Dunedin | Permanent Full-Time
Lead people. Build capability. Make a real difference.
If you’re an experienced people leader with a passion for recovery-focused mental health services, this is your opportunity to lead a dedicated residential team while helping deliver high-quality services that make a lasting difference in people’s lives.
Mō Te Tūranga | About The role
As Team Leader, you’ll provide operational leadership across our Southern residential services, supporting and developing a skilled team to deliver safe, person-centred, recovery-focused support.
This is an opportunity to make a genuine impact—not only in the lives of tangata accessing our services, but also by developing and inspiring a team committed to recovery-focused practice.
Working closely with the Southern Service Manager and Registered Nurse, you’ll balance operational leadership with time working alongside your team, helping drive high-quality service delivery, staff capability and continuous improvement.
As Team Leader, your days will include:
- Leading, coaching and supporting a team of Support Workers.
- Fostering a positive, collaborative and accountable team culture.
- Providing operational oversight of residential service delivery.
- Supporting quality improvement, auditing and compliance activities.
- Assisting with workforce planning, rostering and staffing coordination.
- Working closely with the Registered Nurse to support recovery planning and delegated medication processes.
- Building positive relationships with tangata, whānau and external stakeholders.
- Participating in the Southern Services on-call roster.
Mōu | About you
You’re a confident, approachable leader who enjoys bringing out the best in others. You build trust quickly, lead by example and aren’t afraid to roll up your sleeves when your team needs you.
With experience leading teams in mental health, disability or residential services, you communicate openly, lead with integrity and are committed to creating an environment where both staff and tangata can thrive.
Must Have:
- Relevant Health, Mental Health, Disability or Leadership qualification (Level 4 or equivalent).
- Minimum three years’ experience within mental health, disability or residential services.
- Demonstrated experience leading or supervising staff.
- Strong understanding of recovery-focused practice.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to understand, interpret and communicate complex information clearly and accurately.
- Current Full New Zealand Driver Licence.
- Current legal right to work in Aotearoa New Zealand (Stepping Stone Trust is not an accredited employer and cannot provide visa sponsorship).
Desirable:
- Experience working within residential mental health services.
- Experience with medication management oversight.
- Experience working alongside clinical teams.
- Knowledge of quality systems, auditing and continuous improvement.
- Experience with rostering or workforce planning.
- Experience using electronic client management systems.
Tā mātou mahi | We offer
- A varied leadership role where no two days are the same.
- The opportunity to genuinely influence service quality and staff development.
- A supportive, values-driven workplace.
- Professional development opportunities.
- Internal training and supervision.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
- Paid sick leave, available from commencement (provided eligibility criteria are met).
- Paid birthday leave (after six months permanent employment).
Mō mātou | About us
At Stepping Stone Trust, we provide community and residential services that support over 700 people each week across Canterbury and Otago. With more than 275 staff across a wide range of roles, our team is committed to supporting people with compassion, professionalism, and hope.
Our work is grounded in our core values of Faith, Grace, Hope, Love and Integrity.
Me Pēhea te Tono | How to Apply
Please note: Applicants must currently have the legal right to work in Aotearoa New Zealand. Stepping Stone Trust is not an accredited employer and is unable to provide visa sponsorship.
If you’re looking for meaningful leadership work within a supportive organisation that values connection, collaboration and professional growth, we’d love to hear from you.
Click Apply Now to submit your CV and cover letter through our online recruitment system.
Applications will be reviewed as they’re received, and interviews may take place before the closing date.
Our organisation has a strong commitment to safeguarding vulnerable people, and all employees will be vetted to a level appropriate to the role.
