Permanent Residential Youth Worker Kaahui Whetuu

Mō mātou | About us Our tamariki and rangatahi deserve to feel safe, have their voices heard, and be surrounded by loving whānau. At Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children, we're on a journey to ensure that it happens. We are a leading social work practice that is child‑centred, trauma‑informed, and effective for all cultures. We are a Ministry with a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of everything we do and say. Mō te tūnga | About the role Based at Kaahui Whetuu in South Auckland, our Residential Youth Workers have an important role to play. They provide care and support to the young people in our care and encourage and motivate them to make positive choices. This is a permanent opportunity to positively influence young people and help them grow and successfully transition back into the community. Our young people require wrap‑around support, so our Residential Youth Workers do rostered shifts as the facility provides 24‑hours, 7‑days per week coverage (including weekends and public holidays). Typical duties of the role include: Coaching rangatahi through our structured day and all life necessities Participating in activities with our young people by playing sports Supporting rangatahi by helping them with their studies, teaching life skills such as cooking, art, music and cultural programmes, and mentoring them to make positive life choices Building rapport with rangatahi who have experienced trauma and assisting with redirecting behaviour Qualifications and experience A full, clean, valid driver’s licence – ability to drive a manual vehicle is highly desirable Meet the Children’s Act safety checking and our vetting requirements; New Zealand citizenship or residency Resilience, initiative and a proactive approach with a positive outlook Empathy, patience and the ability to see past what someone may be struggling with A tertiary education within psychology, social sciences, social work, sports, music, arts or teaching would be an advantage Flexibility to work different shifts – mornings, evenings, weekends and public holidays Experience working with rangatahi and tamariki Sound judgement with the ability to manage risk and make tough decisions Life experience and understanding of what rangatahi may be going through Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to adapt to your audience Understanding and confidence in tikanga Māori and te reo Māori would be a definite advantage Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you Oranga Tamariki offers an impartial remuneration package that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $62,366 and $76,000, dependent on experience, inclusive of penal rates. We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way. This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi. Please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/ to see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki. Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply Apply online with your CV and cover letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you register or login using your work email address. For reporting and transparency, it is important that all applications are submitted through our careers site. Please do not email your applications and/or CVs. If you have any questions about the role, please contact [email protected]. Hurry as applications for this role close at midnight 23rd July 2026! Applications will be reviewed prior to the advert closing, and applicants may be contacted. Please ensure you are familiar with our code of conduct, which sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol. #J-18808-Ljbffr