Support Worker Disabilities - Hawkes Bay ##

Open Home Foundation; St Leonards; On-site; GBP 13,000 - 16,000; Part time

Job summary

Open Home Foundation is seeking a Casual Support Worker for Disabilities in Hawke's Bay, NZ. You will provide safe, compassionate care to children with high and complex needs, including autism and intellectual disabilities, in a private foster setting.

The role requires flexibility to cover days, evenings, weekends and sleepovers, plus a Christian Kaupapa alignment and strong teamwork with a professional care system.

Qualifications

• Ideally have a Certificate in Health and Wellbeing.
• Experience providing physical, emotional and therapeutic care of vulnerable children/young people with disabilities.
• Experience caring for children affected by trauma.
• Able to quickly establish confidence, rapport and routine with the child and family.
• Must have own transport and a full clean driver’s license.
• Willing to learn.
• Weekend availability is required.
• Understand the relationship between Māori and Tauiwi and show empathy with the organisation’s character.
• Aligned with the Open Home Foundation’s Christian Kaupapa.

Responsibilities

• Provide care and safety for Tamariki with high and complex needs.
• Support families in private foster placements.
• Work days, evenings, weekends and sleepovers as required.
• Collaborate with a professional care team to support outcomes for children.

Skills

Empathy

Rapport building

Communication

Education

Certificate in Health and Wellbeing

Job description

Support Worker Disabilities - Hawkes Bay

Casual Position

“Supporting Families, Caring for Children”

The Open Home Foundation (OHF) is a Christian Community Response and has a vision that every child and young person has the opportunity to grow up in a secure, loving family and receive a depth of care which will bless them throughout their lives.

Integral to our ongoing success are our Support Workers who ensure the needs and safety of our Tamariki are paramount. The Support Worker role plays a very important part in families’ lives, helping stabilize the placements of children with specific needs—all while demonstrating a lot of care, empathy and professionalism. This is a very demanding role looking after high and complex needs children/young people with autism and/or intellectual disabilities, but for the right person, the most rewarding work.

We need support workers to be able to work days, evenings, weekends and do sleepovers.

The successful applicant will have the following:

• Ideally have a Certificate in Health and Wellbeing
• Have experience providing physical, emotional and therapeutic care of vulnerable children/young people/babies with disabilities.
• Have experience in working/caring for children who have been affected by trauma.
• Be excellent at quickly establishing confidence, rapport and routine with the child and their family.
• Have the inner drive to ensure the wellbeing of our children.
• Be able to function within a private, foster home and remain committed to the wellbeing of a specific child with high needs.
• Be able to function as part of a professional team, is essential.
• Be willing to learn
• Have their own transport and a full clean driver’s license is essential.
• Has to be able to work on weekends.
• An in-depth understanding of how the role recognizes the special relationship between Māori and Tauiwi and strong empathy with the organisation’s special character.
• An alignment with the Open Home Foundation’s Christian Kaupapa.

Download Position Description

Download Application Information Sheet

Download OHF Mission, Vision and 'We Will Statement'

If you would like more information on the role, please:

• Contact: [e-mail]

Applications Close: 8th November 2026