Allied Support Worker - Taumaranui

New Zealand Government; New Zealand; Remote; NZD 68,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki is recruiting Allied Support Workers to provide essential support to frontline social work teams across sites. You will enable social workers to focus on statutory duties while handling day-to-day administrative and transport tasks for tamariki and rangatahi, including during transitions and after-hours coverage.

We seek resilient, culturally aware individuals with strong communication skills and a commitment to whānau wellbeing.

Qualifications

• Experience in community support roles for tamariki and whānau.
• Experience with Māori and/or Pasifika cultures.
• Ability to work under pressure with empathy and resilience.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Willingness to drive the Ministry's vehicles and participate in after-hours work.

Responsibilities

• Provide site-based support on demand to frontline teams.
• Assist social workers to enter case notes into CYRAS and other systems.
• Safely transport tamariki and rangatahi to appointments, school or placements.
• Support Family Group Conferences (FGC) setup and admin.
• Support tamariki in placements and during transitions.
• Complete administrative tasks and maintain confidentiality.
• Engage with internal and external partners to foster cooperation.
• Some weekends and after-hours work is required.

Skills

Strong interpersonal communication

Cultural awareness (Māori/Pasifika)

Team collaboration

Problem solving under pressure

Reliable and safe worker

Education

Recognised Social Services qualification

Job description

Oranga Tamariki have exciting new opportunities available for those who are looking to change up and develop their career pathways, making a meaningful contribution to the wellbeing of tamariki, rangatahi and whānau.These positions have been established to provide consistent and reliable operational support to frontline Social Work teams and to respond to sustained service demand across sites. Unlike previously advertised fixed‑term roles, these permanent Allied Support Worker positions are intended to be a stable, ongoing part of Oranga Tamariki’s workforce, strengthening team capacity and continuity of support.

About the role

Allied Support Workers work under the direction and oversight of qualified Social Workers and supervisors, contributing to positive outcomes for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau by enabling Social Workers to focus on statutory requirements and professional practice. The Allied Support Worker role is non-regulated and is not a Social Worker in training, or para-social worker. The position does not undertake social work activities and does not have a case load.

Day-to-day responsibilities will include:

• Providing support across a site on an on-demand basis based on the day-to-day operating needs of the team.
• Assisting social workers to enter case notes and other information into the case management system CYRAS and other information systems.
• Safely transporting tamariki and rangatahi from one location to another such as appointments, school and sports.
• Helping social workers in the set up and administrative tasks of Family Group Conferences (FGC).
• Supporting and assisting social workers in the care of tamariki and rangatahi on occasions when out of school or waiting for placements.
• Making necessary administrative arrangements for tamariki in placement and/or programme transition.
• Supporting tamariki and rangatahi at school through settling in or returning after periods away.
• Conducting supervised access/visitations by driving clients, supervising contact and writing up contact notes.
• Some weekends and afterhours work is required.
• Fostering cooperative working relations with internal colleagues and external partners and stakeholders.

What you will bring

This is a high‑trust, safety‑critical children’s worker role, requiring sound judgement, emotional resilience, and a high level of reliability.

We're looking for applicants with some of the following skills, experience and qualifications:

Experience:

• Working in the community assisting or supporting people in need.
• Working with Māori and/or Pasifika cultures.
• Experience in dealing with emotional situations and being empathic to people's challenges and stresses.
• Excellent verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work in collaborative peer and other stakeholder relationships.

Skills:

• Well- developed written and verbal communication skills and effective interpersonal skills.
• Able to maintain a calm professional demeanour in emotionally complex situations, with the ability to maintain performance under stress.
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural practices in particular; knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples' culture.
• Ability to manage sensitive and confidential information in an appropriate manner.
• Ability to uphold the principles of Te tiriti ō Waitangi and demonstrate this in practice.
• Intermediate level of competence across the Microsoft Suite.

Qualifications/Licence:

• A recognised Social Services qualification is desirable. A clean, current full driver's licence is essential and a willingness to drive the Ministry's vehicles. (Historic convictions may be considered on a case‑by‑case basis).

What's in it for you

This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi.

We offer a competitive remuneration package starting at $68,371 to $75,501 as well as significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow.

We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way.

To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/