Community Support Worker

• Permanent, Full-time (40 hours per week)

• Service operates 24 hours, 7 days a week on a rotating roster

• Service hub is located in Rototuna, covering the Waikato region

• Pay Equity: $25.00ph - $30.00 per hour for new starters (depending on qualification held and its equivalence to the Certificate in Health and Wellbeing L4) with stepped increase according to tenure up to $31.50 per hour

Ember values our people – they’re our secret sauce. We’re committed to doing our best for our kaimahi and recognise their irreplaceable skills and experience. To support this, we offer a higher hourly rate above the current Pay Equity Settlement requirement.

Ember Korowai Takitini | Nga Matapono

Ember Korowai Takitini blends professional expertise and lived experience to offer a range of services and supports for anyone with mental health, addiction, or intellectual disability needs.

At Ember we support people to live the lives they choose, and we challenge the systems that hold them back.

We desire a society that better understands and responds to mental distress, addiction, and intellectual disability

Ember offers:

• Additional leave, including recreation days and study leave

• A comprehensive Health & Wellbeing programme, including health checks, flu vaccinations, and Employee Assistance Programme (EAP), and more

• Training opportunities for upskilling, personal & professional development, and career progression.

• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day in a values-led organisation

The Service | Ko Te Whare O Waikato Services

Our Waikato services provide tailored support for tāngata whaiora with high and complex needs, including those referred from adult mental health and forensic services.

We’re a skilled, compassionate, and multi-disciplinary team who bring together a wide range of expertise and lived experiences. We take pride in working collaboratively — using our collective knowledge and strengths to empower whaiora on their recovery journey.

By helping people build daily routines, develop practical life skills, and access meaningful opportunities, we support them to grow, thrive, and live well — both as individuals and as valued members of their communities.

Role | Nga mahi

Community Support Workers utilize their experience, skills, and knowledge of mental health rehabilitation to empower whaiora to overcome any obstacles or barriers they may face.

As a Community Support Worker, you will:

• build relationships with tanagata whaiora and work collaboratively to find personalised solutions that enable them to live and participate in their community

• build on the strengths of whaiora to develop natural support networks for participation and to support them to integrate independently into the community

• communicate effectively and take a person-centred approach as you work alongside clinical teams and other community agencies to ensure we provide a wrap-around service for those we support.

To support you in your work, we will provide ample and ongoing tools and encouragement. We will do all we can to empower you to grow, develop, and flourish in this role, and to ensure that we are always striving for an environment of learning, teamwork, and enjoyment.

You will have | Nga Pukenga

• A New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing Level 4, or equivalent qualification (strongly preferred)

• A valid/current work visa allowing you to accept permanent full-time work; residency; or citizenship (REQUIRED - please note that if you do not meet this requirement your application will be immediately declined)

• A Full NZ Driver's Licence (required)

• Be able to work in a team environment and from a bicultural perspective

• Be professional and ethical, and capable of establishing and upholding good boundaries

• Have experience working in the area of mental health and/or addictions (alcohol and other drugs)

• Have a passion for walking along side those in need, supporting on-going goals on the pathway to recovery

• Lived experience with mental health and addictions is preferred

When applying please include | Kia Whakauru

• An up-to-date CV

• A Cover Letter detailing

  • Why you’re interested in the role?

  • Any skills, competencies and experience (both professional and personal, if relevant) that you would bring to this role?

“He aha te mea nui o te ao? Maku e ki atu, he tangata, he tangata, he tangata”

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people.

Ember is an equal opportunity employer. We welcome and embrace diversity and inclusion in the workplace and are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all. We particularly welcome applications from our Māori, Pacific and Rainbow communities.

We will interview candidates as applications come through rather than waiting until the advertisement closes. The vacancy may be filled earlier if a suitable candidate is identified.