A Day in the Life: Erika, Recruitment Coordinator
No two days look the same in my role – and that’s exactly what I love about it.
As a Recruitment Coordinator at Key Assets, my day often starts with checking new enquiries from people curious about fostering. These are often the first brave steps someone takes, so between myself and my colleague Trish, we make sure to respond quickly, answer questions, and help people feel supported from the very beginning.
I also spend time checking our carer pipeline, making sure applicants are moving through each stage of the recruitment process. It can be a lengthy journey with several touchpoints along the way, so staying connected and maintaining regular communication is an important part of the role.
In between hot coffees, team check-ins, and meetings (classic social worker habits – I am one, after all!), Trish and I connect with prospective carers and coordinate upcoming honohono (information sessions), followed by our whanaungatanga sessions across the three regions.
A real highlight of my role is visiting prospective carers in their homes. Recently, I travelled out to Paeroa – the birthplace of the iconic Lemon & Peoroa (world famous in NZ!) – to meet a couple beginning their fostering journey. Of course, no trip to Paeroa is complete without a visit to the big L&P bottle on the main street and a stop into Providence Pantry for some tasty treats.
There’s something special about sitting down with people in their own space, meeting their whānau (and their fur babies!), and getting a feel for their home and environment. These visits are part of our home health and safety process, ensuring everything is ready for a potential mokopuna placement – but they’re also about whanaungatanga: building connections, trust, and genuine rapport.
We spend time in kōrero, getting to know each other and exploring what fostering could look like for them. It’s a privilege to be part of these early conversations. Behind every visit and every enquiry is the potential to create a safe, caring space for a child – and that’s what makes this role so rewarding.