Tupuranga Attendance and Engagement Youth Worker/Kaitiaki

Take a central role in improving the educational engagement and achievement for all ākonga /students.

Education really matters. Tamariki and rangatahi’ attendance, participation, engagement, and achievement at kura are essential to achieving strong life outcomes.

Purapura Whetu Trust, Odyssey House Trust and Stepping Stone Trust have collaborated to codesign and deliver the Tupuranga Attendance and Engagement Service.

Our collaboration is seeking to employ an experienced and passionate Youth Worker/Kaitiaki to support ākonga and whānau to remove the barriers and provide successful options for attendance, engagement, and achievement at school.

In this role you will be responsible for:

• Referrals for non-enrolled ākonga/students with unjustified non-attendance and will have the opportunity to codesign with whānau creative and innovative strategies to support the educational achievement of ākonga.
• Providing one-to-one mentoring with ākonga and their whānau
• Building relationships and collaborating with stakeholders, both internal and external, and the community around Waitaha
• Preparing accurate and up-to-date case notes for reporting on progress and outcomes

The ideal candidate will have:

• Qualification in Social Work (preferably) or NZQA level 4+ qualification in a health or social work-related profession or working towards.
• Significant experience as a youth worker
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Ability to build and maintain strong relationships and rapport with ākonga, whānau, kura and other stakeholders
• Work effectively in a team but able to work independently
• Organisational skills for managing an individual caseload
• Knowledge of community resources within Waitaha/Canterbury and an ability to work across a range of settings
• High levels of cultural responsiveness and an ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tangatawhenuatanga
• A full, clean New Zealand driver’s licence

If you are interested in the kaupapa and this interesting role and have a passion for rangatahi and whānau and want to work in an environment where you will be developed, then we would love to hear from you.

Any for any enquiries contact Makera Hansen-James 021 2235 041

In your cover letter we would like to know about:

• You, your values, and whakapapa
• Your interest and motivation for the role
• The abilities, strengths, and personal attributes you bring to the role

Please apply via Seek or submit your CV and cover letter to careers@pw.maori.nz by 5pm Monday 2 June 2025