Care and Protection Supervisor - Masterton

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Masterton District; On-site; NZD 104,000 - 126,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children in Masterton seeks a qualified Supervisor to lead a team of social workers. You’ll support tamariki, rangatahi and whānau with culturally informed practice and work across partners to ensure safety and positive outcomes.

This permanent, full-time role offers a competitiveNZD salary and requires SWRB registration, strong leadership, and the ability to manage complex cases while fostering staff wellbeing and professional development.

Qualifications

• Leadership and supervision of social workers or initiatives to improve practice.
• Cultural awareness with understanding of Tikanga Māori principles.
• Full SWRB registration and a recognised social worker qualification.
• A valid driver's licence and ability to travel if required.

Responsibilities

• Lead and support a team of social workers in a fast-paced, client-focused environment.
• Engage with tamariki, rangatahi and whānau to support positive changes.
• Coordinate with community partners and maintain safety assessments.
• Provide ongoing supervision and guidance to staff to ensure high-quality practice.
• Advocate for tamariki to ensure access to resources and support.

Skills

Leadership

Mentoring

Supervisory ability

Verbal communication

Cross-cultural awareness

Resilience

Ability to juggle scenarios

Relationship building

Education

SWRB-registered social worker qualification

Full SWRB registration recognised

Driver's licence

Job description

Do you want to make a positive impact on the lives of tamariki, rangatahi and whānau? Do you have the leadership, mentoring and supervisory skills to support a team of both experienced and growing social work practitioners?

Then look no further!!

Our Masterton site is seeking qualified and experienced Supervisor to join us on a permanent basis. Join us in making a meaningful difference to the lives of young people.

• 1x permanent, full time position available
• Based in our Masterton site!
• We offer a competitive salary ranging from $103,785.12 - $125,800.14, depending on experience

Mō te tūnga | About the role

This role requires a passion to actively keep tamariki in the hearts and minds of everything we do. You will apply the principles of mana tamaiti, whakapapa and whanaungatanga to your practice, to ensure you are responsive to tamariki and whănau Māori. This role is fast paced and will require you to juggle many different scenarios at one time.

It's more than a job, it's an opportunity to improve the lived experiences of tamariki and their caregiving communities. We recognise the importance of Kaimahi ora (staff wellbeing) and are committed to ensuring you receive regular supervision and take the necessary breaks needed to restore Oranga and wellbeing.

• hear tamariki and rangatahi voices and support them or their family/whănau to make positive changes
• work alongside various cultural groups and people from different backgrounds
• complete initial safety checks and assessments on the child, young person, and family/whănau
• work alongside partners in our community, non-government organisations and state sector agencies
• transition children and young people back to their families/whănau or into their forever home
• be an advocate on behalf of tamariki to ensure they have the support and resources needed to reach their full potential

Ngą pūmanawatanga ŋū | What you will bring

Key requirements of the role include:

• Success in leading and supporting other social workers and/or initiatives that improve the quality of social work practice
• cultural awareness and an understanding of Tikanga Māori principles
• full registration with New Zealand's Social Work Registration Board (SWRB)
• a social worker qualification recognised by the SWRB
• a full, clean and valid driver's licence
• Experience in planning, financial management, resource allocation and performance monitoring processes
• Experience in complex politically sensitive environments
• Strong line management or supervisory ability or potential
• the ability to manage critical situations, make tough decisions under pressure and resiliency
• excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt to your audience
• Ability to communicate complex ideas to a variety of audiences and build and maintain rapport with others
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples' culture

Mōȇ mątō | 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 whănau 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.

We are committed to putting children 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.

NǏō 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.

Hurry, applications close 24th September 2026!

Our code of conduct requires our employees to remain free from the influences of drugs and alcohol whilst at work.