Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga (TToH) in partnership with Oranga Tamariki (OT) is establishing a kaupapa Maori Residential Care Service to provide loving, safe, stable temporary residential care for tamariki and rangatahi, in a welcoming home environment.
TToH is a Ngāti Kahungunu mandated, kaupapa Maori values-based health and social services organisation providing services to our community along the East Coast of the North Island, from Mahia to Rimutaka. Our health, social, education and community development teams have been working successfully with whanau for over 35 years.
Our new Residential Care Service is a 24 hours /7 days a week, managed home to provide young people with the day to day aroha, care, stability, structure, social and cultural wellbeing they need. TToH and OT are committed to working with whanau and their tamariki and Rangatahi to achieve whanau ora.
The proposed time for the tamariki to stay in the 4-bed residential home is up to 4 weeks and the age range is 0 to 18 years old, girls and boys.
Reporting to the TToH Team Manager/Social Worker, the House Parents/Whare Matua will provide aroha, professional care and protection for tamariki and rangatahi entrusted to the residential home.
The key responsibilities are to:
- Provide aroha and day to day cares for the health and well-being of tamariki and rangatahi according to their age and needs
- Provide a peaceful, relaxed and safe home environment for tamariki, rangatahi and all staff.
- Support tamariki to develop personal life skills, continue with their usual routines and achieve their goals and milestones like school, education, health, connecting with whanau and other positive activities
- Implement kawa and tikanaga into daily routines
- Run the household as our own with regular cleaning, laundry, food shopping and gardening for the home
- Work with the Team manager/Social Worker and Child Psychologist to discuss child behaviour and appropriate parenting strategies.
- Ensure thorough handover notes, alerts, updates and information is passed to the kaimahi on the next shift.
- Where appropriate conduct Te Aromatawai Tikanga ā Māori (Cultural Assessment) with tamariki me ona whānau using Te Whare Tapa Whā as the framework.
What we are looking for?
We require 8 full time, permanent employees (42 hours a week) to cover the 24/7 days a week residential home.
There are two Whare Matua for each shift and on the night shift, they will alternate between one covering the shift as a wake over and one covering the shift as a sleep over, if the tamariki are settled and asleep.
We are looking for special kind of people for these roles, who naturally demonstrate the right values and qualities. These roles may appeal to experienced parents whose own children have left home and they would like to cover the shift together.
Suitable applicants will have:
- A passion and lots of aroha and patience for tamariki and Rangatahi
- The ability to easily connect and listen to young people and provide a loving, safe, stable, nurturing, home environment while maintaining appropriate boundaries
- Previous experience working positively and successfully with Tamariki, either your own whanau or other whanau members AND/OR
- Previous experience or employment in youth, cares support, teaching/education, health, disability, social work, mental health especially working with tamariki who have lived in high stress, traumatic home environments.
Two-week Induction and full training will be provided.
Interviews will be held in the week of 15th – 19th March 2021. These may be group interviews due to the number of positions available. All roles are subject to Police Vetting, Safety Checking and CYRAS Checks.
The intended start date for the Induction and Training is Monday 19th April, with the residential care service operating from early May 2021.
If you have the qualities we are looking for – please apply TODAY!
Please include a Covering letter, CV and completed TToH Application form with your application
Applications close: Monday 8th March 2021