Group:Services for Children and Families North

Title:Team Leader - Kaitiaki Team

Group:Services for Children and Families North

Reports to:Regional Manager North & West Auckland

Functional relationship: Te WhareRuruhau o Mere Management

Location:As specified

Direct Reports:5-10 Kairarangahau

Budget:No

OUR ORGANISATION

About us / The Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki is a new Ministry dedicated to supporting any child in New Zealand whose wellbeing is at significant risk of harm now, or in the future. We also work with young people who may have offended, or are likely to offend. Our belief is that in the right environment, with the right people surrounding and nurturing them, any child can, and should flourish.
Our vision / Our vision is: New Zealand values the wellbeing of tamariki above all else.
Our purpose / Our purpose is: To ensure that all tamariki are in loving whānau and communities where oranga tamariki can be realised.
The Oranga Tamariki way / We’re introducing a new way of doing things. A way of looking at the world that guides everything we do:

Our core outcomes / Our core outcomes are:
-All children and young people are in loving families and communities where they can be safe, strong, connected, and able to flourish
-Improved outcomes for all children, especially Maori tamariki and rangatahi.

POSITION PURPOSE

The purpose of this role is to provide leadership to the Kaitiaki Team, co-ordinating and providing support, connecting them with other projects in the region,ensuring collaboration with other teams and organisations to get the best possible outcomes for our mokopuna under the purview of Oranga Tamariki.
The Team Leader will hold the mana of local iwi and hapū and bring the culture connections back into the team so the team understands and appreciates the tikanga. The Team Leader will be familiar with local issues relating to whānau and communities that challenge or promote opportunities for oranga tamariki. Although they sit within a site they are close to the kōreroso they can bridge the Kaitiaki team’s mahi with iwi, hapūand whānau.
The Team Leader will be responsible for providing guidance and support to Kairarangahau, and liaising with whānau to enable good decision making for the safety and well-being of mokopuna, by identifying key people/role models in the wider whānau/hapū/iwi who will actively contribute to the decision making. Empowering wider whānau in the decision making process for the well-being of mokopuna reinforces more meaning to whānau values and traditions and provides the voice of the mokopuna.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

Key Result area / Key Accountabilities
People Leadership / -Create a positive environment within which quality care can be provided and outcomes achieved
-EnsureKairarangahaureceive performance and development feedback and coaching to assist professional developmentand strengthen on-job performance
-Ensure performance issues are identified and appropriate action plans are put in place to remedy issues
-Ensure compliance with all Occupational Health and Safety policies and guidelines.
Operational / -Take a lead role to liaise with iwi, hapū, whānau and communities for children and young people at risk of being placed in care, as well as those children or young people who have been placed with non-kin carers
-Work alongside whānau, hapū, iwi and kaumātua to research whakapapa for children and young people of Māori descent who may be at risk of placement outside of cultural and family groups
-Ensure that known extended whānau are able to express their ideas about how they might be able to support the mokopuna and the whānau
-Clarify the understanding of the process, tikanga and pono of iwi, hapūandwhānau in alignment with the local Oranga Tamariki site’s operational processes
Leadership and Guidance / -Provide active leadership in working with iwi, hapūandwhānau to create a positive environment for participation in group meetings that will result in cooperation and sound outcomes
-Liaise with all participants to ensure understanding of the purpose and responsibility that all carry, for achieving a healthy and effective outcome plan for mokopuna
-Recognise the importance of tikanga and apply appropriate practices that represent and reflect different iwi/hapū values
-Represent the principle liaison that brings all relevant persons together on behalf of the mokopuna
-Review and monitor existing services and other support options for effectiveness
-Reinforce the purpose of group meetings, ie the well-being, health and safety of mokopuna is paramount above all else.
-Recognise and value the input, support and joint efforts of others in seeking the best possible outcome for young mokopuna.
Relationship Management / -Liaise with iwi, hapūwhānau, extended whānau and other appropriate professional support specialists to ensure decision makers are well informed in discussions concerning mokopuna wellbeing
-Identify persons important to the mokopuna, who may have significant positive influence on the child whilst being outside the immediate whānau
-Apply the eight principles of Te Toka Tumoana in engagement with mokopuna and whānau Māori
-Strengthen and build a solid base for developing supportive and effective relationships that will provide a korowai, a cloak of security and connection around mokopuna that gives them voice
-Liaise, build and encourage sound relationships and networks across communities
-Develop linkages/relationships with local runanga.
Research / -Assist iwi, hapūandwhānau in developing and building whakapapa knowledge
-Liaise with iwi, hapūandwhānau to strengthen knowledge of mokopuna whakapapa
-Assist with identification of potential linkages that may be important to the wider iwi, hapūandwhānau
-Liaise with extended family to identify other person(s) of significance to the mokopuna.
Strategic Outcomes / -Iwi, hapū, whānau and extended family are involved from the earliest opportunity in decision making process for mokopuna care and support
-Iwi, hapū andwhānau are empowered in developing effective, cooperative and sound decision making for mokopuna safety and wellbeing
-Iwi, hapū andwhānau liaison results in mobilisation of support for mokopuna; outcomes for mokopuna are positive, caring and encouraging
-Mokopuna have a strong voice and presence through your mana.
Being part of the Oranga Tamariki team / -Actively and positively participate as a member of the team
-Proactively look for opportunities to improve Oranga Tamariki’s operations
-Perform other duties pertinent to the enhancement of the role and which contribute to quality outcomes for the well-being of the mokopuna, whānau, hapū, and iwi
-Comply with and support all health and safety policies, guidelines and initiatives
-Ensure all incidents, injuries and near misses are reported into our H&S reporting tool
-Comply with all legislative and regulatory requirements, and report any breaches as soon as they become known.
-Adhere to all Oranga Tamariki’s procedures, policies, guidelines, and standards of integrity and conduct
-Commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi and respect and incorporate these into your work.

