Support Worker (Male Only)

Full job description
Support Worker (Male Only), Intensive Support Service

Permanent, Full-time (40 hours per week)
Service operates, Monday – Friday 8:00am to 4:30pm.
Position is based from our Otahuhu service.
Pay Equity: $25.00ph - $30.00ph (depending on qualification held and its equivalence to the NZ Certificate in Health and Wellbeing L4)
We are currently seeking male applicants only for this role: the position involves providing personal care and support to clients who are subject to court orders and care plans that specify support must be provided by someone of the same sex. This is necessary to meet legal, privacy, dignity, and safety requirements for these individuals.
Ember values our employees - they are our secret sauce and we are committed to doing the best we can do for our kaimahi. We believe our people’s abilities, knowledge and experience are irreplaceable. To support this, we offer a higher hourly rate, above the current statutory requirement, for employees who are covered by the Pay Equity Settlement Agreement.


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 ISS

ISS provides tailored, person-centred support for whaiora with high and complex needs, particularly those with intellectual disabilities and forensic mental health backgrounds.

ISS focuses on enhancing clients' quality of life through structured day programmes that develop life skills, foster community participation, and promote independence.

Support Workers collaborate with clients to set and achieve personal goals, employing behavioural interventions and strength-based approaches to facilitate reintegration into the community.

We work in partnership with residential services to provide an all-encompassing array of supportive services to facilitate the client on their pathway to rehabilitation.


Role | Nga mahi

Support Workers deliver personalised life skills and day services tailored to each client's unique needs, blending client-led goals with behavioural support strategies. They are expected to provide both individual and group-based community support, as well as facilitate day programmes that build practical and social skills. The aim is to help clients develop a strong sense of identity, confidence, and the ability to lead meaningful lives within their chosen communities.

Key responsibilities include:

fostering the development of skills that encourage community involvement and support entry into the mainstream workforce
identifying needs, setting goals, offering guidance, modelling positive behaviours, and applying measurable outcomes to track progress
designing, delivering, and evaluating high-quality programmes, including core ISS initiatives delivered each term
Providing or coordinating one-on-one and/or group support and training that assists an individual with high and complex needs to develop interpersonal and pre-vocational skills
Being comfortable with physically active duties, including participation in sports and, when necessary, the use of safe restraint techniques.

You will have | Nga Pukenga

A New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Level 4), or equivalent.
A Full NZ Drivers Licence
A valid/current work visa, residency, or citizenship
Experience working with intellectual disability and complex behaviours.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to relate, adapt to and engage a wide spectrum of people with diverse backgrounds, ages and cultures.
Passion for walking along side those in need and supporting on-going goals on the pathway to recovery.

When applying please have | Kia Whakauru

An up-todate CV
Cover Letter detailing
Why you’re interested in the role?
What skills, competencies and experience you bring to the 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.

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