Social Worker

Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual Practising Certificate

Medical insurance

Monthly professional supervision

Job summary

Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa is seeking an experienced Social Worker to deliver trauma-informed care within a kaupapa Māori framework. You will conduct holistic assessments, develop whānau-led care plans, and coordinate transitions from inpatient to community living.

You will work autonomously within a multidisciplinary team, guiding Support Workers and collaborating with Health NZ and Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre to support safe transitions and durable outcomes.

Qualifications

• Must hold a recognised Level 7 Social Work qualification.
• Current registration with the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) and an Annual Practising Certificate.
• Experience working clinically with mental health, trauma, and complex needs.

Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive intake assessments using internal frameworks to identify needs and goals.
• Develop and support whanaunga-led care plans with evidence-based interventions.
• Coordinate referrals, discharge planning, and transitions with Health NZ Te Whatu Ora and partners.
• Review clinical information to support safe, informed service delivery.
• Build relationships with sector partners and communities to support outcomes.
• Provide mental health and addictions guidance to Support Workers and the team.
• Identify programmes and activities aligning with whanaunga goals and priorities.
• Maintain accurate, confidential case notes reflecting agreed goals and actions.
• Proactively improve social work practice and internal systems.

Skills

Autonomy

Clinical social work

Cultural capability

Relationship building

Documentation

Education

Level 7 Social Work qualification

Job description

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About the Organisation

Te Rūnanga o Kirikiriroa is a kaupapa Māori organisation grounded in a whānau-first, tikanga-based wellbeing approach. Our mahi is guided by our six pou: whanaungatanga, manaakitanga, arohatanga, rangatiratanga, tika and pono. We deliver health and social services across the lifespan and have nigh on 150 kaimahi working across Kirikiriroa and beyond.

He Wāhi Kāinga

provides transitional housing and wraparound support for whanaunga transitioning from the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre back into the community. Our mahi supports whanaunga to strengthen their wellbeing, reconnect with whānau and community, build independence, and work towards sustainable long-term housing.

We are seeking a registered Social Worker with demonstrated clinical experience and a strong understanding of trauma, mental health, and the impacts these can have on a person's wellbeing, relationships, housing, and everyday life.

As part of a multidisciplinary team, you will combine direct social work practice with care coordination, sector engagement, and professional guidance to Support Workers. You will help ensure whanaunga experience safe transitions, coordinated support, and continuity of care as they move from inpatient services into community-based living.

This is a highly autonomous and dynamic role. You will need to recognise what requires action, work proactively with minimal day-to-day oversight, and remain confident seeking guidance or escalating concerns when needed.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct comprehensive, holistic intake assessments using Te Rūnanga internal assessment frameworks and work collaboratively with whanaunga to identify strengths, needs, barriers, risks, and aspirations.
• Develop and support whanaunga-led care plans and provide evidence-based social work interventions aligned with mental health, harm-reduction, or abstinence-based approaches, according to whanaunga needs and choice.
• Participate in referral, discharge planning, and transition processes with Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre, and other relevant services.
• Review and interpret relevant clinical information, including discharge summaries, care plans, risk assessments, orders, and professional notes, to support safe and informed service delivery.
• Build effective relationships with sector partners, community organisations, programme providers, statutory agencies, and whānau or other supports where appropriate.
• Provide mental health and addictions guidance, professional input, and practical support to Support Workers and the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Identify and coordinate programmes, structured activities, cultural and recreational opportunities, and community connections that align with the goals and circumstances of whanaunga.
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential case notes and records that clearly reflect agreed goals, priority supports, actions, progress, and outcomes.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen social work practice, internal systems, and service delivery, and work constructively with the Team Lead to implement improvements.

About You

You are an experienced and adaptable Social Worker who builds trust while maintaining clear professional boundaries. You can balance clinical judgement, cultural responsiveness, organisational requirements, and the aspirations of whanaunga while working confidently with complexity.

You are also an agent of change. When standard approaches are not producing the right outcome, you explore better options and turn ideas into practical initiatives. You use considered judgement within legal, ethical, professional, and organisational boundaries, contribute positively to the team, and adapt as needs change.

You will bring

• A recognised Level 7 Social Work qualification.
• Current registration with the Social Workers Registration Board and a current Annual Practising Certificate.
• Demonstrated experience working clinically with people experiencing mental health challenges, trauma, and high or complex needs.
• The ability to work autonomously, prioritise effectively, and follow through with minimal oversight.
• Evidence of designing, establishing, or improving programmes, initiatives, or service responses in response to identified needs.
• Sound professional judgement, including the confidence to make considered decisions and the self-awareness to seek advice or elevate risk when required.
• Strong relationship-building, written communication, documentation, and organisational skills.
• Strong digital capability and confidence using or learning clinical information, case management, and general workplace systems.
• Competency in te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori, or a genuine commitment to developing your capability.
• A clean, full New Zealand driver licence and the ability to pass Police and Oranga Tamariki vetting.

Beneficial

• Experience working within, or closely alongside, inpatient mental health and hospital discharge systems, particularly the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre.
• Experience delivering social work in community, transitional housing, or social housing settings.
• Alcohol and other drug knowledge or practice experience.
• The opportunity to work within a kaupapa Māori organisation and make a meaningful difference for whanaunga.
• An employer-funded Annual Practising Certificate (SWRB, or other where pertinent).
• Monthly professional supervision, with ongoing professional development and learning opportunities.
• Access to medical insurance.

If you are a registered Social Worker who brings clinical confidence, initiative, and a genuine commitment to mana-enhancing practice, we would love to hear from you. Applications close on Sunday 20 September 2026. We may review applications as they are received.

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