Social Worker Adult Inpatient Mental Health Service - Te Whare Maiangiangi

• Build your career in Tauranga, a vibrant coastal city celebrated for its sunshine, beautiful beaches, and a strong sense of community
• Full-time position – 1.0 FTE
• Advanced practice role supporting recovery focused care within an adult inpatient mental health service

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

Play a key role in supporting recovery and strengthening social work practice within an acute mental health environment. As a Social Worker within the Adult Inpatient Mental Health Service at Tauranga Hospital, this advanced practitioner role contributes both clinical expertise and professional leadership to the delivery of high-quality inpatient care.

Working within Te Whare Maiangiangi, the Adult Inpatient Mental Health Unit, you will coordinate social work input that supports the therapeutic inpatient programme. The role involves comprehensive psychosocial assessment, discharge planning, and coordination with specialist clinical teams and community services to support safe transitions from hospital to community care.

Whānau engagement is central to this role, ensuring families and support networks are included in recovery planning. You will also contribute to safeguarding adult informed practice and play an active role in initiatives such as the Zero Seclusion project, helping strengthen recovery focused and culturally responsive approaches within the service.

About the Team/Service/Location

Te Whare Maiangiangi is the Adult Inpatient Mental Health Unit at Tauranga Hospital supporting adults aged 18 to 65. The service operates within a multidisciplinary model that includes nurses, social workers, occupational therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, pharmacists, physiotherapists, and Pou Kokiri cultural advisors. The team is known for its nurturing and supportive culture with a strong focus on continuous learning, collaboration, and improving outcomes for Tangata Whaiora and their whānau. Based in Tauranga, the service sits within a region know for its coastal lifestyle, warm climate, and strong community connections.

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About You

You will be a confident and experienced Social Worker who brings strong clinical reasoning and a recovery focused approach to practice. Skilled at building trusted relationships with Tangata Whaiora, whānau, and colleagues, you communicate effectively and work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team.

What you will bring:

• New Zealand recognised Social Work qualification and current SWRB registration
• Experience working within mental health services, preferably within acute or inpatient settings
• Strong psychosocial assessment and discharge planning capability
• Ability to coordinate care across multidisciplinary teams and community services
• Experience supporting whānau engagement within care planning and recovery pathways
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills
• Commitment to culturally responsive practice and improving outcomes for Tangata Whaiora

To view the Position Description please click here

Working for 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 Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply for the role please click “apply now.”  All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on 13 April 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact bp-Careers@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.