Family Support Worker - Tamariki

Aviva is a not-for-profit specialist family and sexual violence agency, established in 1973 as Christchurch Women’s Refuge - New Zealand’s first refuge. After 40 years of community service for women and children, we rebranded in 2013 to reflect our newly transformed response for the whole family, and respect for and optimism in everyone’s potential to become and remain safe from violence if offered the right support, at the right time, in the right way. To achieve this, Aviva now provides a unique range of holistic, integrated specialist services for all members of the family at any point of their journey from violence to sustainable safety and wellbeing. 

Aviva have two locations, our head office located at The Loft, Eastgate Mall where we work collaboratively with a range of Non-Governmental organisations, primary healthcare providers and humanitarian agencies to create a ‘child, family and community wellbeing centre in Eastern Christchurch. We also service our North Canterbury clients from our Rangiora office and offer supports within Selwyn and Mid Canterbury.   

Aviva’s services are growing and to help us respond we require a new fulltime (40 hours per week) or part time (two 20 hour per week roles) Family Support Worker who has a clinical focus on Tamariki that have or are experiencing violence to join Aviva's integrated team.  This role will be predominately based from our Rangiora office with flexibility expected for Training and work days to be undertaken from our Christchurch Office also.  

The role is responsible for:

  • With a clinical focus on Tamariki experiencing or at risk of experiencing violence, using or at risk of using violence, actively participate as a member of Aviva’s integrated team of Family Support Workers (children, young people and adults) to manage and prevent the risk of repeat violence to all family members
  • Manage a clinical caseload of whanau, adults, youth, children using or at risk using or at risk of experiencing violence
  • As part of an integrated Family Safety Plan, guide and support individuals to assess their personal risks of using and/or experiencing violence and develop and implement a personalised safety plans.
  • Maintain clear, open and timely communication with colleagues (internal and external) to assure the comprehensive exchange of all relevant information.
  • Establish and maintain referral pathways and protocols with other relevant services
  • Advise, and seek advice from the Client Services Manager on any potential safety risks and mitigation strategies
  • Provide individualised and/or group-based interventions and enable sustainable safe behaviour
  • Provide facilitated support to enable clients to identify their need for and access to other internal and external services
  • Ensure post group/session evaluations completed by all clients
  • Provide information, advice and support on legal matters, including Protection and Parenting Orders, and refer and facilitate access to legal services

The successful applicant will be able to demonstrate skills and experience in the following areas:

  • A relevant tertiary qualification and membership of professional body is desirable, social work qualification preferred
  • Experience of working with children and adults experiencing family violence (2-3 years minimum)
  • Experience of working with children and adults using or at risk of using family violence (2-3 years minimum)
  • Demonstrable ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with teams and individuals
  • Personal alignment with Aviva’s core values, strategic principles and service philosophy and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
  • Personal commitment to a life free from violence
  • Current unrestricted driver’s license
  • All job offers are subject to a clean police check and a three year violence free lifestyle.  Full training and induction will be provided.

If you have a desire to make a positive contribution to Aviva and have knowledge of the effects of family violence, and a desire to make a difference working with adults, children and young people then we would like to hear from you.

Please download a position description here and an application form from here.

Please note all applications must contain a covering letter, application form and Curriculum Vitae and then be emailed to [email protected]

Applications close on 27th January 2021 with Interviews being held in the week beginning 1st February 2021.