​Social Worker / Counsellor or helping professional for Te Waka Youth Services

About the Service / Role

Te Waka Youth was established in April 2018, to address long-acknowledged gaps in service provision in this area and has since been a thriving and busy youth hub, providing group work, workshops, event’s, activities, family hui and individualised professional therapy and support for young people in need. The demand for our services has long outweighed the provision from just one staff member and we seek another capable professional to grow our team.
The role is of an independent, flexible and holistic nature, matching the changing needs of our target demographic, community and Service.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensure the target numbers of clients are reached each year with good outcomes and life improvement.
• Collaborate and work with family members, connecting with additional supports where needed.
• Collaborate, consult, liaise and network with schools, businesses and other services to generate general engagement from youth, promote accessibility of service to them and take a lead role in ensuring a community ‘safety net’ for young people, with no gaps.
• Plan and facilitate a weekly Youth Group
• Promote engagement and support from the wider community and co-ordinate volunteers to get involved in meaningful ways.
• Report to and accountable to the Te Waka Service Manager and / or the Coast to Coast Hauora Trust Manager as required.
• Prepare written reports as required, for the Coast to Coast Hauora Trust Board of Trustee’s, funders and contract holders.
• Be involved with fundraising for the service as required.
• Under guidance, may be responsible for budgets and ensuring funding income meet’s cost’s.
• Promote the service through representation to community, government ministry’s, council, funders, stakeholders, other services, including youth.
• Strictly adhere to and follow Te Waka Youth and the Coast to Coast Hauora Trust, policies and procedures. Including those concerning complaints, safety and the wellbeing of vulnerable children.
• Follows the code of conduct and ethics of their registered profession, as well as that of the Social Workers Registration Board, to ensure ethical and anti-oppressive practice.

Skills and experience:

• Must have a professional qualification and registration in either Social Work, Counselling, Psychotherapy or another similar field.
• Be experienced with moving people forward in life and demonstrates strong therapeutic skills and clinical knowledge.
• Have experience and skills in organising and facilitating group, family and professional meetings, including in mediation and de-escalation.
• Have a passion for youth and is well experienced in working with youth in a direct and relatable way in a range of settings.
• Is experienced in working with Maori, in a relational, relative and effective way.
• Be able to maintain and build on networking relationships and liaise with other services and professionals involved with community and our youth, to provide effective collaboration, wrap around and where needed, collective voice for our young people.
• Can manage the dynamics of a Bicultural and isolated, rural community, in a way that upholds the rights and advocacy of marginalised or oppressed peoples.
• Be capable and competent at working with a high level of risk and complex need clients. Able to face ‘ethical dilemmas’ appropriately. Must have a strong awareness of professional boundaries and be able to understand risk and respond to it safely.
• Be responsible, reliable, trust-worthy, self-driven, highly motivated and passionate. Must be able to work independently as well as under guidance, and achieve service goals.
• Must have a high standard of written word and computer literacy. Be impeccable with written accounts, case notes, reports and any funding applications where needed.
• Must have full licence and be able to drive a Manual car.
• Must have great time management, be organised, flexible and able to maintain the function of a youth service from the ground up, including weekly cleaning and food catering for groups etc.
• Strong leadership qualities
• Strong verbal and written skills
• Ability to promote inter-agency liaison in support of the Service.
• Must be an energetic, creative and innovative thinker, using their initiative.
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Please be aware that as this position is covered under the Vulnerable Children's Act a police vet will be part of the application process.
For further service information please go to our website at https://www.coasttocoasthauoratrust.co.nz/te-waka-youth.html
Or visit our Facebook page ‘Te Waka Youth Wellsford’.

To apply please send a cover letter and CV to tewakayouth@gmail.com