Social Worker - Kaikohe

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

Job summary

A government organization dedicated to children's welfare is seeking a full-time Social Worker in Kaikohe. The role emphasizes community engagement and cultural awareness, requiring a commitment to improving the welfare of tamariki. Ideal candidates will have a social work qualification recognized by the SWRB and relevant experience in supporting children and families. The position offers a competitive salary and the opportunity to work in a supportive environment.

Qualifications

• Full registration with New Zealand's Social Work Registration Board including current Annual Practicing Certificate.
• Cultural awareness and understanding of Tikanga Māori principles.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Responsibilities

• Support tamariki and whānau to make positive changes.
• Complete initial safety checks and assessments.
• Advocate on behalf of tamariki.

Skills

Cultural awareness

Strong organisational skills

Excellent verbal communication skills

Ability to manage risk

Sound judgement skills

Education

Social worker qualification recognised by SWRB

Full registration with SWRB

Tools

Drivers licence

Job description

Overview

Permanent, full-time Social Worker opportunity in Kaikohe, Te Tai Tokerau region.

• Permanent, full-time vacancy
• Competitive salary, ranging $81,206 - $97,557, depending on experience
• Based in our Kaikohe Site, Te Tai Tokerau region

Hei awhitanga nga mahi o Te Tai Tokerau. Tu te Tangata, Tu te Rohe, Tu te Mana. Tihei, tihei mauri ora (embrace the collective response with communities).

'It takes a whole village to raise tamariki' we are offering a renewed sense of community and a unique opportunity for social workers to join our growing whānau oriented team at Kaikohe site - where you will be encouraged and supported to work effectively with Māori using Te Toka Tumoana, our indigenous and bicultural principled framework.

In these fast-paced roles, you will be expected to operate collectively with a team of social workers and other critical thinkers, inclusive of whānau hapū, iwi and communities. Tamariki do not live-in isolation; they sit at the centre of a whānau and sometimes caregiving families.

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki is a name that has been gifted to us and is our commitment to improving the safety and wellbeing of tamariki and that of the community we serve, north of Whangārei. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of mana (prestige), tika & pono (doing things the right way), aroha (love) and whākapapa (relationships) to shape how we work and deliver the outcomes in our site plan.

This role represents an opportunity to shape a new way of working with culturally grounded solutions and innovations that support our approach and direction toward transformational change for the care and protection system - one that builds on the good things that are already happening, and, most importantly, innovates to find new ways of doing things to achieve better outcomes for all.

About the role | Mō te tūnga

This role requires a passion to actively keep tamariki in the hearts and minds of everything we do. You will apply the principles of mana tamaiti, whakapapa and whanaungatanga to your practice, to ensure you are responsive to tamariki and whānau Māori. It's more than a job, it's an opportunity to improve the lived experiences of tamariki and their caregiving communities. We recognise the importance of Kaimahi ora (staff wellbeing) and are committed to ensuring you receive regular supervision and take the necessary breaks needed to restore Oranga and wellbeing.

• hear tamariki and rangatahi voices and support them or their family/whānau to make positive changes
• work alongside various cultural groups and people from different backgrounds
• complete initial safety checks and assessments on the child, young person, and whānau
• work alongside partners in our community, non-government organisations and state sector agencies
• transition children and young people back to their families/whānau or into their forever home
• be an advocate on behalf of tamariki to ensure they have the support and resources needed to reach their full potential

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu | What you will bring

Key requirements of the role include:

• full registration with New Zealand's Social Work Registration Board (SWRB) including current Annual Practicing Certificate
• cultural awareness and an understanding of Tikanga Māori principles
• a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• a social worker qualification recognised by the SWRB
• a full, clean and valid driver's licence
• the ability to analyse and prepare social work and financial plans
• sound judgement skills
• strong organisational skills
• the ability to manage risk and make tough decisions
• excellent verbal communication skills with the ability to adapt to your audience
• good written skills as you will need to write court reports and case notes
• a positive outlook and supporting nature

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a login using your Oranga Tamariki email address. If you have any questions about the role, please contact.

Applications for this role close on 3rd September 2025 - Please note: we will be reviewing applications and inviting candidates to interview prior to this date, so apply now!

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.