Support Worker Disabilities - Waikato ##

Open Home Foundation; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 30,000 - 39,000; Part time

Job summary

Open Home Foundation is seeking a compassionate Support Worker for the Waikato region, focusing on children with disabilities and high needs. The role involves caring for tamariki in a private foster setting, building trust with families and supporting stability of placements.

Applicants should have a Certificate in Health and Wellbeing, experience in trauma-affected children, and a valid driver’s license. Weekend availability and sleepovers are required; transport is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience providing physical, emotional and therapeutic care of vulnerable children/young people with disabilities.
• Ability to build trust and rapport quickly with child and family.
• Experience with children affected by trauma.
• Willingness to work in a private, foster home setting with high-needs children.
• Must have own transport and a full clean driver’s license.
• Be available to work weekends and sleepovers.

Responsibilities

• Care for high and complex needs children/young people.
• Support placement stability and safety.
• Work across days, evenings, weekends, and sleepovers as required.
• Collaborate with a professional team and contribute to wellbeing of the child.

Skills

Empathy

Teamwork

Communication

Professionalism

Willingness to learn

Education

Certificate in Health and Wellbeing

Job description

Support Worker Disabilities - Waikato

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. No predictable work pattern. We require back-up for the Summer holidays and preparing for a new HUB placement.

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.

Applications Close: 6th November 2026