9738 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children

9738 (2024). Hon Willow-Jean Prime to the Minister for Children: Further to Written Parliamentary Question 5666 (2024) what are the key selection criteria that Oranga Tamariki uses to assess applicants for Youth Worker roles?

Hon Karen Chhour: I am advised that Oranga Tamariki uses the following selection criteria for Youth Worker roles: • Meets the safety checking requirements set out in the Children’s Act 2014 and supporting regulations for children’s workers. This includes, for example, seeking a confirmation of identity, a Police vet, and completion of a risk assessment • Relevant qualifications or equivalent professional experience across social work, youth work, mental health or drug/alcohol abuse support, psychology, sport and recreation, health, teaching, qualified trades, or other relevant disciplines that may contribute to offering an enriching or valuable experience for young people in care. • Demonstrated ability to learn, apply and adhere to processes, policies, and safety focused behaviours in a professional environment. • Demonstration of empathy for working with children and young people and suitable motivation to perform the role of a Youth Worker. • Demonstrates an ability to work with comfort and success with professional staff from other vocations e.g. teachers, advisors, social workers, clinical staff etc. • Demonstrated ability to actively promote a pro-social environment while operating within the approved policies, procedures, and ways of working at Oranga Tamariki. • Demonstrated ability to align personal practice with the visions, goals, policies, and practices of Oranga Tamariki • Demonstrated ability to promote ethical practice and the maintenance of professional boundaries. • Demonstrated ability to connect appropriately with people from different cultural backgrounds, embrace diversity, and work with others in a way that is inclusive, welcoming, and engaging. • Demonstrated drive to continually improve own level of cultural competency and understanding of different cultures. • Demonstrated ability to exhibit discretion and appropriately earn the trust of children, young people, and other staff. • Demonstrated ability to excel as a role model for staff, children, and young people in care • Demonstrated ability to show a high degree of consistency in behaviour at all times and act as a clear role model who generates confidence and commitment of others through their own ethical conduct. • Demonstrated ability to display common sense, even in high stress or challenging situations. • Demonstration of suitable written and verbal communication skills, in line with the requirements of the Youth Worker role. • Demonstration of suitable level of digital and technological literacy, in line with the requirements of the Youth Worker role. • Suitable level of physical health and fitness to allow for engagement with young people in care, as required by the role. I refer the Member to my answer to WPQ 9737 (2024) for the core capabilities found to contribute to success in the role of a Youth Worker at Oranga Tamariki.