Applications are invited from registered nurses, social workers, occupational therapists and alcohol and other drug practitioners who have relevant post graduate qualifications in addiction and mental health.

We are seeking a highly skilled clinician to join the Central Co ordination team providing rapid response to client referrals entering the alcohol and other drug sector.

The successful applicant will have significant experience working with people in the addictions and mental health field and have a desire to be part of a dynamic team focused on seamlessly triaging people to the appropriate service.

This is an exciting role which will support the already established Central Co ordination team.

For further information please contact Jan Spence Ph 3710610 or jan@citymission.org.nz  For an application pack please contact Jo Yusaf on 3650635 ext 818 or jo@citymission.org.nz

Applications for this position close at 5pm Friday 31 May 2013 and should be addressed to The Manager AOD Services Christchurch City Mission PO Box 1032 Christchurch 8140 or emailed to jo@citymission.org.nz.

Social Worker – Family Services, Walsh House

The Christchurch City Mission invites applications from qualified social workers for the part-time (30 hours per week) permanent position of Social Worker – Family Services, at Walsh House.

This is a rewarding opportunity to work with women and their children, providing advocacy, information, support and resources to assist them on their own unique journey.

Key tasks involve:

• Maintaining a caseload of women who require support in maintaining contact with their children.
• Undertaking assessments, information gathering, advocacy and referrals in a manner which accepts people as they are, and which responds to immediate safety concerns.
• Active participation in identifying presenting needs, programme planning, implementation and evaluation, and regular team meetings and supervision.

Applicants need to hold Social Work qualifications appropriate for Registration and a Certificate of Competency.  As part of their skill set, they need to have a working knowledge of relevant legislation and social and community services within Canterbury, an understanding of social justice issues, and have a warm and welcoming manner with the ability to display exceptional conflict resolution and crisis management abilities when necessary.

Further information and a job pack can be obtained by contacting the Christchurch City Mission on (03) 365 0635 or by emailing jo@citymission.org.nz

Applications close on Monday 6 May, at 5.00pm.

Social Worker – Women’s Night Shelter

The City Mission invites qualified social workers to apply for the permanent part time position of Social Worker at our Women’s Night Shelter.

This is an opportunity to work in a part-time capacity (25 hours per week) in a unique women’s emergency Night Shelter attached to the Mission’s Walsh House.

Duties involve:

•             Ensuring appropriate social work assessment, advocacy, support and referrals are provided        to presenting clients

•             Enabling clients to access and manage their own resources, enhancing life skills.

Applicants need to have a working knowledge of relevant legislation, an understanding of social justice and marginalisation and a working knowledge of social and community services in Christchurch.   Social Work qualifications are essential.

Hours are 4.00pm to 9.00pm weekdays, although there may be some flexibility for the right person.

Further information and a job pack can be obtained by contacting the Christchurch City Mission on (03) 365 0635 or by emailing jo@citymission.org.nz

Applications close on Monday 20 May, at 5.00pm.

The overall strategy of the Walsh House Service is to help these women gain self-esteem and confidence to cope with a world that has left them beaten and bruised, both emotionally and physically.  This in turn leads to women who are able to cope with children and other family, strengthening the basis of our communities.

Walsh House offers practical assistance, as well as social work interventions. Long term support, developmental interventions and behavior modification and strengths based models do produce positive outcomes – for the individual clients, their families and communities.  Our Social Workers can accompany ladies to various appointments, such as with WINZ, gambling counselors, doctors, etc, to advocate and support.

The Drop In Centre operates every week day and provides an atmosphere of safety and respect for all who attend. Lunch is provided on Mondays and Tuesdays for women attending the various groups offered. These shared meals provide hands-on cookery lessons, with a focus on healthy eating.

Men presenting range from Night Shelter residents, the homeless, men in inner city flats and council flats.  Some are working part time, others attend courses and others are just lonely and in need of support.

The formal part of the current programme consists of guest speakers such as Community Law, Men’s Survivors of Sexual Abuse, WINZ, Housing NZ, Tenants Protection, and Beneficiary Advisory Services.  Other examples of services currently being provided include programmes on men’s mental and physical health, cooking groups, finance management groups, Maori bone carving, DIY workshops such as mending fuses, CV preparation and theory preparation for learners drivers licence.  Games, quizzes and charades are also provided which the men excel at. Regular meetings are being held with the men to seek their input of future needs/wants.

If you would like to know more about this service and/or how you can help please either phone or email: info@citymission.org.nz

DineAID 2012

November means the start of DineAID for another year.  This is a restaurant industry charity initiative, that links eating out and doing good for others in the simplest way possible.If you’re planning a meal out between 1^st November and 31^st December, you could help the Mission’s Foodbank (as well as having a good night out) by choosing a restaurant that’s participating in DineAID and adding $2 to your table’s bill. DineAID cafes have a collection box on their counter.  All the money donated comes directly to the Foodbank.  A good meal and a good deed all rolled in to one!

The following restaurants are all taking part this year:

At the Mission we aim to be a voice as we advocate for justice.

We aim to help those who have nothing so that they may be a part of our world and share in its goodness.

We aim to take away the loneliness and emptiness that many feel as they live cut off from others.

We know who the poor and the lonely are and we can act to help them.

We can not do this alone. We need the help, support and approval of the community.

As you read of the work that we carry out with the marginalized and isolated in our community I hope that you will approve what we do and may be moved to help us so that together we can bring about real change in peoples lives and give hope to those who have none.

Michael Gorman
Christchurch City Missioner

These are divided into two primary areas:

We hope you will take the opportunity to have a good browse – do let us know what you think.