Social Worker - Whangarei

• Whangarei Hospital, Te Tai Tokerau
• Permanent part time position (0.6 FTE), working 24 hours per week

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

As a Social Worker, you will support individuals and whānau through health challenges with expert assessment, intervention, and advocacy, contributing to coordinated, equitable care within a multidisciplinary team.

Key responsibilities:

• Provide psychosocial assessments and responsive social work interventions for Elder patients in our community
• Work collaboratively with our multidisciplinary teams to enable elder clients to remain well in their own homes, assisting to prevent admission or promote early discharge
• Advocate for patients and whānau to ensure equitable access to hospital and community-based services
• Work with family/whānau to support informed decision-making and care planning
• Coordinate referrals to internal and external services to support patient recovery and wellbeing
• Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation in line with hospital policies and standards
• Respond to safeguarding concerns, including family violence, child protection, and elder abuse, within a clinical context
• Contribute to service improvement initiatives and support high-quality patient care
• Practice in accordance with professional standards and Te Tiriti o Waitangi, ensuring culturally safe, patient- and whānau-centred care

Click here to view the position description.

About the Service/Location

The Social Work Department is based at Whangārei Hospital where we work across medical, surgical and paediatric wards, oncology, maternity, paediatrics, and community services. This role is based within the Health of Older people team.

For more information on living and working in Northland, click here

About you

As a Social Worker, you will maintain composure and focus under pressure, especially in fast-paced or emotionally demanding situations with an ability to working effectively with other healthcare professionals in a multidisciplinary setting.

• Social Work qualification recognised by the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board NZSWRB
• New Zealand Registration and current annual practising certificate with the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board
• Current Full New Zealand full drivers licence
• Computer literacy: Word, Outlook Teams and relevant clinical programs
• Health Social Work experience
• Excellent written and verbal communication and proven conflict resolution skills

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click apply now. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by 30th September 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Olivia Matthews at NL-jobs@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.