Senior Advisor Monitoring
Mō mātou / About us
The Office of the Children’s Commissioner (OCC) is an independent crown entity advocating for the interests, rights and wellbeing of mokopuna (the OCC refer to children and young people as mokopuna).
Te moemoeā: kia kuru pounamu te rongo; our vision is that all children and young people of Aotearoa live their best lives and feel treasured.
We recognise that an important part of achieving this vision is working towards a society in which Te Tiriti o Waitangi is fully realised. For us, that starts within our tari - we are on an exciting journey to becoming a truly te tiriti based organisation.
As the National Preventative Mechanism for Aotearoa for the Optional Protocol to the Convention Against Torture (OPCAT), the Office of the Children’s Commissioner holds an important role in monitoring facilitates that detain mokopuna. Our team go into these facilitates to undertake monitoring to ensure that mokopuna are being treated with humanity and provided the care that they need and deserve. We then provide recommendations to Government for addressing both systemic and operational issues that are found.
Mō te tūnga / About the role
As a Senior Advisor Monitoring your primary focus will be to effect change for mokopuna in places of detention by undertaking monitoring of the treatment and care of mokopuna detained in residential facilities.
You will do this by:
- engaging purposefully and sensitively with mokopuna and staff within places of detention to understand their experiences,
- analysing mokopuna and kaimahi experiences within these facilities alongside legislation and protocol, best practice frameworks and methodologies
- identifying both systemic and operational issues that need to be addressed by the facilities and the Government
Through the provision of clearly written reports and recommendations, you will advocate and influence change within these facilities, improving the lives of the mokopuna who are detained there.
As a Senior Advisor you will lead all aspects of monitoring activities, ensuring kaimahi and mokopuna wellbeing is at the centre. You will also provide tailored mentoring and coaching to more junior kaimahi to help them grow and develop.
Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu / What you will bring
You will have practical experience working within mental health, youth justice or care and protection and will ideally be a registered social work practitioner. Proficiency in te reo Māori me ōna tikanga is highly desirable and beneficial in this role.
Your analytical skills will be second to none and you will have the ability to critically review data in a methodical way. Your communication skills, and in particular your report writing skills, will be impeccable and you will have the ability to put forward logical, evidence-based arguments in a way that is convincing and intended to influence change for mokopuna within places of detention.
As a Senior Advisor you will have the ability to successfully lead all aspects of the monitoring process and will provide coaching and mentoring to more junior members of the team.
Ngā hua ka puta i te mahi ki OCC / What we can offer you
- A salary between $94,834 and $105,000 gross per annum (although we may be able to offer slightly higher for the right candidate)
- A hybrid working model - some days working in the tari and some working from home
- 4 weeks annual leave plus at least 3 additional paid leave days each year
- Opportunity to learn or build on your Te Reo Mäori through our weekly lessons
- Working in a whānau friendly environment - we love having mokopuna in the tari!
- Option for flexible working arrangements - flexible start and finish times, shorter hours and other arrangements can all be considered
- Working with a team of passionate kaimahi who truly care about achieving the best outcomes for all mokopuna of Aotearoa
Please note that through the introduction of the Children and Young Person’s Commission Act, effective 1 July 2023 the Office of the Children’s Commissioner will be replaced by the Children and Young People’s Commission. All employees of the Office will become employees of the Commission from 1 July 2023. We do not anticipate significant change to this role or its work programme through this transition.
Me pēhea te tuku tono / How to apply
To apply please complete the application form below and email this along with a cover letter and your CV to us at recruitment@occ.org.nz. If you have any questions about this role, please email us.
You can find a position description for the role below. Applicants for this position should have the legal right to work in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Applications close 5pm, Sunday 12 March 2023.