Social Worker

New Zealand Government; New Zealand; Remote; NZD 79,000 - 110,000; Part time

Job summary

Health New Zealand – Te Whatu Ora is seeking a Paediatric Social Worker for the Child Development Service at Palmerston North Hospital. The role covers hospital and community settings, providing assessment, advocacy and support to tamariki with developmental concerns or disabilities.

You will work within a multidisciplinary team, emphasising family-centred care and culturally safe practice, with 0.5 FTE permanent status.

Qualifications

• Qualified and registered social worker with experience with children and families.
• Current NZ Social Work registration and Annual Practising Certificate.
• Experience in paediatric, developmental or disability settings is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Provide specialist social work assessment, intervention and advocacy for children and families.
• Support tamariki and whānau across hospital and community settings.
• Assist with adjustment to diagnosis, grief and loss, safety, access to services and advocacy.

Skills

Strong communication

Advocacy

Relationship-building

Cultural safety & whānau-centred

Education

NZ Social Work registration

Annual Practising Certificate

Job description

**Paediatric Social Worker****Child Development Service | Palmerston North Hospital | 0.5 FTE Permanent****Make a difference where it matters most — supporting tamariki and whānau to thrive.**Are you an experienced Social Worker passionate about working with children, young people and their whānau?Join the Child Development Service at MidCentral and use your expertise to make a meaningful difference for tamariki living with developmental concerns or disability.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**As a Paediatric Social Worker, you'll provide specialist social work assessment, intervention, advocacy and support to children and their families across hospital and community settings.You'll work alongside tamariki and whānau to help them navigate the challenges that can come with developmental concerns or disability, including:* Adjustment to diagnosis, grief and loss* Family and whānau support* Advocacy and access to services* Child safety and family harm* Social and psychological challenges* Connection with community and disability support servicesWorking as part of a multidisciplinary Child Development Service, you'll bring a social work perspective that helps ensure care is holistic, family-centred and focused on what matters most to each child and whānau.This is an opportunity to work with a high degree of autonomy while being supported by an experienced and collaborative team.**About you**You'll be a qualified and registered Social Worker with experience working alongside **children and families**, ideally within a paediatric, developmental or disability setting.You'll bring:* Current NZ Social Work registration and Annual Practising Certificate* Strong social work experience with children and whānau* An understanding of developmental disability and paediatric health* Excellent communication, advocacy and relationship-building skills* The ability to work confidently both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team* Knowledge of community, disability and support networks* A commitment to culturally safe, equitable and whānau-centred practice* A current NZ driver licenceExperience in a Child Development Service, paediatric health, rehabilitation or disability sector would be highly valued.Most importantly, you'll be someone who can build trust, listen with empathy, advocate effectively and make a genuine difference in the lives of tamariki and their whānau.**About the Location****Manawatū is known for its effortless blend of city and rural living; here you can choose your ideal lifestyle, from peaceful rural villages, to bustling townships, or city life.** It's a family-friendly place that's easy to live and work, with easy access to an array of outdoor activities – beaches, ski fields, lakes, mountains, as well as fantastic mountain biking and hiking tracks. No traffic and an easy commute to work, really help a with true work-life balance. Our fantastic central location means exploring other parts of New Zealand is easy as a drive or a short flight. We are well served with excellent schooling options, as well as two tertiary institutes – Massey University and the International Pacific College.Discover more hidden gems that Manawatū and Palmerston North have to offer here: Manawatū & Palmerston North - Visit | Live | Study | Business (manawatunz.co.nz). Check out our careers site here for more information about Palmerston North hospital.We actively encourage a life work balance and appreciate flexibility can be important, so we are open to discuss options!**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**To apply please click “**apply now**.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal**.** If you have any questions about the role, please contact Tara Penketh, Recruitment Advisor (Allied Health) at [e-mail]>Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.*We are looking to fill this position as soon as possible so may withdraw the advert if the perfect candidate is found before the expiry date.**We strive to be a place where people love to work and learn. We aim to develop a diverse team that reflects the communities that we serve, and we welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs.* *MidCentral actively seeks Māori into our workforce to reflect the community we serve.* *Some positions are defined as a Core Children's worker under the Children's Act and require full safety checks completed before employment commences.*## Ngā taipitopito tūranga mahi | Job details| | || --- | --- || Employer: | Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral || Location: | Manawatu / Whanganui || Position type: | Permanent Part time || Category: | Health || Date listed: | 14-Sep-2026 || Salary range: | $79,014 - $110,290 || Closing date: | 05-Oct-2026 || Reference: | 1946489 || Attachment: | Paediatric Social Worker.docx (Word, 203KB)Job DescriptionPaediatric Social Worker.docx (Word, 203KB)Job Description || File links: | || Website: | http://www.midcentraldhb.govt.nz |