Residential Support Worker - Women's only Programme

The Higher Ground Drug Rehabilitation Trust was established in Auckland in 1984 as a Charitable Trust and is overseen by a Board of Trustees. Higher Ground provides quality abstinence based treatment, within a therapeutic community for the severely dependent. We provide rehabilitation programmes that are based on 12 Step recovery principles.

Based in Te Atatu Peninsula, this is an exciting opportunity to join Higher Ground’s newest programme for pregnant women and new mothers. The role of Support Worker is to support and monitor the activities of the clients through relationship building, you will provide the care and support that meets the individual needs of each client and her child.

This position is responsible for:

• Support the wahine to uphold Kaupapa & interact with residents and their children in a supportive manner
• Ensure safety and security of clients, staff and visitors
• Participate and engage with team members during shift handovers to ensure vital information is passed on.
• To ensure continuity and consistency of guidelines and program rules to maintain a well-functioning Therapeutic Community
• Provide support to case managers and others by reporting shift observations and following clinical directives.
• Provide transport for health appointments and daycare as required

Alongside Mountains of empathy with a few peaks of resilience and firmness, you must have a sense of fun, team spirit and openness will create a fine balance of positivity and realism.

Experience and Knowledge required

• Full NZ drivers licence and comfortable driving a van
• Understand the 12 step programme
• Lived experience of AOD or experience helping mothers through their AOD journey
• Commitment to te reo Maori (me ona Tikanga) and a hands on Whanau approach to treatment
• Knowledge of Te Tiriti O Waitangi and practical ways to implement it within your work.
• Relevant childcare experience or a passion for childcare
• Able and comfortable to support children from birth – age 3
• Ability to establish rapport with individual clients and relate to their families/ whanau
• Ability to engage with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds
• Ability to manage (de-esculate) crisis situations and challenging behaviours
• Be reliable and have strong boundaries
• A knowledge of the Therapeutic Community (TC) is preferable
• Proficient user of computer applications
• The ability to record objective and factual case notes

The successful candidate will also need to have Level 4 Peer Support Worker Certificate or equivalent qualification or be willing to study.

What’s in it for you?

· Career Development and Training

· Internal Supervision

Candidates with a personal history of alcohol and other drug dependence are required to have a minimum of 18 months abstinence.

Higher Ground is an equal opportunity employer and a smoke free organisation. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Please also note that Police clearance checks will be required for this role.

Please send your cover letter and CV by email to Carlene Clarke, HR Manager: careers@higherground.org.nz