Peer Support Team Leader

Peer Support Team Leader

Merge Café Lifewise Karangahape Road Tāmaki Makaurau

Lead with lived experience. Support whānau towards housing. Create connection dignity and hope.

At Merge Café we believe everyone deserves connection dignity and a safe place to call home.

More than a café Merge is a vibrant community hub where people experiencing homelessness hardship mental distress addiction or social isolation can find connection practical support and a sense of belonging.

Through kai whakawhanaungatanga and peer support we walk alongside whānau as they navigate challenges. The Peer Support team helps strengthen wellbeing reduce barriers to support and support whānau towards sustainable housing and positive life outcomes.

We are seeking an exceptional Peer Support Team Leader to lead and support our Peer Support team. This role will help shape the future of lived experience practice at Merge.

About the Role

As Peer Support Team Leader you will lead a dedicated team whose purpose is to walk alongside whānau experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity helping them navigate barriers and connect with the supports needed to achieve housing stability and wellbeing.

Reporting to the Merge Service Manager you will provide leadership coaching supervision and support to the Peer Support team. You will foster a positive reflective team culture and ensure lived experience practice remains authentic values-based and grounded in mutuality hope and empowerment.

You will support your team to build trusted relationships with whānau strengthen engagement and reduce barriers to support. Working alongside internal and external partners you will help create pathways to housing wellbeing and community connection.

Working closely with the Merge Service Manager and wider Lifewise teams you will champion lived experience leadership and contribute to the development of a thriving peer workforce.

What Youll Be Doing

• Leading supporting and developing a team of Peer Support Workers
• Providing supervision coaching mentoring and professional development
• Supporting safe and effective peer support practice
• Supporting staff to navigate complex situations and challenging conversations
• Building strong relationships across the housing homelessness health and social service sectors
• Championing lived experience leadership and workforce development
• Contributing to service improvement innovation and organisational learning

About You

• You have lived experience of homelessness and are committed to using your insight to support others and create positive change.
• Youll bring leadership experience a strong understanding of peer support practice and the Te Pou CPSLE competencies.
• A relevant Level 6 or 7 qualification and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Most importantly.
• Youll be able to build authentic relationships inspire hope and support both whānau and kaimahi to thrive.
  

Why Join Merge

Every day at Merge is different.

Youll be part of a team that values authenticity compassion courage and respect.

Youll have the opportunity to lead a dedicated peer workforce contribute to ending homelessness one whānau at a time and help create a community where everyone belongs.

Most importantly youll be joining a service that believes lived experience is not only valuable but essential.

We strongly encourage applications from people with lived experience of homelessness mental distress addiction recovery or other life challenges and from Māori Pacific and other communities who reflect the people we serve.

Come and help create pathways to housing connection and hope in the heart of Karangahape Road- Submit you CV and Cover letter to apply.

Required Experience:

Manager