Whānau Harm Practitioner (ISR)

Integrated Safety Response (ISR) is a multi-agency intervention that takes a whole-of-family and whānau approach that puts the risk and needs of whānau at the centre.

This is part of the Ōtautahi Tū Pono Co-lab, which was established to ensure that whānau have access to the necessary supports to lead fulfilling lives. Operating under a Kaupapa Māori framework, this role is based at He Waka Tapu.

The core values of the Co-lab include manaakitanga, kotahitanga, aroha, whakapapa, akona, and mana motuhake.

He Waka Tapu is a Kaupapa Māori organisation who have been supporting individuals and the community for 30 years, working to increase the health and wellbeing of Whānau.

About the role

As a Whānau Harm Practitioner you will play a vital role in supporting and case managing families and whānau assessed as High/Medium/Low risk of family harm.

This involves working with victims, perpetrators, and families where there has been an incident of Family Harm. You will actively engage with whānau, foster trust, and work towards safety and accountability within the ISR Services framework.

Key Responsibilities include:

• Making initial contact with whānau post referral from Safety Assessment Meeting.
• Actively liaising for the purpose of safety and accountability in all Integrated Safety Response Services.
• Engaging in a way that elicits trust and embeds hope
• Holding primary relationship with the whānau.
• Maintaining a safety first, child centred focus.
• Supporting and monitoring safety and risk management.
• Supporting whānau to identify goals/outcomes and ‘markers’ of change
• Identifying dynamic risk factors within the family environment and work to mitigate these.
• Holding key strategic relationships with relevant NGO’s including children’s specialists, Kaupapa Māori services, Alcohol and Drugs, Mental Health services, parenting programmes and wider psycho-social supports.
• Engaging in regular supervision and professional development opportunities.

Additional Key Responsibilities for High-Risk Families: 

• Making initial contact with identified victim post police call out and/or referral from Safety Assessment Meeting (SAM) within 24 hours.
• Working toward ‘warm handovers’ for families transitioning to longer term support.

Skills and experience

• Ability to connect with whānau using tools of whanaungatanga and manaakitanga to establish trusting relationships.
• Understand the dynamics of family violence, assess risk, and ensure safety for all whānau.
• Understand and adopt a safety-first approach.
• Ability to understand that whānau have the answers and to facilitate these answers to help them to create their own goals.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage effectively with many different people and organisation.
• A full clean driving licence.
• Clean police vetting check.

Benefits  

• Ongoing professional development and training
• Life insurance
• Free Gym Membership
• Kaimahi wellbeing connection days
• One week of Hauora (wellbeing)

Our Culture

Me mahi tahi tātou mo te oranga o te whānau

Working together for the wellbeing of family

Our services are delivered using a Kaupapa Māori framework encompassing Tinana (physical well-being), Wairua (spiritual well-being), Hinengaro (mental well-being), Whānau (family well-being).

Manaakitanga

We are respectful and show generosity and care for others, ensuring everyone’s mana is enhanced

Whānaungatanga

We build relationships through shared experiences and working together

Rangatiratanga

We lead by inspiring others to see what is possible

Whakākoako

We all learn  

If you wish to apply, please ensure to attach your CV and a cover letter to your application.  

Please note that Applicants for this position should have the legal right to work in New Zealand.