Summary Job Description
Position Title: Fatherhood Support Facilitator
Reports To: General Manager
Location:
Day to Day based onsite at the Canterbury Men's Centre and across Canterbury and to operate in the wider community.
Employment Type: Part-time/Fixed-term
Flexible 20-32hrs/week, 6-18months fixed-term dependant on funding being renewed by the funding provider.
Salary: $30-$48/hour depending on qualifications and level of experience.
About the Role
This role is based on a "by fathers, for fathers" philosophy and recognises the important role fathers play in the healthy development and wellbeing of children and whānau.
The Fatherhood Support Facilitator is responsible for supporting the development, delivery, coordination and continuous improvement of our dedicated fatherhood support service - Matua ki te Matua, designed to strengthen the capability, confidence, wellbeing, and positive engagement of dad's or dad's-to-be with pēpi, tamariki, māmā and wider whānau.
This is a community-facing leadership role that provides support to fathers and fathers-to-be through group facilitation, one-to-one support, advocacy, referrals, mentoring, and collaborative service delivery.
The role combines programme leadership, direct service delivery, community engagement, relationship management, reporting, and contract compliance responsibilities.
The successful applicant will work within a kaupapa Māori and Whānau Ora framework, ensuring services are strengths-based, culturally grounded, mana-enhancing and responsive to the diverse needs of fathers and whānau across the community.
Purpose of the Service
To support fathers and fathers-to-be through structured fatherhood groups, individual support, counselling referrals, advocacy, mentoring, practical assistance and warm referrals to community services.
The programme aims to:
· Increase parenting knowledge, confidence and practical skills.
· Strengthen positive involvement with tamariki and whānau.
· Improve emotional wellbeing and resilience.
· Support healthy co-parenting and relationships with māmā.
· Improve cultural identity and connection.
· Increase access to support services.
· Reduce barriers to positive parenting and family wellbeing.
· Create sustainable peer-support networks for fathers.
The service prioritises fathers from low-socioeconomic communities, and fathers or whānau experiencing higher or more complex needs.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Leadership & Development
Support the Lead Facilitator in the design, implementation and ongoing development of the fatherhood programme.
Ensure programme content remains evidence-informed, culturally responsive and aligned with contractual outcomes.
Develop resources, session plans, activities and learning materials.
Monitor programme effectiveness and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
Gather participant, whānau and other parties (social workers, other services who are engaged) feedback and incorporate it into programme design, delivery and reporting.
Maintain a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment that encourages participation and engagement.
Group Facilitation
Facilitate a minimum of:
· One daytime fatherhood group each week.
· One evening fatherhood group each week between 5:00pm and 8:00pm.
Cover topics including Parenting skills, Child development, Emotional regulation, Healthy relationships, Communication skills, Positive role modelling, Father identity and leadership, Cultural identity and connection, Personal wellbeing and resilience, Whānau wellbeing
One-to-One Support & Case Coordination
Provide community-based support for fathers and fathers-to-be.
Advocacy & Navigation Support
This includes:
· Advocacy and support planning.
· Encouraging accountability and where necessary positive behavioural change.
· Assisting fathers to navigate complex systems.
· Supporting engagement with required agencies and services.
· Maintaining child safety and wellbeing as a primary consideration.
Referrals & External Relationships
Develop and maintain collaborative working relationships with key stakeholders including:
Cultural Leadership & Practice
Ensure delivery aligns with kaupapa Māori and Whānau Ora principles.
Data Management & Reporting
Maintain accurate and timely records including:
Community Engagement & Representation
Essential Qualifications & Experience
· Relevant tertiary qualification in social work, counselling, psychology, community development, youth work, education, health, or equivalent experience.
· Experience working with fathers, men, whānau or families.
· Experience facilitating groups and workshops.
· Experience providing one-to-one support in community settings.
· Understanding of trauma-informed practice.
· Experience working with vulnerable or high-needs populations.
· Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
· Experience maintaining professional case notes and reporting.
· Full unrestricted New Zealand driver's licence.
· Ability to work an evening one day a week to support a group between 6pm and 8pm.
· Knowledge of fatherhood, attachment theory and child development.
· Experience working with Māori and Pasifika, kaupapa Māori and Pasifika services.
· Understanding of Whānau Ora and Pasifika approaches.
· Ability to utilise te reo Māori in professional settings.
Core Competencies
The successful applicant will demonstrate:
· Authentic engagement with fathers and whānau.
· Cultural humility and responsiveness.
· Strong facilitation skills.
· Leadership and initiative.
· Professional integrity.
· Empathy and emotional intelligence.
· Sound judgement and decision-making.
· Accountability and self-management.
· Confidence working independently and collaboratively.
· Commitment to child wellbeing and whānau outcomes.
Our Commitment
We are committed to creating positive outcomes for fathers, pēpi, tamariki, māmā and whānau through services that are mana-enhancing, strengths-based, culturally grounded and peer-led. We are passionate about fathers supporting fathers to realise their aspirations and become active, engaged and positive influences within the lives of their tamariki, their whānau and communities.