Mō mātou | About Hōhepa
Working at Hōhepa, is different from the average, you become part of our community of people, staff, volunteers, and contractors who all have a common goal - helping people to reach their full potential and lead enriched and meaningful lives in a holistic, supportive environment. We are a community leader providing services and support for people living with an intellectual disability to live their best lives and find a valued place in our society. Inspired by Dr Rudolf Steiner’s principles of anthroposophy, we seek to understand each person and situation as unique, not a one size fits all philosophy.
Mō te tūranga | About the Role
McDougall Service is located at the Hōhepa main campus in Somerfield and is home to five gentlemen aged between 40 and 60. They are semi-independent, social, and passionate about being part of the community. Over the years, they’ve built a caring and connected home environment, having known each other for a long time.
Each gentleman has unique interests, ranging from classic music like ABBA, Neil Diamond, and Kenny Rogers to musicals such as Phantom of the Opera and Mamma Mia. Others enjoy Star Wars, art, bowling, picnics, and spending time with friends and family. They love going on outings together or simply enjoying each other’s company as flatmates.
We are currently seeking someone to join the team in a wake-over shift capacity on a fixed-term basis, ending on February 7th, 2026. Unlike sleepover shifts, wake-over shifts require staff to remain awake and actively engaged throughout the night. During these shifts, staff provide ongoing support to the people we support, ensuring their needs are met at any time.
Responsibilities include:
- Assisting with personal care
- Offering emotional support and companionship
- Monitoring well-being and reporting any concerns
- Supporting a person with diabetes
- Performing light household duties such as cleaning and meal preparation
- Assisting with medication management
You will be energetic, empathetic, and able to work alongside the people we support—focusing on creating a life of rich and diverse experiences. You’ll need to be confident in reading situations, problem-solving, applying boundaries, or offering space when needed. Confidence in supporting personal care, cooking, medication administration, and household tasks is essential. Most importantly, you’ll be passionate about supporting and extending people’s ability to access and be part of their wider community.
If you’re looking for a new challenge, this could be the opportunity for you.
This position's salary scale is set by pay equity and dependant on qualification level, pays between $23.84 and $29.10 per hour.
Nga haora kua tohua | Rostered hours:
- Sunday to Thursday 11pm to 7am
Total Hours per fortnight: 80
This role is fixed-term, ending on February 7th, 2026
Mō koe | About You
You will either be an experienced Support Worker looking for a change or you are simply looking for a career where your enthusiasm and passion for helping others will make a real difference in people’s lives. To thrive in a Support Worker role at Hōhepa you will be:
- Self-motivated, energetic and flexible with a high level of initiative.
- A team player - Work closely with and supporting your colleagues, creating a great team environment.
- A kind nature with a can-do attitude and willingness to learn and continue to develop your skills as a support worker.
- A commitment to upholding the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in all aspects of the role.
Nga hua o te mahi ki a Hōhepa | Benefits of working at Hōhepa
At Hōhepa, as part of our team you will:
- Have certainty of hours through fixed rosters
- Enjoy a great person to-staff ratio, allowing for more personalised support
- Work in a fun, friendly and supportive team environment
- Receive ongoing support for your professional and career development
- Support to complete a NZQF Certificate in Health and Wellbeing level, 2, 3 or 4
- Long service leave
- Christchurch City Council Gym and Pool Membership discounts
- Untamed Organic Vegetable discount
Applicants will be progressed as they apply, so if this sounds like you, please apply now!
Applicants must have a NZ full driver’s licence and ability to work in New Zealand.
Please note that the 90-day trial period will apply to any successful applicant who hasn’t previously worked for Hōhepa Canterbury
At Hōhepa the role of a Support Coordinator is what is often referred to in the wider healthcare sector as a Support Worker. We feel that the title Support Coordinator better reflects the nature of the role, which requires working in partnership with the people receiving support to ensure we are achieving our organisation mission of every life fully lived.
