Residential Support Worker

Ember Group; Rotorua; On-site; NZD 53,000 - 64,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health & Wellbeing programme

Training opportunities

Leave & study leave

Career progression

Job summary

Ember Group in Rotorua offers a Residential Support Worker role within a 24/7 residential service, dedicated to supporting people with mental health, addiction, or intellectual disability needs. You will help with daily routines and skill-building to promote independence and recovery.

Requirements include NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Level 4 or equivalent, a current NZ driver’s license, and eligibility to work 40 hours weekly. This is a full-time, on-site position with rotating shifts.

Qualifications

• NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Level 4 or equivalent.
• Current Full NZ Driver’s license.
• Experience in mental health/addictions with a client-centered, recovery-focused approach.
• Passion for walking alongside those in need and supporting ongoing goals.

Responsibilities

• Support tāngata whaiora with daily routines in a safe, structured environment.
• Encourage healthy habits and independence in daily living.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary team to deliver recovery-focused support.
• Build respectful, trusting relationships to aid goal progression.
• Provide practical, concrete support to help people move toward greater independence and community connection.

Skills

Client-centered approach

Mental health/recovery knowledge

NZ driver’s license

Māori health approaches awareness

Roster flexibility (AM/PM/Awake shifts

Education

NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 4)

Job description

Residential Support Worker (Rotorua)

• Residential Support Worker
• Permanent, Full-time (40 hours per week)
• Service operates 24 hours, 7 days a week on a rotating roster (working AM/PM shifts with the possibility of Awake shifts)
• Ember Support Worker Pay Rates: $25.63ph - $30.70 per hour (depending on qualification held and its equivalence to the NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing L4, with stepped increases based on tenure)

Ember Korowai Takitini | Nga Matapono

Ember Korowai Takitini blends professional expertise and lived experience to offer a range of services and supports for anyone with mental health, addiction or intellectual disability needs

At Ember we support people to live the lives they choose and we challenge the systems that hold them back.

We desire a society that better understands and responds to mental distress, addiction and intellectual disability.

Ember offers:

• Additional leave, including recreation days and study leave.
• A comprehensive Health & Wellbeing programme, including wellbeing cards loaded with money to spend on your health needs, flu vaccinations, and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and more.
• Training opportunities for upskilling, personal & professional development, and career progression.
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day in a values-led organisation.

The Service | Ko Te Whare O Toro Mai a Ringa

Toro Mai a Ringa is a residential support service delivered in partnership with Health New Zealand in the Lakes region. Located in the Rotorua community, the service supports people with complex mental health needs that sit beyond the usual scope of residential mental health providers. Support is grounded in practical help, consistency, and everyday routines. We support people from within the Lakes rohe who need a higher level of residential support to stabilise and work towards living independently in the community.

Meaning "outstretched hands," Toro Mai a Ringa represents a place of welcome, safety, and opportunity. It is a space where tāngata whaiora from across the Lakes rohe are supported to rebuild their lives and take confident steps back into their community. With a focus on connection, dignity, and recovery, Toro Mai a Ringa extends not just a hand, but a pathway towards hope and healing.

Role | Nga mahi

As a Residential Support Worker, you will work alongside tāngata whaiora in their day-to-day lives, helping to create a safe, structured, and supportive environment where recovery can thrive.

You will support people in real, tangible ways by assisting with daily routines, encouraging healthy habits, and helping people build the skills and confidence needed to live more independently. You will enable progress toward personal goals by building respectful, trusting relationships and by working alongside tāngata whaiora as they develop routines, try new approaches, and grow their confidence.

Working as part of a multidisciplinary team and in partnership with clinical services, you will play a key role in delivering consistent, recovery-focused support that helps tāngata whaiora take meaningful steps toward greater independence and connection with the community. Your presence, reliability, and practical contributions will make a real difference in helping people move forward in their recovery journey every day.

You will have | Nga Pukenga

• A New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 4), or equivalent
• A current Full New Zealand Driver’s license (required)
• A valid/current work visa, residency, or NZ citizenship allowing you to work 40 hours per week (required; we are not currently able to sponsor applicants)
• Experience working in the area of mental health and/or addictions with a client-centered, recovery-focused approach
• A passion for walking along side those in need, supporting on-going goals on the pathway to recovery (required)
• Knowledge of mental health rehabilitation approaches (e.g., cognitive remediation, psychosocial rehabilitation), experience working with co‑occurring addictions and/or cognitive difficulties, and knowledge of Māori health approaches would be greatly welcomed.

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Maku e ki atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata”

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Ember is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace and are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all. We particularly welcome applications from our Māori, Pacific and Rainbow communities.

We will interview candidates as applications come through rather than waiting until the advertisement closes. The vacancy may be filled earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.