Social Worker Adoptions - Canterbury

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 81,000 - 98,000; Full time

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children in Christchurch is seeking a positive-thinking social worker for the National Adoption Service. You will contribute to adoption services, with strong assessment and communication skills, and a commitment to ongoing learning.

The role is a permanent full-time position with a salary range NZD 81,206 to 97,557 depending on experience. The service emphasises client-centred practice, collaboration, and professional development for staff.

Qualifications

• Registered with the Social Work Registration Board and hold a current Practice Certificate
• Knowledge of and interest in adoption social work in Aotearoa
• Exceptional listening skills and proven ability to quickly build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds
• Strong cultural competency and be a promoter of working with our practice framework
• Critical thinking - you know how to gather information and make good evidence-based decisions
• A high degree of both verbal and written communication skills including formal report writing
• Resilient, motivated and caring with a positive attitude
• Enthusiasm for continuous learning
• Flexibility to work afterhours as required
• Good computer navigation and typing skills
• A full, valid and clean New Zealand driver's licence and ability to travel as required

Responsibilities

• Supporting adults who have historically placed a child for adoption and those who were adopted
• Training, educating and assessing adoptive applicants for domestic and international adoptions
• Assessing applicants in surrogacy arrangements – both domestic and international
• Writing reports to the Court
• Writing child study requests and home studies for intercountry adoptions
• Working with birthparents exploring adoption
• Supporting the placement of children in adoptive homes

Skills

Knowledge of adoption social work

Excellent listening skills

Cultural competency

Strong written and verbalcommunication

Critical thinking

Job description

Social Worker Adoption Service | Oranga Tamariki

• Permanent - Full-time opportunity
• Location - Christchurch
• We're offering a competitive salary starting from $81,206 to $97,557, depending on experience

The National Adoption Service is looking for a positive thinking, hardworking social worker who has passion about adoption social work in Aotearoa. You will have excellent assessment skills, strength with written and verbal communication, and are open to ongoing learning and service delivery improvements. You will be a person who is able to work well on your own and who is a team player. Commitment to your job and showing initiative will come naturally to you.

Mō mātou | About us

Our vision is to ensure New Zealand is the best place in the world to be a child. We are also committed to ensuring Oranga Tamariki partners with hapū, iwi and Māori organisations to find appropriate solutions for tamariki in need. Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment of putting children first, we believe aroha is vital, we respect the mana of people, we are tika and pono, we value whakapapa and we recognise that oranga is a journey.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

The National Adoption Service is a service unit of Oranga Tamariki—the Ministry for Children. The Adoption Service is focused on putting our clients at the centre of everything we do. We are a supportive team who are committed to ensuring that people involved with our staff have a high-quality service delivered to them at all times.

Adoption Social work has responsibilities to provide services under the Adoption Act 1955, Adult Adoption Act 1985, and Adoption (Inter-country) Act 1997.

The Adoption Service work includes:

• Supporting adults who have historically placed a child for adoption and those who were adopted
• Training, educating and assessing adoptive applicants for domestic and international adoptions
• Assessing applicants who are having a child through a surrogacy arrangement - both domestically and internationally
• Writing reports to the Court
• Writing child study requests and home studies for intercountry adoptions
• Working with birthparents who are exploring adoption
• Supporting the placement of children in adoptive homes

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring.

• Registered with the Social Work Registration Board and hold a current Practice Certificate
• Knowledge of and interest in adoption social work in Aotearoa
• Exceptional listening skills and proven ability to quickly build rapport with people from diverse backgrounds
• Strong cultural competency and be a promoter of working with Oranga Tamariki's practice framework
• Critical thinking - you know how to gather information and make good evidence-based decisions
• A high degree of both verbal and written communication skills which includes formal report writing
• Resilient, motivated and caring nature with a positive \"can do\" attitude
• Enthusiasm for and commitment to continuous learning
• Flexibility to work afterhours as required
• Good computer navigation and typing skills
• A full, valid and clean New Zealand's driver's licence and the ability to travel as required

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you?

We are a values-based Ministry that offer's flexible work options, a commitment to kaimahi wellbeing, opportunities for development and a supportive team. For a full list of our employment benefits please visit the working with us section of our careers page, or click

This role will offer the right candidate the ability to work with a Service that is committed to professionalism, excellent client service and the ability to find creative solutions to challenges, in a role where no two days are the same. If you are looking for a role where your voice will be listened to, your input valued and a strong client-centred commitment is important in your day-to-day job, then we would like to hear from you.

Oranga Tamariki offer an impartial remuneration package ranging from $81,206 to $97,557 depending on experience and offer progression annually for experience through tenure.

Application close date: 30 th September 2026