Social Worker Adoptions

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Social Worker Adoption Service, Oranga Tamariki

Permanent - Full-time

Location - Wellington, New Plymouth and Palmerston North locations considered

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

Mō mātou | About us

The National Adoption Service is a service unit of Oranga Tamariki—the Ministry for Children. The Adoption Service is focused on putting our clients at the centre of everything we do. We are a supportive team who are committed to ensuring that people involved with our staff have a high-quality service delivered to them at all times.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

As an Adoption Service social worker, you will be part of a team of four social workers, a supervisor(Wellington based) and a workplace administrator (Wellington based). This team covers a large geographical area between the north of Wellington and the Bay of Plenty. Travel (including overnight) is a requirement of this role.

Adoption Social work has responsibilities to provide services under the Adoption Act 1955, Adult Adoption Act 1985, and Adoption (Inter-country) Act 1997.

The Adoption Service work includes:

• supporting adults who have historically placed a child for adoption and those who were adopted
• training, educating and assessing adoptive applicants for 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.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring.

We are looking for candidates that demonstrate the following:

• Registered with the Social Work Registration Board and hold a current Practice Certificate
• Knowledge of and interest in adoption social work in Aotearoa
• Exceptional listening skills and proven ability to quickly build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds
• Strong cultural competency and be a promoter of working with Oranga Tamariki's practice framework
• 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 full, valid and clean New Zealand's driver's licence and the ability to travel as required.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you?

We are a values-based Ministry that offer's flexible work options, a commitment to kaimahi wellbeing, opportunities for development and a supportive team. For a full list of our employment benefits please visit the working with us section of our careers page, or click here

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. If you are looking for a role where your voice will be listened to, your input valued and a strong client-centred commitment is important in your day-to-day job, then we would like to hear from you.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV and covering letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address.

If you have any questions about role, please contact Info_recruit@ot.govt.nz

Application close date:  7th April 2024