Permanent Residential Youth Worker - Epuni

New Zealand Government Joba; Upper Hutt; On-site; NZD 69,000 - 78,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children is seeking permanent, full-time Residential Youth Workers for Epuni Care and Protection Residence in Lower Hutt, Wellington. You will support rangatahi with daily care, studies, life skills and cultural programmes in a 24/7 facility.

The role requires resilience, empathy and strong communication; a NZ driver’s license is essential. Shifts include mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays, with competitive remuneration and pay progression.

Qualifications

• Experience working with rangatahi and tamariki.
• Ter­tiary education in psychology, social sciences, social work, sports, music or teaching is an advantage.
• Resilience, initiative and a proactive approach with a positive outlook.
• Empathy and ability to see past what someone may be struggling with.
• Excellent verbal and written communication, adaptable to audience.
• Understanding tikanga Māori and te reo Māori.
• Fully licensed NZ driver

Responsibilities

• Mentor rangatahi through everyday experiences and structured programmes.
• Engage young people in sports, fitness and activities.
• Support studies and teach life skills like cooking, art, music, culture; mentor choices.
• Build meaningful relationships to help rangatahi navigate challenges.

Skills

Experience with rangatahi

Communication skills

Tikanga Māori/te reo Māori

Flexible shifts

Physical fitness

Education

Tertiary education in psychology, social sciences, social work, sports, music or teaching

Tools

Driver's license

Job description

Epuni Care and Protection Residence in Lower Hutt, Wellington is looking for permanent, full-time Residential Youth Workers to be involved in the daily lives of at-risk rangatahi.

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 puttingtamariki and rangatahi at the heart of everything we do and say.

About the role

Our Residential Youth Workers have an important role to play. They provide care and support to the young people in our care and encourage and motivate them to make positive choices. This is a permanent opportunity to positively influence young people, help them grow and successfully transition back into the community. Epuni is a secure facility that provides a safe and structured residence for rangatahi in Care and Protection.

This is not a 9 to 5 job, our young people require wrap around support from us which is why our Residential Youth Workers do rostered shifts as the facility provides 24-hours, 7-days per week coverage (including weekends and public holidays).

• Mentor and motivate rangatahi through everyday experiences and structured programmes
• Connect with young people through sports, fitness, and a range of engaging activities
• Supporting our rangatahi by helping them with their studies, teaching them life skills such as cooking, art, music and cultural programmes as well as mentoring them to make positive life choices.
• Build meaningful relationships that help rangatahi navigate challenges and reach their potential.

What you will bring

• Experience working with rangatahi and tamariki
• A tertiary education within psychology, social sciences, social work, sports, music, arts or teaching would be an advantage (but isn't required).
• Relevant life experiences and understanding of what rangatahi may be going through are equally important.
• Resilience, initiative and a proactive approach with a positive outlook
• Empathy, patience and ability to see past what someone may be struggling with
• Sound judgement with the ability to manage risk and make tough decisions
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt to your audience
• Understanding and confidence in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori
• Physically fit to keep up with rangatahi in activities and daily life routines
• Meet the Children's Act safety checking and our vetting requirements (please note that Clean Slate does not apply)
• A full, clean New Zealand drivers license
• Flexibility to work different shifts - mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays

What's in it for you

As a shift worker, annual remuneration that starts between approximately $69,312 to 78,400 (depending on your experience) this includes allowances for working shifts. Oranga Tamariki has a remuneration framework that gives pay increases based on tenure (time in the job).

• We provide 3 weeks of paid training to best prepare youth workers to succeed.
• We offer a vibrant and supportive team, with 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.

To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/