Support Worker - Whanganui ##

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

Job summary

Open Home Foundation in Whanganui is seeking a casual Support Worker to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of Tamariki in residential care. The role involves evening and weekend shifts, potential overnight care, and transporting children as needed.

A caring, patient approach and alignment with the charity’s Christian Kaupapa are essential. Ideal candidates will have Health and Wellbeing certification, experience with young people, and a willingness to undertake relevant training to support

Qualifications

• Certificate in Health and Wellbeing is preferred.
• Experience working with young people is required.
• Willingness to undertake training for care of vulnerable children/young people with disabilities/ASD.
• Experience in residential settings is advantageous.
• Ability to quickly establish confidence and routine with child and family.
• Own transport with full clean driver’s license is essential.
• First Aid certification is expected.
• Evenings, weekends and some overnight shifts are required.
• Demonstrated understanding of Māori-Tauiwi relationships and empathy with OHF's character.
• Alignment with Open Home Foundation’s Christian Kaupapa.

Responsibilities

• Support Tamariki to ensure needs and safety are met.
• Stabilise placements for children with specific needs.
• May involve transporting children and supporting visits.
• Establish rapport with the child and their family and maintain routines.
• Be available for after-hours and overnight care as required.

Skills

Young people experience

Rapport building

First Aid certified

Evenings/weekends availability

Safe driving/Driver's license

Cultural awareness (Māori/Tauiwi)

Christian Kaupapa alignment

Residential care exposure

Education

Certificate in Health and Wellbeing

Experience in residential settings

Training in care of vulnerable children/ ASD

Job description

Support Worker - Whanganui

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 role could also involve transporting children, mentoring and supporting supervised visits.

The successful applicant will have the following:

• Ideally have a Certificate in Health and Wellbeing.
• Experience working with young people.
• Experience or willingness to undertake training in providing physical, emotional and therapeutic care of vulnerable children/young people with disabilities and / or autism spectrum disorder in a residential setting.
  
• Have experience working in a residential setting and a desire to work with children with disabilities and/ASD.
• Be excellent at quickly establishing confidence, rapport and routine with the child and their family.
• Have their own transport and a full clean driver’s license is essential.
• Be First Aid certified.
• Be available to work evenings, weekends, and provide overnight care of young people, alongside transport and general support.
• An in-depth understanding of how the role recognizes the special relationship between Māori and Tauiwi and strong empathy with the organization's special character.
  
• An alignment with the Open Home Foundation’s Christian Kaupapa.
  
• Hours as agreed ~ Candidates must be available to work outside school hours, with some overnight work, afternoons/evenings.

Applications close: 5th December 2026 (Applicants may be appointed prior to closing date)