Specialised Foster Caregivers Kia Puāwai location Bay of Plenty.

About the rolewe are currently seeking individuals or couples based in the Bay of Plenty or Rotorua/ Lakes regions, to become a Kia Puāwai caregiver in our specialised foster care programme. If you have the space in your home, time to invest in caring for a young person, and would like to help them learn and succeed – this is a hugely rewarding role.

In this role, you will care for a rangatahi aged 11-17 in your own home for approximately 12 months. Support rangatahi to attend school, engage in hobbies and activities, maintain a relationship with their whanau, and provide opportunities to learn life skills. Attend regular meetings and training to enhance your caregiving skills and receive feedback.

What we offer we are a values-based organisation. Training and ongoing coaching in the specialist programme. You will be supported by a multidisciplinary staffed team – which includes social workers and practice and cultural advisors.

24/7 on-call support including weekly visits by your Practice Leader. Regular respite care cover so you can have a break each month. As an independent contractor, an attractive weekly allowance is paid as well as any agreed expenses reimbursed, for example; travel related to the young person in your care.

About you to be considered for this role, you will need to have a suitable living space including a spare room for the young person to use exclusively. Have a full NZ Drivers Licence and a reliable car. Complete a Police and MSD vetting process.

Be culturally aware and have a genuine appreciation for how we integrate Māori and Pasifika mātauranga into our services. Have a willingness to undertake training in our evidence-based programme and be able to consistently implement this within the care you provide.

A passion to provide aroha and support positive outcomes in the young person. Experience and knowledge supporting young people with complex behaviours, mental health and/or disability would be an advantage.

About Kia Puāwai we are a tangata Tiriti NGO which specialises in providing therapeutic services for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau who have complex behavioural and/or mental health needs. Our innovative approach combines evidence-based models of practice along with a focus on our core values of Manaakitanga, Wairuatanga, Aroha and Whanaungatanga. Our national office is in Auckland, and we have over 250 staff and caregivers supporting young people and their families and whānau across the North and lower South Islands.

We are a regional team within a wider national organisation and are passionate about what we do. If you are looking for a challenge and want to work for an organisation that is making a difference in the lives of at-risk tamariki and rangatahi – we want to talk with you! It's an exciting time to join us and you will have the opportunity to make a real impact - so apply now!