Are you passionate in making a real and positive difference to New Zealand's tamariki and rangatahi?

We currently have an opportunity for Casual Residential Youth Workers to join Puketai in Dunedin.

Mō mātou | About us:

Our tamariki and rangatahi deserve to feel safe, have their voices heard, and be surrounded by loving whānau. At Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children, we're on a journey to ensure that it happens. We are a leading social work practice that is child-centred, trauma-informed, and effective for all cultures. We are a Ministry with a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of everything we do and say.

Mō te tūnga | About the role:

We are looking for positive role models to work with our young people, helping them turn their lives around. To help them achieve this, our Residential Youth Workers, as part of a team, provide daily care and support. They get involved assisting our young people to re-engage with school/vocation, attending appointments, having visits with their family, connecting with peers, and managing themselves within the home. We work to keep our rangatahi connected to the positive influences in their lives - mentors, whānau, work and community-based programmes.

As a Casual Residential Worker you will be required to cover the shifts of our Residential Youth Workers. This role will likely be required to work over the holiday period.

This is not a 9 to 5 job - our rangatahi require wrap around support from us which is why our Residential Youth Workers do rostered shifts as we provide 24-hour, 7-days per week care (including weekends and public holidays).

Typical duties of the role can involve:

• Coaching rangatahi through our structured day and through all life necessities
• Participating in activities with our rangatahi
• Supporting our rangatahi by helping them with their studies, teaching them life skills such as cooking, art, music and cultural programmes and mentor them to make positive life choices
• Establishing rapport with rangatahi who have experienced trauma and assist with redirecting behaviour

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring:

• Experience working with rangatahi and tamariki
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt to your audience
• Understanding and confidence in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori
• A full, clean, valid driver's licence
• Meet the Children's Act safety checking and our vetting requirements
• New Zealand citizenship or residency
• Resilience, initiative and a proactive approach with a positive outlook
• Empathy, patience and ability to see past what someone may be struggling with
• A tertiary education within psychology, social sciences, social work, sports, music, arts or teaching would be an advantage
• Flexibility to work different shifts - mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays
• Sound judgement with the ability to manage risk and make tough decisions
• Life experience and understanding of what rangatahi may be going through

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

We offer training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi. To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/

How to Apply | Me pēhea te tuku tono

Apply online with your CV and cover letter. In your cover letter, please outline your motivation for applying and the skills and relevant experience you can bring to the role. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you register or login using your work email address.

For reporting and transparency, it is important that all applications are submitted through our careers site, please do not email through applications and/or CVs. If you have any questions about the role, please contact info_recruit@ot.govt.nz

Applications Close: 15 October 2024

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.