Position Description

 

Position Title:    Kaimanaaki – Meal Support Worker

Reports to:         Compassion Soup Kitchen Manager

Date:                    May 2025

Location:            Compassion Soup Kitchen, Suzanne Aubert Compassion Centre,132 Tory St, Wellington, 6011

Employment:    Permanent Part Time – Hours; Monday to Friday 3pm to 6pm (15 x hours per week)

 

Position Summary – He Whakarāpōpototanga mō te Tūranga

The core mission of the Soup Kitchen is to provide hot nourishing meals 6 days a week, in a safe and hospitable environment and all other services and purposeful activities we provide are there to support this essential service.

The Kaimanaaki will work alongside other Soup Kitchen employees and volunteers to provide a safe, positive, and supportive environment at the Soup Kitchen, treating all who come to the kitchen with respect and dignity.

The Compassion Soup Kitchen is a community and a team. The Kaimanaaki will work closely with other staff to develop the Compassion Soup Kitchen as a place of community and wellbeing that helps to meet the needs our whānau, respecting the mana and dignity of each of our guests.

This role is centred on direct engagement with individuals in need, offering support, and working as part of a team to ensure smooth operation and a positive, safe environment for guests.

The role will include taking part in training to help ensure that we are providing the best service possible.

 

Mealtime engagement with Guests

The Kaimanaaki will play a lead role in the engagement with guests during the breakfast and dinner services by:

·         Assisting Kitchen staff before service to help with the plating up of meals.

·         Being in the whare entrance and waiting room with the Kaimanaaki Team members prior to the opening of the dinner service.

·         Taking on the Duty Manager role during evening meal service and reporting any concerns or problems and reporting these to the Deputy & Kitchen Manager as appropriate.

·         Meeting and greeting guests and creating a positive, welcoming environment for people arriving at the Soup Kitchen.

·         Once the meal service begins to be present in the waiting room or whare entrance and available to support the Duty Manager or Senior Kaimahi as required.

·         Supporting and talking with guests who are waiting or have had their meal.

·         Communicating concerns and information between the Duty Manager and the Senior Kaimahi.

·         Assisting the Kaimanaaki Team in de-escalating challenging situations.

·         Being aware of Health and Safety issues and ensuring that correct procedures are followed, and incidents reported.

·         Enforcing the kaupapa and code of conduct of the Compassion Soup Kitchen and Sisters of Compassion Group.

 

Social Support

By building relationships with and identifying areas of wellbeing that could be improved, the Kaimanaaki will liaise with and work alongside the Deputy & Kitchen Manager and Kaimanaaki Team to advocate for and give people the greatest opportunity to access the help they need.

General duties

As with any small organisation, from time to time and in consultation with the Compassion Soup Kitchen Manager, employees are expected to assist with other general tasks and duties that are not specified in their remit, for example, cooking, cleaning.

Training

A willingness to participate in Soup Kitchen professional development plans and orientation activities offered by the wider Sisters of Compassion Group.

Person Specification 

The successful applicant will need to be able to demonstrate the ability and willingness to learn quickly and to have the right attitude and approach. Good people handling skills and a knowledge of working with people with addictions or mental health challenges is an advantage.

A full induction will be provided, and training will be given to the successful applicant.

 

Qualifications

Qualifications in the areas of health, wellbeing, mental health, addictions, community work, volunteering and hospitality are relevant to the position.

Experience

·         Experience of working (paid work or volunteering) with homeless people and/or people with alcohol, drug and/or mental health problems or other vulnerable groups.

·         Experience of managing and working with challenging behaviour.

·         Experience of working in a hospitality environment or similar.

·         Experience of facilitating activities and group work.

 

Attributes

·         A “can-do” warm and welcoming approach.

·         Excellent customer service skills.

·         Exercise sound judgment and situational awareness.

·         Ability to manage potentially risky situations and to be familiar with de-escalation techniques.

·         Excellent interpersonal skills, patience, and a strong ethic of helpfulness.

·         An understanding of the Treaty of Waitangi; knowledge of Te Reo and Tikanga Māori would be an advantage.

·         Strong relationship skills, especially in working with whānau with challenging behaviour.

·         Be able to organise and prioritise your work.

·         Be able to work as part of a team.

·         Good verbal and written communication skills.

·         An understanding what Compassion is, our story, how we operate, and our Vision, Mission and Values as a faith-based organisation.

Work Related Circumstances

·         To be punctual and reliable

·         Willingness to undertake practical tasks including cleaning, preparing, and serving food and lifting if required.

Key relationships:            

·         Co-Chief Executives – Tumu Whakarae

·         Senior Leadership Team, Sisters of Compassion Group

·         Deputy & Kitchen Manager, Compassion Soup Kitchen

·         Managers, Senior Kaimahi, staff and volunteers

·         Partner organisations

·         Churches, community organisations, iwi groups, stakeholders

Direct reports:               

·         The role has no delegated financial authority

·         The role has no staff responsibility

Equipment:

·         All necessary equipment will be supplied

 

Our Enduring Values

Ō Tātou Whanonga Pono

• Divine Providence– He Manaakitanga Atua Tapu
  Let us do our part and let God do his
• Simplicity – He ngāwaritanga
  We work in an open and simple manner
• Action with the poor – Ngā awhina ki ngā rawakore
  Our primary concern is to support the most disadvantaged
• Justice – He tika o ngā tāngata ki ngā tāngata
  We recognise the rights and intrinsic good of all people
• Partnership – Te Kotahitanga
  We will develop and nurture partnerships and model a commitment to partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

HOW TO APPLY

Please email Sam Johnson directly to apply for this role: sam.j@compassion.org.nz
or follow this link Support Worker