Practice Lead

Strong practice creates pathways from crisis to safety, healing and lasting wellbeing. As Practice Lead at Te Wāhi Whakaora, you will guide and strengthen the mahi of our kaimahi, supporting skilled, culturally responsive and compassionate responses to family violence. Your leadership will help ensure wāhine are heard, tamariki are visible, and whānau aspirations shape the support they receive. Through practice guidance, mentoring and quality assurance, you will build confidence, uphold our kaupapa and strengthen the care we provide. This is an opportunity to turn your expertise into meaningful community change, supporting safety, restoring mana and nurturing hope for future generations.

Key responsibilities

• Lead specialist family violence practice across refuge, crisis, community and whānau support services, promoting survivor-led, child-centred, trauma-informed, strengths-based and evidence-informed approaches
• Provide regular, documented practice supervision to advocacy kaimahi and mentor and coach kaimahi in assessment, intervention, documentation and reflective practice
• Lead regular case consultation and review of complex or high-risk matters, guide family violence risk assessment, safety planning and intervention decisions
• Undertake file audits and review the quality and timeliness of assessments, risk assessments, safety plans, case plans and case notes
• Develop and review practice tools, templates, procedures and guidance
• Contribute practice expertise to service design and implementation of the organisation's strategy
• Maintain effective practice relationships with Police and the Family Harm team, including attendance at the daily family harm table as required
• Maintain current social work registration and an Annual Practising Certificate and practise in accordance with the Social Workers Registration Board Code of Conduct
• Communicate openly with the Manager and staff and assist with recruitment of advocacy staff
• Support the promotion of the organisation by contributing to news feeds on social media and photos on publications online and offline

About you

• Bachelor of Social Work or an equivalent recognised social work qualification
• Registration as a social worker and a current Annual Practising Certificate
• At least five years' post-qualification social work experience
• Demonstrated practice leadership and experience supporting the development of others
• Strong knowledge of family violence dynamics, including coercive control, high-risk practice and the impacts of violence on tamariki
• Sound knowledge of local services and experience supporting whānau with overlaying support needs with experience in trauma informed assessment and practice
• Sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and demonstrated application of Te Ao Māori and tikanga Māori in practice
• Strong written communication, professional judgement and relationship-building skills
• Full New Zealand driver licence

About us

Te Wāhi Whakaora Rotorua Women's Refuge is an affiliated member of the National Collective of Independent Women's Refuges (NCIWR). We provide specialist family violence services across Rotorua and the surrounding districts supporting wāhine, tamariki and whānau through safe refuge, crisis intervention, advocacy and holistic support. Our services respond to immediate safety needs while creating pathways towards healing, recovery, independence and long-term wellbeing. Our practice is grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, informed by Te Ao Māori and guided by Whānau Ora principles. We recognise the strengths, aspirations and inherent mana of each person and whānau we work alongside. The voices, choices and safety of wāhine and tamariki remain central to our trauma-informed, culturally responsive and evidence-informed practice.

Job applications close: Monday 26 October 2026, 5pm.