|
 |
|
Social work - Do you have what it takes?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Your qualities
Without doubt, the social worker who works for us at Child, Youth and Family has to be a special person. You need to be:
- professional
- committed around the clock
- resilient
- caring about children and their families
- an excellent facilitator
- a great communicator.
|
|
Your role
Our social workers play a pivotal role in balancing the needs of children, young people, their families and the community to achieve the very best for the child.
They must:
- ensure the safety of children and young people
- help families with strategies to meet their care and control responsibilities
- help young people to change their behaviour.
|
|
Balancing the Act: The role of Child, Youth and Family
Our social work is mainly based on the Children, Young Persons, and Their Families Act 1989 that has a reputation as being the most far-sighted and innovative Act of its kind in the world.
This Act emphasises the role and responsibilities of families and communities and provides for family decision-making through statutory processes known as the family group conference. Alternative outcomes can be decided through the Family Court.
Child, Youth and Family works with families and other agencies to:
- protect and care for children and young people
- help families maintain and strengthen their child rearing role
- bring about changes for troubled and troublesome youth
- provide residential care facilities.
|
|
Where does adoption fit in?
In adoptions, social work activity is based on three pieces of legislation – the Adoptions Act 1955, the Adult Adoption Information Act 1985, and the Adoption (Inter-country) Act 1997.
Adoption practice in Child, Youth and Family emphasises helping birth families to place their children in the most appropriate placements to enable them to achieve their full potential. An adoptions social worker facilitates communication between the parties involved to achieve a relationship that is enduring and open.
|
|
The prerequisites – qualifications plus!
Child, Youth and Family social workers need to have, or be studying towards, a qualification in social work (level B or level 6 on the NZQA framework).
At Child, Youth and Family, we’re also looking for that little bit extra. Social work is a challenging and demanding role requiring advanced analytical and communication skills. Child, Youth and Family social workers need to be capable of being proactive while valuing teamwork at the same time.
A key part of the role is to function as a case work manager to assist in finding solutions within the family wherever possible. Our social workers must be capable of working with other social services, agencies and providers to negotiate plans and monitor service delivery.
|
|
A rewarding career
In addition to providing the opportunity for developing a uniquely challenging and satisfying career, Child, Youth and Family offers these things:
- The opportunity to make a positive difference to children’s lives.
- Recognition, reward and the opportunity to excel on the job.
- An environment which welcomes and encourages staff participation and self-responsibility.
- Ongoing opportunities for training and development.
- An environment which promotes effective teamwork.
- Regular, formal, professional supervision.
- Effective working relationships between professional and management staff.
- Commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi.
- Commitment to ethical social work practice as outlined in the Department’s Code of Practice.
- Plenty of daily challenges.
|
|
|
| |
|
Being a social worker 
