Youth Worker at Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children, Waikato

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Mō te tūnga | About the role

At our site, we are working differently with our tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau.  We are taking a collaborative team approach to decision making, planning and case management; each team includes Social Workers, a Youth Worker, a Supervisor and support staff. This is a permanent role based at our Kirikiriroa Site in Waikato and salary ranges from $49,792 - $63,334, depending on experience.

This rewarding role will see you involved in all aspects of supporting the team to implement the non-social work components of the young person's plan. The scope for development in this role is great and you will be a valued member of the team. You will be:

• Engaging with whānau and other people involved in the rangatahi's plan
• Spending time with the rangatahi and relating well to young people
• Working alongside Social Workers to support the mahi of bringing to life the Care Standards and positive outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi
• Attending meetings with the rangatahi and other professionals from a range of different agencies e.g. Police, Education, Health and the community
• Making and coordinating appointments for rangatahi
• Involving in activity based and recreational programmes with our rangatahi
• Taking young people to appointments that do not require a social workers presence
• Helping rangatahi to learn independence skills such as shopping and budgeting
• Supporting rangatahi at Family Group Conferences
• Recording and other administrative tasks to support the team
• Supporting rangatahi to attend visit e.g. with mental health and education services
• May be required to attend visits to the home or with other whānau

These are just examples; a lot will depend on the special skills you bring to the team and how these can contribute to better outcomes for our rangatahi. You will be involved in the planning for the rangatahi and provide valuable feedback to the team from your involvement.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

We are looking for someone with New Zealand based Youth Work experience who can contribute to better outcomes for our rangatahi, alongside the following: 

• Familiar with Te Reo Māori and Tikanga
• Experience working with female rangatahi 
• Relevant experience working alongside with Māori culture
• Full and clean driver's licence
• An understanding of Oranga Tamariki as an organisation
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples' culture 
• Flexibility to work on weekends

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do.

We are committed to ensuring that New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need.

We are committed to putting tamariki first, we believe aroha is vital, we respect the mana of people, we are tika and pono, we value whakapapa and we recognise that oranga is a journey. 

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address. If you have any questions about role, please contact info_recruit@ot.govt.nz  

Hurry as applications for this role close on Sunday 11th June 2023!