Social Worker - Adoption Service Northern

Social Worker - Adoptions

• Permanent, Full-time opportunity
• Grey Lynn, Auckland based opportunity
• This is a rewarding opportunity to join a supportive team that is committed to ensuring high-quality service

The National Adoption Service is looking for a positive thinking, hardworking Social Worker who has excellent assessment skills, strength with written and verbal communication, and open to ongoing learning and service delivery improvements. You will be a person who is able to work well on your own and also is a team player. Commitment to your job and showing initiative will come naturally to you.

Mo m tou | 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:

Our purpose is to ensure that all tamariki are in loving wh nau 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 tamariki 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.

The Adoption Service is focused on putting our client's, tamariki's and pepi's needs at the centre of everything we do. You will become part of a supportive team who are committed to ensuring that people involved with the Adoption Service have a high-quality service delivered to them.

Mo te tunga | About the role

As an Adoption Social Worker, you will be part of a driven team of social workers, supervisors, and workplace administrators. We cover Tamaki Makaurau and Te Tai Tokerau regions, with this position being based in Tamaki Makaurau. As part of this position, there is a requirement to travel within both regions and occasionally stay overnight in Te Tai Tokerau.

We aim to provide a service to all our clients that considers and responds to their cultural needs, while working within our policies and legal requirements. For our M ori clients, this includes reporting to the Court by a M ori Social Worker or person appointment by the M ori community. If you are non-M ori, openness to working with your M ori colleagues or partner agencies to deliver this service is essential.

Adoption work includes:

• Supporting adults who have historically placed a child for adoption and those who were adopted
• Training, educating and assessing adoptive applicants - domestic and international adoptions
• Assessing applicants who are having a child through a surrogacy arrangement - both domestically and internationally
• Writing reports to the Court
• Writing child study requests and home studies for intercountry adoptions
• Working with birthparents who are exploring adoption
• Supporting the placement of children in adoptive homes

To be considered for this position you must hold a Social Work Qualification and/or Full Registration and current Annual Practicing Certificate with the New Zealand Social Worker Registration Board

Ng pumanawatanga ou | What you will bring

We are looking for candidates that demonstrate the following:

• A recognised Social Work qualification by the Social Worker Registration Board and current practicing certificate
• Upholding the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and demonstrating this in practice
• Knowledge and experience of relevant social work models to influence your practice
• Exceptional listening skills and proven ability to quickly build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds
• Critical thinking - you know how to gather information and make good evidence-based decisions
• A high degree of both verbal and written communication skills which includes formal report writing
• Resilient, motivated and caring nature with a positive "can do" attitude
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to continuous learning
• Flexibility to work afterhours as required
• Good computer navigation and typing skills
• A valid and clean New Zealand's driver's licence and the ability to travel as required
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga M ori, and Pacific peoples' culture

Nou 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 $81,206 to $97,557 dependant on experience, with annual tenure-based progression steps available above this range. 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.

This role will offer the right candidate the ability to work with a Service that is committed to professionalism, excellent client service and the ability to find creative solutions to challenges in a role where no two days are the same!

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

Me pehea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV. 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: 27th May 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.