Team Manager – Puna Whakataa

• Permanent, full-time position (40 hours per week)

• Based in Manurewa, South Auckland

• Working hours Monday – Friday 8.00am to 4.30pm

• Salary: Negotiable, with consideration given to the successful candidate’s experience and qualifications.

Are you a lived experience leader with a clinical background, passionate about bringing these perspectives together to lead and inspire others?

This is an opportunity to lead a unique residential alcohol and other drug service, develop a strong multidisciplinary team, and work collaboratively across Ember and The Salvation Army to deliver meaningful outcomes for tāngata whai ora.

About the Service | Ko Te Whare o Puna Whakataa

Puna Whakataa is a 10-bed, Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) respite and treatment residential service based in Manurewa. The service is delivered through a strong partnership between Ember and The Salvation Army Bridge. Ember provides management and peer support workers, and The Salvation Army provide the clinicians. The English translation is ‘the spring of rest and respite’ meaning an environment created for treatment and respite.

Our multidisciplinary team brings together clinical practice and peer support to provide a safe, person-centered and recovery-focused environment. The team supports tāngata whaiora during their stay and helps them develop pathways into longer-term treatment, community support and ongoing recovery.

The service works collaboratively with whānau, AOD treatment providers, referral agencies and other community organisations to ensure support is coordinated and responsive to each person’s needs.

About the Role | Ngā Mahi

Working closely with Ember and The Salvation Army leadership, you will help strengthen the partnership approach and ensure the service reflects the values, standards and expectations of both organisations.

Key responsibilities include:

• Providing day-to-day leadership, supervision and coaching to clinical and peer support kaimahi

• Developing a positive team culture grounded in safety, respect, learning and accountability

• Ensuring support is culturally responsive, trauma-informed, person-centred and recovery-focused

• Supporting kaimahi performance, wellbeing and development through regular supervision, coaching and capability building

• Maintaining oversight of clinical assessments, risk management, safety planning and case management

• Coordinating rostering and allocating resources to meet the needs of tāngata whaiora and the service

• Overseeing incident reporting, quality improvement, health and safety, contract compliance and other operational requirements

• Maintaining strong relationships with whānau, referral agencies, AOD treatment providers and community partners

• Supporting the delivery of individual, whānau-inclusive and group-based interventions using the Bridge’s Community Reinforcement Approach (CRA) model

• Lead and facilitate group sessions for tāngata whaiora, while supporting kaimahi to deliver safe, engaging and recovery-focused group programmes.

• Contributing to service planning, evaluation, reporting and continuous improvement

• Role-modelling Ember’s values and commitments to equity, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga and inclusion

You Will Bring | Ngā Pūkenga

• Registration and a current practicing certificate in one of the following fields is required: Nursing, Social Work, DAPAANZ, and/or Counselling

• A Full New Zealand Driver’s license (required)

• Minimum 2 years clinical leadership experience (AOD experience preferred)

• Strong experience working within AOD services, with sound clinical judgement and risk assessment skills.

• Have experienced AOD and recovery themselves and can act as role model to others is desired

• Understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and commitment to working in a culturally responsive way.

• Knowledge of complex mental health needs and recovery-oriented practice, and experience supervising and developing multidisciplinary teams, with a strengths-based and trauma-informed approach

• Strong knowledge of quality and risk systems, and experience with incident management and continuous improvement

• Excellent interpersonal, communication and problem-solving skills with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders

• Ability to encourage and role model positive behaviours, participation, and communication in all activities and in line with our values.

• Competency in managing teams, rosters, and service operations, and some competency in financial management to support Ember’s procedures

• Valid/current work visa, residency, or citizenship allowing you to work in NZ indefinitely (required)

As this service is delivered collaboratively, the successful applicant may have the opportunity to choose whether they are employed by Ember or The Salvation Army. The applicable employment arrangements and benefits will depend on the employing organisation.

• Salvation Army offers 5 days additional annual leave per year

• Ember offers 2 recreation days, 5 days study leave per year

When Applying, Please Provide | Kia Whakauru

• An up-to-date CV

• A cover letter explaining:

o Why you are interested in leading Puna Whakataa

o The leadership skills, experience and professional strengths you would bring to the role

o How you would support effective partnership working between Ember and The Salvation Army

He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Māku e kī atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata.”

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Ember is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace and are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all. We particularly welcome applications from Māori, Pacific and Rainbow communities.

The Salvation Army is a worldwide evangelical Christian church and human service provider. The successful applicant will need to demonstrate an ability to identify with the mission and values of The Salvation Army.