Social Worker - Inpatient Services
- Base your career in Tauranga, a coastal city known for sunshine, beaches, and strong community connection
- Part-time position – 0.5 FTE
- Monday – Friday role supporting patients and whānau across inpatient hospital services
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
Support people and whānau during some of the most challenging moments of their lives. As a Social Worker within the Allied Health Inpatient Social Work team, this role provides essential psychosocial support across Tauranga Hospital wards.
Working across a range of inpatient services, you will undertake biopsychosocial, risk, safety assessments and develop appropriate intervention plans. The role includes providing crisis intervention, therapeutic support, and practical assistance to patients and whānau while connecting them with internal hospital services and community agencies. This position offers a varied and meaningful scope of practice within a fast-paced hospital environment where no two days are the same.
About the Team/Service/Location
The Allied Health Inpatient Social Work team at Tauranga Hospital provides specialist social work support across hospital wards, working closely with medical, nursing, and allied health colleagues to ensure coordinated patient care. This collaborative team works with patients from diverse cultural backgrounds and life circumstances, supporting safe discharge planning, access to community services, and improved wellbeing outcomes. Tauranga Hospital sits in the heart of the Bay of Plenty, offering the opportunity to contribute to meaningful healthcare work while living in a region known for its sunshine, coastline, and strong community spirit.
Click here to learn more about the Bay of Plenty
About You
You will be a compassionate and capable Registered Social Worker who bring calm, sound judgement, and strong interpersonal skills to complex situations. Your practice reflects a person-centred approach, and you build trust easily with patients, whānau, and colleagues. Comfortable working in a fast-paced hospital environment, you remain organised, adaptable, and focused on achieving positive outcomes for the people you support
What you will bring:
- New Zealand recognised Social Work qualification and current SWRB registration
- Minimum two years postgraduate social work experience in New Zealand
- Experience working with complex social situations including family harm, addiction, or mental health challenges
- Strong assessment, crisis intervention, and care coordination skills
- Excellent communication and conflict management abilities
- Ability to produce accurate and timely clinical documentation
- Knowledge of community services and ability to build effective support networks
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 29 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.
