Pilot Home – Whanau Support Worker Homes, Dunedin

Overview

Two Pilot Homes are being established in Dunedin and Hamilton. This is an amazing opportunity to be a part of a new approach to care in our Homes, helping to increase the capacity for care in regions and to be a part of a wider community of practice in the region.

The pilot Home will test some new concepts which are aimed at reducing challenges we face when caring for tamariki and rangatahi in small group home settings.

The Homes will provide emergency, respite or planned care for up to 5 tamariki in each location. Care in the Homes will be provided by full-time live-in caregivers, supported by skilled Care Workers.

These 12-month pilot Homes, named 'WHARE', will:

• Provide Whanau-like care with fulltime, live in caregivers
• Be Helped by a small group of flexible and qualified care staff, overseen by a Supervisor (Social Worker)
• Be focused on Achieving the goals and aspirations that tamariki and whanau have set in their All About Me Plan
• Focus on providing Relational and restorative care
• Be closely Engaged with local communities, sites and regions with leadership coming from regional teams and accountability to local, external stakeholders

What successful candidates will bring to the role

Qualifications

• Minimum tertiary level qualification (Level 3 minimum) in humanities area in courses such as such as Social Work, Community Services, Health Services, Education or Social Science demonstrating critical thinking, ethics and sound interpersonal and communication skills
• A clean, current driver's licence is essential

Skills

• Ability to develop warm, safe and meaningful relationships.
• Ability to be flexible and open to new learning.
• Understanding and appreciation of cross-cultural issues and concerns, in particular, knowledge of tikanga Māori, and Pacific peoples' culture.
• Ability to develop and maintain strong relationships with stakeholders and to work as a part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to communicate complex ideas to a range of audiences.
• The ability to collaborate with others, internally and externally, to achieve mutually agreed goals.
• An ability to advocate and influence action in areas where this is needed.
• Ability to build and maintain rapport with others based on their own integrity and honesty, demonstrating effective interpersonal skills.
• Sound decision making and judgement with the ability to anticipate and resolve problems and make decisions based on risk management analysis in a calm manner.

This is a fixed term, full-time position based in Dunedin with an anticipated 1-year appointment.

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

This is an opportunity to contribute to a model of care that can have life-changing impacts for tamariki/rangatahi. Successful candidates will start in the role with specific training to be best prepared for this mahi. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $77,886 and $86,082 dependant on experience

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 log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address. If you have any questions about role, please contact

Hurry as applications for this role close at midnight 12th of December 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.