What is Wā Manaaki Supervision and How Does it Work?

At 3 Big Things, we provide professional supervision to support Kāinga Ora staff who engage daily with communities, whānau, and individuals in complex situations. Whether you're supporting housing needs, managing relationships with tenants, managing teams, or working on community initiatives, we understand this mahi can be challenging and emotionally demanding.

Our Wā Manaaki supervision service provides you with a dedicated space to reflect on your work, access support, and ensure you're meeting both professional and personal needs in a sustainable and ethical way.

Understanding Professional Supervision

Wā Manaaki supervision is different from counselling or line management. It's a collaborative partnership where you and your supervisor work together to enhance your professional practice. At 3 Big Things, we use a reflective supervision model, which means we focus on helping you develop deeper insights into your work through thoughtful exploration and discussion. Rather than simply providing answers, your supervisor will guide you in examining your experiences, assumptions, and approaches to discover new understandings and solutions.

Through regular sessions, you'll:

• Reflect on your work experiences and approaches

• Develop strategies for complex situations before they arise

• Explore different perspectives and solutions

• Maintain your resilience and overall wellbeing

• Strengthen your cultural practice and decision-making

• Build resilience and maintain professional boundaries

Why We Provide Supervision to Kāinga Ora Staff

We understand your work involves:

• Building and maintaining relationships with diverse groups of people

• Managing complex situations that can be emotionally challenging

• Making decisions that significantly impact whānau and communities

• Balancing multiple priorities and stakeholder needs

Our supervision helps you navigate these challenges while staying true to Kāinga Ora's values of manaakitanga (care and respect) and kotahitanga (unity).

How  Wā Manaaki Supervision Works

1.        Before Your Session

Take some time to reflect on:

• Recent challenging situations you've faced

• Successes you want to build on

• Questions about your practice

• Areas where you'd like support or guidance

2.        During Your Session

Your 3 Big Things supervisor will:

• Create a safe, confidential space for open discussion

• Help you explore situations from different perspectives

• Guide you in finding solutions that work for you

• Support you in maintaining professional boundaries

• Assist you in identifying learning opportunities

3.        After Your Session

You'll have:

• Clear and practical actions to implement in your work

• New strategies to try

• Increased confidence in handling challenges

• Better understanding of your role and its impacts