Senior Social Worker

Senior Social Worker - Acute Inpatient Team

Permanent, Full Time (40 hours per week, Mon-Fri)

Allied Health, North Shore Hospital

Specialty Medicine & Health of Older People

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora – Waitematā

Advance your Social Work career in an engaging, flexible, and supportive learning environment

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

Are you looking for a new and exciting challenge? Our team is looking for a Senior Social Worker who wants to make a difference, providing bio-psycho-social assessments and therapeutic social work interventions with adults across the acute inpatient setting. This is a permanent, full time position based within the acute inpatient social work team at North Shore Hospital.

Safe guarding adults at risk is a core component of health social work. The successful candidate will be client, family and whānau - centred in their approach and have excellent risk assessment and social work counselling skills. They will have a thorough understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and experience working with people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. They will be effective communicators and a key member of a dynamic multi-disciplinary team. 

This role will suit someone with:

• Extensive health and acute inpatient social work experience
• Leadership capability
• Effective communication skills
• Experience with change management, team facilitation and coordination.

About the Team/Service/ Location

You will be joining an organisation that is forward thinking, innovative and values your contributions. Health New Zealand – Waitematā is leading the way in the Northland region in digital innovation with electronic patient notes, e-prescribing and e-vitals and have strong links with our community and outpatient services.

About you
Key requirements for this role: (see link to PD below for full details)

• Hold a Bachelor of Social Work degree and be registered with the New Zealand SWRB
• Five years’ experience in health social work including at least three years’ experience in acute social work setting
• Ability to lead, support and mentor/supervise junior staff
• Experience with student supervision
• Strong clinical assessment skills, great communication and fast thinking

Are you able to:

• Role model and promote reflective practice?

• Manage and support other staff in stressful situations?

• Share our passion in providing an excellent service for adults?
• Demonstrate that you are a dynamic clinician seeking new opportunities?
• Work independently within a team?

• If you are looking to be valued by a dynamic and supportive team then come and work with us!

Please click here for position description

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

If you think you are a good fit for this role, then we would very much like to hear from you.

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 1 October 2026.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Nicola Hartley, Allied Health Team Manager, at Nicola.Hartley@waitematadhb.govt.nz

For general enquiries or support with your online application, please contact Lissa Crook, Recruitment Consultant on lissa.crook@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Job reference: WDHB20544

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