KEY RELATIONSHIPS

Internal / -Mokopuna and whānau who identify as Māori
-Site Managers
-Practice Leader
-Social Workers including Supervisors
-Other Social Worker support staff
-Youth Justice Coordinators
-Care and Protection Coordinators.
External / -Whānau
-Iwi and Māori communities
-Government Ministries, Departments and NGO agencies
-Local community leaders
-Research community
-Te WhareRuruhau o Meri.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

Qualifications / -A relevant diploma qualification (minimum 2 years’ study) or higher.
-Fluency in Te Reo is essential.
-At least 3 years’ working in the community in Māori development.
-A current ‘clean’ full New Zealand driving licence.
Experience/Knowledge / -Sound knowledge and experience of working appropriately with whānau, hapū, iwi and other cultural groups, to access knowledge of whakapapa or genealogies
-Competence and flexibility in working with children, young people and their family, whānau, hapū, Iwi or family group
-Experience in working with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, in particular Māori and Pacific people and other key stakeholders
-Understands and can apply the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and the Children’s Young Person’s and Their Families Act 1989
-Proven successful experience in facilitating and negotiating culturally relevant decision making to resource care and protection outcomes
-Experience at working and participating in a multi team environment
-Established relationships and networks with iwi, marae and community
-Coaching and up skilling others
-Effective communication, research and planning skills.
Skills / -Excellent communication and interpersonal skills demonstrated in a range of situations, with proven ability to write reports and plans to a high standard
-Ability to communicate complex ideas to a variety of audiences and build and maintain rapport with others
-Well versed in conducting sound research and applying appropriate methodologies.

POSITION COMPETENCIES

Competency / Description of success profile behaviour
Cultural responsiveness / -Understands the key concepts embodied within the Treaty of Waitangi and their application to the Ministry for Vulnerable Children, Oranga Tamariki.
-Cultural responsiveness is valued, understood and applied within the service and support provided.
-Recognises the value of applying the principles of Te Toka Tumoana in working with Whānau, Hapū and Iwi.
Communication / -Recognises the importance of effective communication and liaison with whānau in achieving results.
Integrity / -Ability to maintain confidences and trust, to act in an honest, ethical, objective and professional manner.
Respect / -Demonstrate respect to all parties to Family Group Conferences and/or attendees at meetings to discuss the wellbeing of mokopuna.
Teamwork / -Able and willing to work cooperatively and productively with others to achieve group objectives that represent the best possible outcome for mokopuna.
Information gathering / -Able to conduct relevant research, collect and manage information that is in the interest of the whānau and mokopuna and relevant to progressing the interest of the mokopuna.

Position Description – Team Leader - Kaitiaki Team1