Allied Support Worker - Te Ahuru Mowai (Tauranga West)

About the opportunity

Oranga Tamariki is offering a permanent opportunity for someone who wants to grow their career while making a meaningful difference to tamariki, rangatahi and whānau. The role has been created to provide dependable day-to-day operational help to frontline social work teams and to support ongoing demand across sites. Unlike earlier fixed-term versions of this role, this is a stable position designed to strengthen team capacity and continuity of service.

About the role

Allied Support Workers operate under the guidance of qualified Social Workers and supervisors. The purpose of the role is to help enable social workers to concentrate on statutory responsibilities and professional practice so that better outcomes can be achieved for children, young people and families.

This is a non-regulated role. It is not a social work training position, and it is not a para-social worker role. The position does not involve social work practice and does not carry a caseload.

Support may include home visits, other team engagements, administrative tasks and transporting tamariki and rangatahi.

Key duties

• Provide practical support across the site as needed, responding to the team’s daily operational priorities.
• Assist social workers with entering case notes and other records into CYRAS and related information systems.
• Transport tamariki and rangatahi safely between locations such as appointments, school and sporting activities.
• Support the preparation and administration of Family Group Conferences.
• Help care for tamariki and rangatahi when they are out of school or waiting for placement.
• Handle administrative arrangements connected to placement changes or programme transitions.
• Support children and young people at school when settling in or returning after time away.
• Carry out supervised access and visitation work, including transporting clients, supervising contact and documenting contact notes.
• Build positive working relationships with internal teams, external partners and stakeholders.

What you will bring

This is a high-trust, safety-critical role involving children, so you will need strong judgement, emotional steadiness and a dependable work style. We are looking for people who can bring some or all of the following experience, skills and qualifications.

Experience and skills

• Experience supporting people in the community who are facing need or disadvantage.
• Experience working with Māori and/or Pasifika communities.
• Confidence dealing with emotionally charged situations and showing empathy for people’s pressures and challenges.
• Strong verbal, written and interpersonal communication skills.
• Ability to work well with peers and a range of stakeholders in a collaborative way.
• Calm, professional behaviour in stressful or complex situations.
• Good judgement when managing sensitive and confidential information.
• Understanding of cross-cultural practice, including tikanga Māori and Pacific cultures.
• Ability to apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in everyday practice.
• Intermediate ability with the Microsoft suite.

Qualifications and licence

• A recognised qualification in social services is preferred.
• A full, clean and current driver licence is essential, along with a willingness to drive Ministry vehicles.
• Historic convictions may be considered individually.

What’s on offer

The salary package starts at NZD 68,371 and goes up to NZD 75,501. The role also includes significant training and professional development opportunities to support growth and success. Oranga Tamariki values diversity and is committed to an inclusive and respectful workplace.

Application information

Applications close on Sunday, 21 June 2026. Candidates are asked to apply online with a CV and cover letter. Current Oranga Tamariki employees should use their Oranga Tamariki email login when applying.

The organisation is recruiting for a large number of roles across the motu, so the recruitment process may take longer than usual. Applicants are thanked in advance for their patience.

Code of conduct and workplace expectations

Anyone interested in a vacancy should review the code of conduct, which outlines expectations for kaimahi and requires employees to come to work free from the influence of drugs and alcohol.