The demand for Social Work intervention for families in the South Auckland geographical area is often high and complex. Our multi-skilled Social Work Team works alongside many other service providers, including Child Youth & Family and the Courts. Our team have proven experience in working with families who have issues of conflict, violence, parenting, addictions and can advocate for the family around financial issues. We work with models of practice that are family centred, holistic, and culturally appropriate.

Our services include:

• Social Work Support for Families
• Social Workers in Secondary Schools

Social Work Support for Families

Referrals for Community Social Work can come from any family who would like help managing complex situations, or anyone who has concerns about a family or child. The Social Worker will talk with the family to come up with a plan to achieve the goals of the family. They will then advocate with other agencies and internal services to facilitate this plan and provide the family with resources around areas of need. The Process is to be directed by the family, and what they are seeking for themselves, and to work with the strengths and resources of the family to build the
safe, strong, nurturing environment for children.

To make a referral for Social Work, please click here.

Social Workers in Secondary Schools

 

In 1999, MASSISS (Multi Agency Social Services in Secondary Schools) and CYFs began to contract Social Workers into low-decile high Schools across the country in an effort to combat the plethora of destructive behavioural and emotional issues facing the student body. In early 2008, IOSIS picked up three of these contracts placing a Social Worker in each of three South Auckland High Schools; James Cook High School, Manurewa High, Papakura High. They are part of a multi-skilled team of professionals, which include the Guidance Counsellor, Nurse, Truancy Officer, Resource Teacher: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB), and in some schools, a Police Officer.

The contracts began as 6-month pilot, but quickly saw a reduction in bullying, fighting and other destructive behaviour and so the contracts are now ongoing. The presence of a Social Worker in a school is quite unique; taking a broader approach to why the student is behaving the way they are, looking at the student in the context of their entire environment; their family, community, and their peer groups. This range of insight seems to give an advantage in understanding and working with the student to defuse angry and destructive behaviour in the schools, including violence.

For more information on Social Workers in Secondary Schools, please click here.