Social Worker

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Southern; Manawatū-Whanganui; On-site; NZD 36,000 - 48,000; Part time

Job summary

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Southern in Palmerston North Hospital is seeking an experienced Social Worker to support tamariki and whānau within a 20-hour-per-week role. You’ll work hospital-based in Child Health, providing holistic, person- and whānau-centred psychosocial support alongside a multidisciplinary team.

The role focuses on comprehensive assessments, advocacy, and linking whānau with community resources, with opportunities to contribute across physical health areas as service

Qualifications

• Registration with the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) and a current Annual Practising Certificate.
• Relevant social work experience within a health setting, with children and families.
• Strong assessment and risk-assessment skills and the ability to advocate for tamariki and whānau.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills; collaborative, whānau-centred practice.

Responsibilities

• Undertaking comprehensive psychosocial and risk assessments.
• Providing specialist social work input within a multidisciplinary team.
• Advocating for the needs, interests and wellbeing of tamariki and whānau.
• Supporting whaiora and whānau to access appropriate community resources and services.
• Building strong, collaborative relationships with key health and community stakeholders.
• Identifying and responding to social, emotional and practical needs.
• Working collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for tamariki and their whānau.

Skills

SW Registration

Health setting experience

Children & whānau

Assessment & risk

Communication & relationships

Collaborative practice

Advocacy & whānau-centred

Driver's licence

ANZASW membership

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 16th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Southern – Manawatu County

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.

Are you an experienced Social Worker looking for a role where your expertise, compassion and ability to build meaningful relationships can genuinely make a difference?

Join our Physical Health Social Work team at Palmerston North Hospital, where you'll play an important role supporting tamariki and their whānau through challenging times. This is an opportunity to bring your social work expertise into a supportive multidisciplinary environment where your contribution is valued and the work you do matters.

About the Role

This 20-hour-per-week permanent part-time position is predominantly hospital-based and focused on ChildHealth. You'll work alongside a range of health professionals to provide holistic, person- and whānau-centred support to children and their families.

While the initial focus is Child Health, there may also be opportunities to work across other areas of Physical Health as service needs evolve — giving you variety, professional development and the chance to broaden your experience.

You’ll be involved in:

• Undertaking comprehensive psychosocial and risk assessments
• Providing specialist social work input within a multidisciplinary team
• Advocating for the needs, interests and wellbeing of tamariki and whānau
• Supporting whaiora and whānau to access appropriate community resources and services
• Building strong, collaborative relationships with key health and community stakeholders
• Identifying and responding to social, emotional and practical needs
• Working collaboratively to achieve positive outcomes for tamariki and their whānau

About you

We're looking for a Social Worker who brings both professional expertise and genuine compassion to their practice.

You’ll have:

• Registration with the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) and a current Annual Practising Certificate
• Relevant social work experience within a health setting
• Experience working with children, tamariki and whānau
• Well-developed assessment and risk-assessment skills
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• The ability to work confidently and collaboratively alongside health and community professionals
• A strong commitment to advocacy and whānau-centred practice
• Enthusiasm, a sense of humour and a positive approach
• A current full driver's licence

Membership of ANZASW would be advantageous.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who understands the difference that good social work can make — and who is passionate about helping people navigate some of life's more challenging moments

About the Team/Service

Employing over 2500 people, MidCentral offers a supportive work environment that accepts and values all employees. We actively seek Māori kaimahi into our workforce and provide an environment which delivers our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

About the Location

Manawatū offers the perfect blend of city convenience and rural charm. Whether you're drawn to peaceful village life, vibrant townships, or the buzz of the city, you'll find your ideal lifestyle here. It's a family-friendly region that's easy to live in and even easier to love. The region is also home to excellent schools and two tertiary institutions: Massey University and the International Pacific College.

Outdoor enthusiasts are spoiled for choice—beaches, ski fields, lakes, and mountains are all within reach, along with fantastic hiking and mountain biking tracks. With no traffic and a short commute to work, achieving true work-life balance is the everyday reality.

Our central location makes it easy to explore the rest of New Zealand, whether you're heading off on a road trip or catching a short flight.

For more information on living and working in the Manawatū:

Careers in Manawatū and Whanganui

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.