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View Additional Information on Senior Community Work Supervisor Role

FAQ

Pay & Conditions - salary, benefits, leave, hours

What is the salary range?

Staff progress through three competency based steps to the top level salary.

Step One $47,433
Step Two $49,983
Step Three $52,532

Progression through the salary scale is by completion of seven competencies and at least one year's work experience per step.

Other benefits?


Additional benefits include:

  • a focus on professional support and development for frontline and managerial career pathways.
  • the chance to work for an organisation that is recognised as forward-thinking and innovative on the international Corrections stage. New Zealand is respected internationally and provides guidance and advice to other countries on correctional issues and initiatives
  • access to banking and health insurance discounts
  • access to the KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme.

    More information about KiwiSaver is provided to successful applicants on appointment or go to www.kiwisaver.govt.nz for more information.

What are the leave/holiday entitlements?

Full-time senior community work supervisors are entitled to 20 days' annual holidays after a year's service, increasing to 25 days after completing six years' current continuous service (pro-rata for part time staff).

There are also provisions for sick leave, bereavement leave and leave without pay.

What hours will I work?

For full time staff the ordinary hours of work are up to 40 hours per week on up to five days of the week, Monday to Saturday, between the hours of 7am and 10pm. Staff may also make themselves available to work on a Sunday.

Do you wear uniforms?

Community work centres do not have uniforms. We do expect senior community work supervisors to dress appropriately for their role.

Protective clothing will be provided when it is required for particular work conditions.

Are there unions I can join?

Yes, there are unions you can choose to join. There are two main unions, the PSA (Public Service Association) and NUPE (National Union of Public Employees). Each of these unions has a collective employment agreement with the Department that covers the senior community work supervisor role.

If I get appointed, can I choose the Service Centre and do I stay there the whole time?

Senior community work supervisors are appointed to an Area and will be assigned to a particular Service Centre at time of placement. However, during the term of your employment, you may be required to move to another Service Centre within your Area to meet operational needs.

Is there car parking?

Street and on site parking is not guaranteed, especially in the metropolitan areas. Some sites do have limited staff car parking and/or off street parking.

Requirements for the role

What skills and experience do I need to become a senior community work supervisor?

You will be leading a small team of community work supervisors and monitoring offenders and so you will need to be a good role model with the ability to lead, mentor and motivate. The following skills and experience are required for the role:

  • Skills in establishing, building, managing relationships with external agencies
  • Ability to firmly and fairly monitor, manage and communicate effectively with a diverse range of people and groups in a variety of situations
  • Ability to think on your feet and make sound, ethical decisions
  • Health and Safety experience in identifying and managing workplace hazards (first aid training is given)
  • Hands-on practical experience relevant to community work projects (not compulsory)
  • Good computer skills, as report writing is a key part of this role.

You need to have credibility, integrity and be firm but fair and hold a full driver licence.

What training is given?

On-the-job training is provided. You will gain further skills through the self assessment competency programme and through your training and development planning which is undertaken at least twice a year with your manager.

The fourteen stage competency programme includes units such as 'Manage Work Party Projects', 'Communicate effectively in Community Work Supervisor role' and 'Demonstrate culturally appropriate behaviour in context of criminal justice system'.

You will also receive First Aid training.

I don't have a full driver licence; is this ok?

We require you to have a full driver licence to become a senior community work supervisor. We will consider applications from candidates with a restricted driver licence, however all job offers will be conditional on the candidate obtaining their full driver licence.

What if I have a criminal conviction?

Candidates applying for the role of senior community work supervisor are required to declare their complete criminal history. Any conviction received in the last 10 years will limit your chances of being appointed. However, in exceptional circumstances appointments may be made with approval from the General Manager. See the information sheet enclosed for further information.

Please note that a number of roles in the Department, including senior community work supervisors, are exempt from provisions of the Clean Slate Act 2004. Please refer to the information enclosed to ensure that you understand your requirements under the Act.

For more information go to Criminal conviction checking process page.

Does it matter if a family member is currently on probation?

Not necessarily, but if you are offered a job you will have to declare any possible conflict of interest, including associations and relationships that may pose a risk. As part of your appointment to the role, you will be asked to sign a Code of Conduct, which covers the Department's expectations.

The Work

What does a senior community work supervisor do?

The Government has developed legislation to strengthen sentences available to be served in the community. These changes have increased the number of people serving sentences we manage. As a senior community work supervisor you have an important and integral role in this community-based sentence management.

The role is a mix of motivating and leading a small team of community work supervisors and managing offenders on community-based sentences. You will be:

  • supervising staff; allocating and monitoring your team's activities and coaching on how to supervise offenders, and ensuring health and safety.
  • sourcing and overseeing group community work projects and establishing individual community-based placements for offenders
  • managing and monitoring offenders on these community-based sentences
  • managing the day-to-day operations of the community work centre, including completing on-line reports.

What do senior community work supervisors enjoy about their work ?

Senior community work supervisors want to help make the community safer and to motivate offenders to turn their lives around - to make a positive change.

They enjoy acting as strong role models for offenders, ensuring that they complete their sentences and gain self respect, which may help them to make better choices in the future. They also get to see the results of offenders working for non-profit organisations and contributing to the community.

In addition, senior community work supervisors enjoy leading and coaching their teams.

What kind of people will I work with?

The Department has a diverse staff base, with people from all sorts of different career backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures.

Career prospects

What are the career prospects; Where can I go to from being a senior community work supervisor?

Some high performing senior community work supervisors have progressed into the role of probation officer where they work more closely with individual offenders, ensuring that they complete their sentence and helping them to make better choices in their lives.

Overseas applicants

What happens after for overseas applicants?

For this role candidates will need to have the right to work in New Zealand, either by being a New Zealand or Australian citizen, or have a current New Zealand Resident Permit or Work Permit that is valid for at least 12 months.

Typically we would expect candidates from overseas to already be living in New Zealand and have the right to work in this country. It is extremely unlikely that we would consider candidates for this role who are currently overseas and do not a valid Work Permit or Permanent Residency status.