This is an exciting opportunity for an enthusiastic Social Worker or health professional with mental health experience to join our highly skilled multidisciplinary team.
The Queenstown Lakes Family Centre is a primary mental health social service agency that provides a range of services for vulnerable children, adolescents and their families/whanau. Services provided include school clinics, family support and counselling, social work support, maternal mental health support, home based support and parenting programmes. We're looking for a qualified New Zealand Registered Social Worker or health professional (or is eligible to apply for registration) with a strong interest in prevention and early intervention to join our supportive team. This role is varied and includes providing comprehensive assessments and interventions for families in the community
The Case Worker will provide regular family support and parent-child activities in the home-based program. They will carry a caseload of 10-15 high risk/high needs prenatal women and/or women with children ages 0-5. The case worker will conduct needs assessments, provide early child development education to parents, support and interventions to families, and screen for depression in mothers. They will assist parents in learning how to appropriately respond to their child’s cues and provide parents with strategies that foster and facilitate their child’s development.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES, SKILLS AND RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE:
- Conduct home visits for families to offer support and interventions as required
- Provide strength-based information and support on topics such as bonding and attachment, positive parenting, child health and development, and a safe home environment.
- Provide parenting strategies, activities and education to strengthen the parent-child relationship
- Complete assessments and individual family plans which outline clear goals
- Be able to assess the quality of interactions between the parent-child and use innovative techniques to support healthy attachment and engagement.
- Be able to build rapport and trust with families
- Coordinating services and resources for families as identified and implement in a timely manner
- Assist with preparing and facilitating of parenting programmes
- Prepare for and participate in weekly team meetings, intakes and peer supervision
- Abide by the agencies policies and procedures at all times
- Be able to display sound knowledge and experience of early childhood development
- Have at least one year of experience working with children 0-5 and their caregivers
- Have at least one year of experience providing clinical case work and home visits
- Have at least one year of experience working with high risk/high need clients including vulnerable pregnancies, at risk of developing post-natal depression, exhibiting early signs of mental illness, exposure to previous or current trauma
- Bachelor’s degree in social work or relevant health related field
- Excellent organizational skills and an ability to manage and prioritize duties are necessary to be successful in this position
- Excellent written and oral communication skills
- Detailed oriented, following up on concerns, and understanding the systems which help insure quality of service and accurate record keeping
- Good interpersonal skills, including the ability to work cooperatively as a team member
- Knowledge of early childhood development and community resources
- Effective screening and assessment skills and intervention strategies
- Ability to handle confidential information appropriately
- Demonstrated understanding and skill set to establish appropriate limits and boundaries with clients
- Valid NZ Driver License
- Please contact tina@jigsawcentrallakes.co.nz for a Full Job Description and Application Form. Only applications with a CV and Cover Letter will be accepted. Completed applications need to be submitted by 5pm 7th January 2019. Applicants for this position should have NZ residency or a valid NZ work visa.
