Social Worker - Caregiver Recruitment and Support

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

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible work options

Professional development

Annual progression based on tenure

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children is seeking a Caregiver Social Worker in Wellington. You will recruit, assess and support caregivers to ensure tamariki have safe, nurturing homes.

You will partner with caregivers to guide them through each stage of a child’s journey, while collaborating with whānau, caregivers and other agencies to coordinate tailored support. Applicants must hold a Social Work qualification and be registered with SWRB, with a focus on wellbeing and strong relationship

Qualifications

• Must hold a Social Work qualification and be registered with SWRB.
• Experience in child welfare and caregiver support is advantageous.
• Demonstrated resilience and problem-solving in challenging settings.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, assess and support caregivers to provide safe, stable homes for tamariki.
• Partner with caregivers to guide them through each stage of a child's journey.
• Collaborate with whānau, caregivers, and other agencies to coordinate support.

Skills

Resilience

Critical thinking

Problem-solving

Relationship management

Written and verbal communication

Waikato Treaty of Waitangi awareness

Understanding of Care Standards

Driver's license

Education

SWRB Social Work qualification

Full NZ Social Worker Registration and annual practising certificate

Job description

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Specialised role, focusing on recruiting, assessing and supporting caregivers to provide the best possible care. This role is based in Wellington. We’re offering a competitive salary starting from $81,206 to $97,557, depending on experience.

Caregivers take on a critically important role in the lives of tamariki who cannot live safely at home. As a Caregiver Social Worker, you will partner closely with our caregivers to help them understand the role they play at each stage of a child's journey through care. With your strong relationship management skills and commitment to providing tailored support, you will ensure that our caregivers are well prepared with the resources, skills and information that they need to provide nurturing, safe and stable homes for tamariki. As part of your work, you will build relationships with and support whānau and non-whānau caregivers, emergency and respite caregivers and long-term caregivers. The role of a Caregiver Social Worker is varied and deeply rewarding, with the opportunity to deliver tangible and meaningful benefits to your community. You will work as a team with the child's Social Worker to identify key or underlying issues and develop creative, individually tailored strategies that provide cohesive support from all angles to facilitate great outcomes for tamariki who need caring for. Where required, you will also work with other agencies, community groups and providers to ensure the needs of our caregivers are met.

Our close-knit and supportive team are fully committed to achieving positive change for tamariki, whānau and caregivers. We also understand and have experience in managing the challenges you may face in this role. We work from a strengths-based perspective and proactively share knowledge, learnings and insights across the team to ensure that all our members feel heard, supported and well prepared to deliver their best. You will receive a full induction into the role, regular training and supervision, and have the benefit of a strong peer and leadership group.

As this role is a Social Worker position, not Caregiver, you must hold a Social Work qualification and be registered with SWRB.

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values: We putTamarikifirst We believeArohais vital We respect theManaof people We areTikaandPono We valueWhakapapa We recognise thatOrangais a journey.

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

• A recognised Social Work qualification by the Social Worker Registration Board (SWRB)
• Full registration with NewZealand's Social Worker Registration Board and an annual practicing certificate(or the ability to gain registration with the SWRB)
• Demonstrated resilience, critical thinking and problem-solving techniques
• Upholding the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi and demonstrating this in practice
• Having a good understanding of section7(AA) of The Oranga Tamariki Act
• A good understanding of theOranga Tamariki National Care Standards2018
• Passion and vision for caregivers and what they need to succeed
• Excellent relationship management skills
• Well-developed written and verbal communication skills
• A valid and clean NewZealand's driver's license(historic convictions may be considered on a case-by-case basis)

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offer an impartial remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between$81,206 to$97,557dependent on experience, with tenure-based progression steps above this range. We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way.

To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit https://mahi.orangatamariki.govt.nz/working-with-us/employee-benefits/

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Applications close: 29th October 2026!!

If you are interested in any of our vacancies, please ensure that you make yourself familiar with our code of conduct as it sets out our expectations for our kaimahi and requires you to present at work free from the influences of both drugs and alcohol.