Support Worker Team Leader – Intensive Support Services (ISS) | Christchurch

New Zealand Health Group; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 65,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration with team-leK

NZQA health & wellbeing training

Employee benefits: sick and annual lea

Staff discounts (PB Tech)

Discounted 2degrees plans

Discounted Southern Cross Health

Employee Assistance Programme

Leadership development opportunities

Job summary

New Zealand Health Group’s Christchurch Intensive Support Services team is seeking a capable Team Leader to coach staff, manage day-to-day operations, and keep the person supported at the centre of all decisions. You will lead by example, ensuring respectful, safe, and consistent support across shifts.

This hands-on role requires strong relationship-building with whānau, professionals, and stakeholders, plus the ability to adapt to morning, afternoon, evening, overnight and weekend schedules.

Qualifications

• Minimum Level 3 qualification in Health and Wellbeing.
• Experience in disability, healthcare, youth residential, or related support environments.
• Experience supporting autistic people, including non-verbal or alternative communication.
• Experience with complex behavioural and communication needs.
• Leadership, mentoring, or team coordination experience.
• Understanding of Positive Behaviour Support and trauma-informed practice.
• Ability to stay calm, professional, and solution-focused in challenging situations.
• Full New Zealand Driver Licence.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and support a team to provide safe, person-centred support.
• Role model professional, respectful, and positive support practices.
• Support staff to implement Personal Plans, PBS strategies, and risk management.
• Promote trauma-informed, low-arousal approaches.
• Provide calm leadership during challenging or rapidly changing situations.
• Support staff to recognise individual communication styles and triggers.
• Help people work toward goals, develop independence, and participate in the community.
• Promote meaningful activities, daily living skills, and wellbeing.
• Build positive relationships with whānau and collaborate with professionals and stakeholders.
• Ensure effective communication, documentation, incident reporting, and planning.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Team coordination

Positive Behaviour Support

Trauma-informed practice

NZ Driver Licence

Restorative practice

Education

Level 3 qualification in Health and Wellbeing

Job description

• Support Worker Team Leader – Intensive Support Services (ISS) | Christchurch

Support Worker Team Leader – Intensive Support Services (ISS) | Christchurch

At NZCL, we are dedicated to supporting people with disabilities in New Zealand. Our Disability Support Services reflect our belief that all people deserve to live fully, have equal opportunities, and achieve their ambitions.

Our Intensive Support Services (ISS) provide highly individualised residential support for tamariki, rangatahi, and pakeke (adults) with complex support needs. The people we support may have intellectual disabilities, autism, neurodiversity, mental health or developmental needs, trauma-related backgrounds, and behaviours that can at times present challenges or risks.

Our approach is person-centred, trauma-informed, and grounded in Positive Behaviour Support (PBS). We work alongside whōna, guardians, healthcare professionals, educators, and other key stakeholders to create safe, structured, and supportive environments where people can build independence, develop life skills, strengthen relationships, and achieve meaningful outcomes.

We are looking for an energetic, resilient, and motivated Team Leader to join our Christchurch Intensive Support Services team.

This is a hands-on leadership role where you will work alongside your team, providing coaching, direction, and guidance while ensuring the person we support remains at the centre of everything we do.

There will be a mixture of morning, afternoon, evening, overnight, and weekend shifts, so flexibility to work alongside and support your team across a variety of shifts is an important part of this role.

What does the role involve? | He aha te mahi

As a Team Leader within ISS, you will support people to live as independently as possible while leading and motivating the team supporting them.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Leading, coaching, and supporting a team to provide safe, consistent, and person-centred support.
• Role modelling professional, respectful, and positive support practices.
• Supporting staff to consistently implement Personal Plans, Positive Behaviour Support strategies, Risk Management Plans, and other individual support guidance.
• Promoting trauma-informed, proactive, low-arousal, and least-restrictive approaches.
• Providing calm and effective leadership during challenging or rapidly changing situations.
• Supporting staff to recognise individual communication styles, non-verbal cues, sensory needs, routines, potential triggers, and early signs of distress.
• Supporting people to work towards their goals, develop independence, make meaningful choices, and participate in their community.
• Supporting meaningful activities, daily living skills, household routines, personal care, health, and wellbeing where required.
• Building positive relationships with whōna and working collaboratively with professionals and other key stakeholders.
• Ensuring effective communication, accurate documentation, incident reporting, and contribution to planning and review processes.
• Promoting a positive team culture based on respect, accountability, consistency, and collaboration.

