National Children's Director

Wow, here is a very important development and a very influential job, do you know anyone who could fill this position and be a passionate advocate for children? Read the detail below to find out all about the job and how you can apply!

   

National Children's Director Ministry of Social Development   Wellington, Full time Closing Date: 28/04/2013  5:00pm
Children's Action Plan Working together, sharing the responsibility Significant leadership opportunity This is your opportunity to lead the most significant advancement in child protection in New Zealand's history. We require a National Children's Director to lead the successful delivery of the Children's Action Plan. The Children's Action Plan is the framework for the programme of change that will shine a light on abuse, neglect and harm by identifying our most vulnerable children and targeting services to them to ensure they get the protection and support they need. The National Children's Director requires a level of personal influence and leadership to drive this very significant programme of work in a complex and high profile environment. The National Children's Director will be accountable to the Vulnerable Children's Board, and have responsibility for: leading the provision of advice to the Vulnerable Children's Board in relation to the White Paper reforms and Children's Action Plan providing strategic planning and management expertise to the Board in relation to the implementation of the early service response system providing national senior leadership to Regional Children's Directors and local Children's Teams to deliver a coordinated and consistent approach nationwide fostering and leading a joined up approach to the Children's Action Plan across social sector agencies leading the Children's Action Plan and ensuring delivery across multiple work streams You will be a passionate leader with substantial senior leadership experience in managing stakeholders, resources and risks at a national level. You will have gained superior political nous through significant experience in a senior management position in the public sector or a community organisation. To apply, click the Apply Now button and upload your resume, covering letter and complete the online application form.   Enquiries only can be directed to Matt Brown on 04 916 3436 or email matt.brown067@msd.govt.nz Applications close Sunday 28 April 2013 at 5:00pm
	Job Description - 268KB

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  Application Fact Sheet - 82k

Growth mindset at work!

Its the end of the ‘harvest’ season- or so I thought! We have processed peaches, plums berries vegetables. Made jam and preserves.Wine is festering away in the hallway! Dehydrated boxes of fruit fill the  the pantry which is bulging at the seams.
The freezer is jammed to the top, and I look into it with satisfaction. The memories of hours of washing, cutting, and processing are starting to fade.

It is about this time of year that I start to think the end is in sight and I am quite thankful. I have once again coped with tripping over buckets of fruit, wiping down benches and trying not to get annoyed with the way that honey seems to spread from one end of the house to another. It is nearly over, as the leaves start to turn and most of the trees are empty of fruit, a sense of calm prevails.

Yes we are still processing apples- but now that is an ‘outside’ job. Pressing juice has thankfully progressed from taking over the house to being a reasonably ‘mess free; process outdoors. I say that with a little afterthought- as I drove to the city yesterday my windscreen seemed a bit blurry- I realised that small chunks of apple had obviously fired out of the home made apple 'chopper-upper' and coated my windscreen. A small price to pay for the juice, wine and cider that we will joyfully consume over winter months. Apples are the last of the major processing operations. My house will be tidy, non sticky and I might get some evenings free to do other things!

I should have learnt by now to ‘Never say never!’ I arrived home last night to find all the benches in the kitchen filled! My husband had been checking out the trees and found that all the chestnuts we have planted as small seedlings have fruited. Something has to be done with them- but what? My kitchen now represents a kind of laboratory. There are bowls of things drying, trays of half scraped chest-nuts, bags waiting for something to happen and so on.

My heart sinks and yet why should it- isn’t this about a growth mindset- about taking on a challenge and trying something new! So now we are frantically learning about chestnuts- they are gluten free, high in protein etc etc. The possibilities are endless. As I step up to help with the processing I try to ignore Brian’s remark about the fact that the olives will soon be ready and he quite likes the idea of making his own olive press…… watch this space. I am as we speak shifting my mindset to be encouraging and enthusiastic!