• Newly established position
• Location open
• Permanent opportunity

Unique opportunity as a Lead Advisor supporting our newly appointed Deputy Chief Social Worker as a specialist within the Youth Justice sector available now

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

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.

Mō te tūnga | About the role
The purpose of Chief Social Worker and Professional Practice is to drive practice development and quality assurance & improvement, this is achieved by drawing on insights to change the way we deliver our services on the frontline. This role will be a critical connector between Insights, Policy & Strategy, Tamariki and Whānau Services and Youth Justice Services and Residential Care. The Chief Social Worker and Professional Practice group amplifies the Social Work and Professional Practice voice across all work of Oranga Tamariki and across the sector.
The purpose of the Deputy Chief Social Worker is to work with the Chief Social Worker to lead the development, design and implementation of the social work strategy, ensuring what we do now moves us forward to realise the strategic intent and shift across the organisation to meet our strategic priorities. This will be achieved through influencing and being the driving force behind turning strategy into reality within the Chief Social Worker and Professional Practice group and across the organisation.
The purpose of the Lead Advisor Youth Justice Practice is to provide strategic and specialist practice advice and recommendations across Youth Justice services nationally and in response to regional and local needs.

The Lead Advisor Youth Justice Practice is responsible for:

• Developing insights on the needs and requirements of tamariki and whanau Māori, Pacific children and families and tangata whaikaha / children and families with disabilities involved with Oranga Tamariki Youth Justice services.
• Advising on the design and delivery of Youth Justice practice and services to enhance the experience of all children tamariki and rangatahi involved with the service.
• Providing regional insights and strategic advice to the Manager(s) Regional Practice Quality to support the improvement of practice quality within the regions.

This position will enable the frontline to deliver social work services by supporting the implementation and embedding of our practice approach, frameworks, models and tools across Youth Justice service lines and teams.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

Key requirements of the role include:

• Proven experience as a Youth Justice practitioner and ability to provide specialist input and written/verbal advice on all Youth Justice matters
• Prior background in policy at a senior level and an ability to translate this into practice development and contribute to strategic thinking
• High level of stakeholder engagement working with key Youth Justice operational managers and stakeholders in order to gain a deeper understanding of their needs and requirements
• Be a true advocate for the needs and priorities of those involved with Youth Justice services, ensuring their voices are heard and that programmes and services meet the needs of tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau involved with Youth Justice services
• Promotion of continuous improvement in practice quality by leading the approach for risk identification, minimisation, monitoring, and management throughout all relationships, practice approaches, and policy design processes
• Proven expertise of the Oranga Tamariki Practice Approach and/or other cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples' culture

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you
Oranga Tamariki offer an impartial remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $125,926 and $139,459 dependant on experience. 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. 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/

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 at midnight on 25th October
However, we will be reviewing applications and inviting candidates to interview prior to this date, so apply now!

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.