Supporting Complex Needs and Behaviour

Working within Intensive Support Services can be both highly rewarding and challenging.

We are particularly interested in applicants with experience supporting autistic people, including people who communicate non-verbally or use alternative forms of communication.

You will understand the importance of getting to know the person and learning their individual communication style, routines, preferences, sensory needs, and non-verbal cues. You will support your team to recognise what the person's behaviour may be communicating and respond consistently and respectfully.

At times, people may communicate distress, unmet needs, sensory overload, emotional dysregulation, or difficulty coping with changes through behaviours of concern. This can include verbal or physical aggression, property damage, absconding, or other behaviours requiring confident and consistent support.

As Team Leader, you will help staff understand the person behind the behaviour, recognise early signs of distress, and respond proactively using agreed Positive Behaviour Support strategies, low-arousal approaches, and risk management guidance.

What are we looking for? | He aha tā tōu e rapu ana

We are looking for someone who is passionate about supporting people with complex needs and can provide calm, confident, and practical leadership.

You will ideally bring:

• A minimum Level 3 qualification in Health and Wellbeing.
• Previous experience in disability, healthcare, mental health, youth, residential, or another relevant support environment.
• Experience supporting autistic people, particularly people who communicate non-verbally or use alternative forms of communication.
• Experience supporting people with complex behavioural and communication needs.
• Leadership, mentoring, senior support, or team coordination experience.
• An understanding of Positive Behaviour Support, trauma-informed practice, and low-arousal approaches.
• The ability to remain calm, professional, and solution-focused in challenging situations.
• Strong communication, relationship-building, coaching, and organisational skills.
• Confidence providing staff with direction, feedback, and support while promoting consistency and accountability.
• A warm and approachable personality with empathy, respect, and cultural awareness.
• Commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Flexibility to work across a roster, including weekends and overnight shifts where required.
• A Full New Zealand Driver Licence, which is essential for this role.

Most importantly, you will be someone who leads by example. You will build positive relationships with both the person we support and your team, remain calm when situations become challenging, and help staff provide consistent, respectful, and effective support.

What is in it for you? | He aha kei roto mŏo koe

As a company, we are committed to our employees. We are proud to employ and develop people from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.

You will have access to:

• Competitive remuneration, including the applicable allowance for Team Leader responsibilities.
• Earn while you learn opportunities, with training towards NZQA Health & Wellbeing qualifications.
• Employee benefits, including sick and annual leave.
• PB Tech discounts when shopping online.
• Discounted 2degrees phone and broadband plans.
• Discounted Southern Cross Health Insurance.
• Employee Assistance Programme services for health and wellbeing support.
• Opportunities to further develop your leadership skills and experience supporting people with complex needs.

Why Join Intensive Support Services?

ISS is about more than providing day-to-day support. It is about building trusting relationships, understanding each person's individual way of communicating, creating consistency and safety, and supporting people to develop greater independence and achieve meaningful outcomes.

As a Team Leader, you will have the opportunity to make a difference not only in the life of the person we support, but also in the development and confidence of the staff working alongside them.

If you are a calm, practical, and people-focused leader who enjoys developing others and is passionate about supporting autistic people and people with complex needs to live great lives, we would love to hear from you.

Location(s) Christchurch branch area

Expertise Children & Youth Care, Disability Support, Home & Community Support, Rehabilitation, Support Worker, Respite Care