role requires excellent assessment, communication and problem-solving skills, and the ability to work with caregivers from all walks of life who have varied motivations for providing care. Supporting and valuing caregivers is paramount, and you will put caregivers at the centre of everything you do.

Collaborating with the child's Social Worker will be a key component of the role as you work together to provide great outcomes for tamariki who need caring for. You'll also be working with other agencies and providers to ensure the needs of our caregivers are met.

Our team works from a strengths-based perspective and we are fully committed to achieving positive change for the tamariki, whanau and caregivers. You will receive a full induction into the role, regular training and supervision, and the support of a strong peer and leadership group.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

Key requirements of the role include: 

• Passion and vision for caregivers and what they need to succeed
• A recognised Social Work qualification by the Social Worker Registration Board (SWRB)
• Full registration with New Zealand's Social Worker Registration Board
• Demonstrated resilience, critical thinking and problem-solving techniques
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples' culture and demonstrating this in practice
• Excellent relationship management skills
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills
• A full, clean New Zealand's driver's licence 
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples' culture 

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

• A challenging, fascinating and rewarding career.
• On-going training and regular supervision.
• Colleagues who are committed to the highest standards of strengths-based social work.