Permanent Residential Youth Worker Whakatakapokai

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; South Head; On-site; NZD 69,000 - 79,000; Full time

Job summary

A youth services agency in Auckland seeks a Youth Worker to support at-risk youth in residential settings. The role involves providing mentorship, ensuring safety, and assisting in personal growth through behavioral support. Candidates should be open to flexible shifts and possess relevant life experiences or qualifications. A full, clean driver’s license and the right to work in New Zealand are necessary.

Benefits

On-the-job paid training

Ongoing development opportunities

Career development in meaningful work

Qualifications

• Motivated to engage in restorative approaches and learn tikanga and te reo Māori.
• Appropriate level of physical health and fitness to interact with rangatahi.
• Right to work in New Zealand, and possession of a full, clean New Zealand driver’s license.

Responsibilities

• Ensure a safe and secure environment for rangatahi, staff, and the community.
• Support rangatahi in personal growth, addressing offending behaviours and learning new skills.

Skills

High quality skills to work with rangatahi who may have behavioural issues

Willingness to support at other South Auckland residences

Available to work a roster covering various shifts

Education

Studies or qualifications in psychology, social sciences, social work, or education

Job description

Overview

Do you want the chance to make a difference one moment, milestone and interaction at a time? Are you interested in helping tamariki develop the skills they need to be meaningful contributors to their whānau and communities? We would love to hear from you! We currently have permanent Youth Work positions at Whakatakapokai Youth Justice Residence in South Auckland. Whakatakapokai is the most recent secure youth justice residence to open. With 15 beds, there is a strong aspirational focus on achieving positive change with rangatahi through a model of care that draws on holistic, relational, and restorative ways of being (Te Ao Māori) to reduce reoffending.

As part of our collective brand of practice you may be asked to support certain activities across the youth justice network.

About the role

A Youth Worker works in Oranga Tamariki's Youth Justice Residences, Care & Protection Residences, Care & Protection Group Homes, and other residential facilities that provide care and support to youth offenders and/or at-risk tamariki and rangatahi.

Mō te tūnga | About the role:
Residential Youth Workers are high quality role models and champions of rangatahi in our care. They support rangatahi to strengthen their confidence and skills to be positive contributors to their whānau and communities. Guiding behavioural change requires kaimahi with confidence and courage. There is a variety of responsibilities, including:

• Ensuring that a safe and secure environment is maintained for the benefit of the rangatahi, staff and the community
• Supporting rangatahi in their personal growth with a focus on addressing offending behaviours, learning new skills, strengthening pro-social relationships, maintaining physical and mental health, participating in daily activities and programmes.

It is important that you are motivated to engage in our way of being, so it is an advantage to have skills in tikanga and te reo Māori; however a strong motivation to learn restorative approaches is a great start. You will work within a collaborative and reflective workplace, so you need to be open minded and a team player who is committed to achieving Oranga Tamariki's vision, purpose, and values together.

This is not a 9 to 5 job - Our rangatahi require wrap around support from us which is why our Residential Youth Workers work rostered shifts as we provide 24-hour, 7-days per week care (including weekends and public holidays). The starting salary for a permanent, full-time Youth Worker is between $69,312 - $78,400, dependant on experience (this includes penal allowances of 20% for certain shifts worked).

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring:
We value our kaimahi and the wide range of skills and experiences they have. We want to hear from you if you have:

• High quality skills to work with rangatahi who may have behavioural issues.
• Studies or qualifications in psychology, social sciences, social work, or education (beneficial but not required). Life learnings are equally important, and we value the life experience our staff bring to this practical and challenging role.
• Available to work a roster that covers mornings, evenings, nights, weekends, and public holidays
• Willingness to support at other South Auckland residences if operationally required
• An appropriate level of physical health and fitness to interact with rangatahi
• The right to work in New Zealand
• A full, clean New Zealand driver’s license is necessary for this role
• You must meet the safety checking and police vetting requirements required under the Children’s Act.

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for you:
Our Youth Workers receive full-time, on-the-job paid training. We are committed to ensuring that our kaimahi have the best possible preparation and support to work in our unique environment. We also provide ongoing development for our people. Oranga Tamariki is an organisation with great career development opportunities in meaningful lines of work. A lot of our leadership team started with us as Youth Workers themselves.

Should you be successful in securing a permanent full-time position with Oranga Tamariki, here are the benefits you could look forward to:

How to Apply

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a login using your Oranga Tamariki email address.

Hurry as applications for this role close at midnight 13th of October 2025! Please note: we will be reviewing applications and inviting candidates to interview prior to this date, so apply now!

If you are interested, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.