Careers
Safer Mid Canterbury provides a range of child, youth, adult and family community services across the Ashburton District. We are a non-profit organisation that has been operating as a charitable trust for more than 25 years, providing free and confidential services that focus on a healthier, stronger and safer community for all.
All positions will require staff who:
- Are sensitive to, and accommodating of, cultural and individual differences,
- Are able to maintain a high level of confidentiality,
- Have a commitment to, and understanding of, the Treaty of Waitangi,
- Have a passion for, and commitment to, providing non-judgemental services and supports to vulnerable people.
In return, we offer a family-friendly, professional work environment with the ability to make a real and significant difference in the lives of people in our district.
To apply for a position, please download an application form and return this with your CV and cover letter. Please follow all instructions on the application form.
All roles listed have a job description which you can also download. Please call us on 03 308 1395, if you require further information.
Click here for the application form [PDF]
Click here for the application form [Word]
Current vacancies
Kaiāwhina Attendance
Due to an increase in Government funding to support students with school attendance, we are now recruiting additional staff to work in the District Attendance Service. We are seeking an Attendance Worker for 20 hours per week. This role involves working with, and supporting, young people (and their families) with the goal of re-engaging the young person back into regular attendance at school.
The key tasks of this position involve receiving referrals, identifying root causes, developing proactive interventions and strategies then supporting the young person back into schooling.
Applicants must have:
- Well-developed verbal communication skills with young people and their families
- Well-developed written communication, data collection and reporting skills
- Be able to work within, and have clear boundaries
- Be able to maintain a high level of confidentiality
- Be sensitive and accommodating of cultural and individual differences
- Ability to develop effective relationships with schools and agencies
- Have a passion for supporting young people and a belief in the high value of young people being engaged in education.
Applicants would need to be available to work four hours per day on average, with most work occurring in the mornings. Most work would occur during school time but some flexibility may be required to meet with working parents.
Applications close Friday 2 June.
Youth Support Worker
Due to our current staff member moving into a new role, we now have a vacancy for our Youth Support Worker position.
- Are you committed to supporting young people to reach their potential?
- Do you have skills and experience in supporting young people individually and in group environments?
- Do you have experience in developing, overseeing and assessing personal client plans?
- Do you have an understanding of the needs of young people and how to address these?
- Do you have a knowledge of and commitment to strength-based processes?
- Are you sensitive and accommodating of cultural and individual differences?
- Are you able to work within, and have clear boundaries?
If you can answer yes to these questions, we would love to hear from you. This position is full-time, 40 hours per week, working with young people aged 12-18 years. It provides the candidate with the opportunity to make a real and significant difference in the lives of vulnerable young people across our district.
Applications close Friday 2 June.
Meeting/Minute Secretary and Treasurer
Due to our current staff member retiring after many years of service, we are looking for a new person to fill this role.
We are looking for a person to act as a Meeting/Minute Secretary at five to six meetings per month for six separate boards. The person would be required to attend meetings of around one to one-and-a-half hour in duration and complete the administrative work around these, such as:
- Writing up minutes and distributing them
- Setting meetings and sending out agendas
- Collating information to send with agendas
- Other small administrative tasks such as booking meeting rooms, responding to correspondence, updating details for new board members, etc.
In addition to providing secretarial duties, we want the person to also act as Treasurer for four of the boards.
This role is not onerous and mainly involves recording income, paying invoices and GST and presenting a small profit and loss report each month. Each of the four boards has a small turnover and each only have several transactions a month. We will be able to provide the employee with simple templates, good support and training to do this work. A competent person will be able to complete these tasks and our current employee will be able to provide a good handover.
We require someone who is well organised, has good time management skills, has good skills around verbal and written communication with attention to detail, a basic understanding of figures, and has the ability to treat all board proceedings with the highest of confidentiality.
This position is likely to be around 15-20 hours per month, maybe a little more at times, and may suit a recently retired person looking for an interesting position to keep them involved in the community, however we are open to all applicants that such a role may suit.
Applications close Friday 2 June.
Team Leader - 2IC
Due to our continuing growth, we are looking for a new staff member to provide staff leadership and oversight to a wide range of staff working in our youth, family, and community service areas. This person will also take on a 2IC role, learning and developing the skills necessary to provide a backup to the General Manager and take a lead role in the development of systems and processes.
- Do you have experience in leading and overseeing people?
- Do you have experience in developing and leading projects?
- Are you a proven self-starter and have the ability to motivate others?
- Do you have knowledge of the community sector and a strong commitment to bringing about the best outcomes for vulnerable people in our community?
- Are you sensitive and accommodating of cultural and individual differences?
- Do you have a proven ability to prioritise competing demands?
- Are you energetic and self-motivated with a "can do" attitude?
If you can answer yes to these questions, we would love to hear from you. This position is 24 hours per week and is based in our Ashburton office. It provides the candidate with the opportunity to make a real and significant difference to the work of Safer Mid Canterbury, and ultimately, the lives of a wide range of people across our district.
Applications close Monday 12 June.
Refugee Support Family Caseworker
The Refugee Settlement Support Service is looking for a Settlement Support Family Caseworker. If you like a challenge, enjoy engaging with people from diverse cultures, like working in an environment where no day is the same, and are a team player, then this could be the perfect job for you. As a family caseworker, you will be the primary support for newly arriving families in Ashburton. You will oversee their settlement needs and help orientate them to New Zealand culture. The Refugee Settlement Support Service is currently assisting in the settlement of former refugees from Afghanistan.
We are looking for candidates with the following key attributes:
- Ability to relate with and support people from different cultures
- Has a good understanding of what it means to be culturally competent
- Knowledge and experience working with vulnerable people.
- Computer skills, including Excel and Word
- Excellent time management and organisational skills
- Holds a current motor vehicle driver’s license and is willing to travel to fulfil job requirements
- Lives and works in the Ashburton district
- Has empathy with humanitarian causes
- Enthusiasm and commitment to work as a team member.
Applications close Monday 26 June.
If you have any questions, please contact Ani Koperu on 03 308 1395.
Refugee Volunteer Show of Interest Form
If you are interested in volunteering in some way for the Refugee Settlement Support Team, please download the Show Of Interest Form and drop off to Community House Reception or email to Kathy - kathy.harrington-watt@safermidcanterbury.org.nz