Kevina Tarei

• Support children and young people to be well connected to their families and culture ensuring social workers use due diligence to explore all avenues.
• Commitment towards positive outcomes for young people and families by working with families to develop productive, sustainable family led plans with outcomes that are achievable and to reduce the numbers of children being placed in state care.
• Coordinate and facilitate family meetings prior to Family Group Conferences to ensure families are informed of the processes involved including legislative requirements.
• Assist children, young people, and their families in preparation to participate in all family decision making processes to ensure their voices are heard and validated and included in all final decisions made.
• Where appropriate, support families to identify those within the families who may be able to offer care and support to children and young people to stay connected to their families.
• Conduit between families and statute organisation to help navigate statute processes and interventions,

• Support cultural capability building within the site, in partnership with Site managers, Practice leaders and wider Site leadership team.
• Developed and maintained relationships with key members of community organisation as a cultural conduit
• Developed and implemented cultural focused training and professional development for all staff on site
• Advised, guided leadership team/management in decision making involving cultural aspects of social work practice

Tutor Yr 1 - Bachelor of Social Work - Biculturalism in Practice

Key Contributions:

• Developed lesson plans and presented teaching material to students for the delivery of the following papers:

Te Tangomana- Foundations of Treaty- based Practice (2022/2023)

-Explore the impacts of settlement periods of Aotearoa New Zealand. Explore, identify, and discuss the development of legal systems in Aotearoa New Zealand.

-Explore and identify the cultural hegemonic practices throughout the history of Aotearoa New Zealand.

-Reflect on colonial practices in Aotearoa New Zealand and identify the impacts on social work.

Te Whakamana – Foundations of Treaty- Based practice cont... (2022/2023)

-Examine historical and contemporary forms of resistance and emancipation and develop a model of strength based social work practice.

He Ariā – Introduction to Human Development for Social Work

-Introduction to the field of bicultural social work by exploring critical issues, theories, values and ethics that inform practice. (2022/2023)

He Pūkenga – Effective Communication in Social Work

-Introduction to effective communication and the role it plays in establishing, maintaining and advancing relationships in social work practice. (2022/2023)

Tutor tasks

· Monitored and assessed assignments, evaluated students’ progress, and enabled Student achievement.

· Continuously supported, motivated and inspired students by promoting a collaborative, inclusive and supportive learning environment through different teaching mediums with an indigenous focus.

· Prepared and uploaded learning content, material, attendance, resources and marks through teacher/student online platform and portal

Regional Learning Strategy Project - 8-Month Pilot programme

• Project led the development of the Regional Learning Strategy across the Bay of Plenty region that aligned with the Regional Business Strategic Plan,
• · The Regional Learning strategy became the driver of all learning within the Region. It supported the collaborative approach between the Practice Group and Professional Development in working with all Sites to complete the new Practice Approach rolled out nationally and key enablers within the organisation worked in collaboration with the strategy setting the foundation.
• The strategy became the template implemented nation wide for all regional learning strategies.

Regional Learning Advisor role and responsibilities

· Key conduit for Sites to support gaps in practice to enable the right supports are put in place by either providing the content needed or finding the right expertise knowledge within the organisation to provide the content for professional development.

· Key role in National Induction programmes for new social workers and senior practitioners to the organisation.

· Provide training and facilitation, advice and support with site staff and senior leadership with professional development training opportunities across the region.

• Monitored health and safety measures for guaranteed compliance.
• Developed, implemented, managed, and coordinated all placement referral requests in collaboration with contract provider and placement requirements for children were met.
• Ensured the delivery of the service and contract service deliverables were met in accordance with legislation, policies and procedures.
• Developed and implemented day to day programmes were scheduled, structured and resourced.
• Administered staff rota and all leave coordination.
• Oversaw the management of staff health and safety requirements policies were developed, implemented, and monitored
• Established clear budgets and cost controls strategies to meet objectives.
• Recognised exceptional individual performance for improved motivation.
• Supported new hires through onboarding process for speedy and successful training.
• Translated senior management directives into actionable front-line policies and implemented changes with staff.
• Upskilled team members by planning and delivering training workshops.
• Trained staff to resolve complaints appropriately to maintain a healthy and safe work environment for the staff and children

• Maintained confidential case documentation in line with data protection regulations.
• Provided crisis intervention services to clients in need of immediate assistance and worked solely on high and complex needs cases.
• Developed Youth Development programme with supported bail contract to provide mentoring, support and completion of supported bail objectives for young person to complete as mandated from the Youth Court.
• Managed assigned caseload documentation in alignment with regulatory requirements and standards.
• Supervised, advised, mentored, and coached new social workers to the service and to the sector.
• Oversaw multiple social work cases simultaneously, directing assessments, conducting interviews and recommending best courses of action.
• Evaluated and addressed individual client needs and concerns through targeted assessments utilising goal orientated plans and outcomes.
• Built positive, productive client relationships for enhanced social support.
• Liaised with families and caregivers to develop balanced programmes addressing all holistic needs.
• Strongly skilled in developing and implementing cultural and therapeutic programmes for a myriad of audiences including young people’s programmes, social work and caregiver training forums.

• Trained and skilled in working in a secure facility established to provide a safe and secure and supportive environment where young people who have offended can get their lives back on track and improve their prospects for their future.
• Developed cultural therapeutic programmes to support the improvement of behaviours of young people and encouraging strength-based strategies as a tool to manage emotions, connections through identity and cultural programmes.
• Supported families as part of young people’s transition back to community plans to ensure plans were coordinated in time for young persons release. This contributed to the reduction of recidivism from the young people who completed sentences.
• Managed shifts as a Shift leader team member and in particular Secure Care Unit Shift Leader.
• Skilled in de-escalation of potential aggressive situations, security including planning shifts, potential risks to young people and staff, team response coordination all in alignment with legislative requirements.
• Aptly skilled in documentation pertaining to legislation for auditing purposes and requirements.