Social Worker - Part Time

Kia Puāwai; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 26,000 - 42,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive Training in TFM

Paid birthday leave

Employee Assistance Programme

Whānau-friendly workplace with flexi‑s

Job summary

Kia Puāwai in Waikato is seeking a fully registered Social Worker to join the Specialist Caregiver Programme. This part-time role (.5 FTE, 20 hours per week) is based at the Waikato Office and uses the Teaching Family Model (TFM).

You will provide care-based services for at-risk youth, build relationships, support transitions, and participate in culturally responsive practice, with training in TFM provided. Flexible hours; on-call roster; NZ driver’s license required.

Qualifications

• To be considered, you must be a fully registered social worker.
• A current New Zealand driver’s license is required.
• Proven experience achieving positive outcomes with young people.
• Availability to be on-call on a rostered basis after training.
• Cultural awareness and willingness to engage in bi-cultural journey.
• Tikanga and te reo Māori competence is advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide care-based services for at‑risk youth with mental health, behavioural or emotional needs.
• Build strong relationships with rangatahi, caregivers and stakeholders.
• Promote the voice of young people in professional settings.
• Support development and implementation of treatment, self-regulation and risk management plans.
• Maintain clinical documentation and support transitions into and out of the programme.
• Encourage whānau involvement in the care journey where appropriate.

Skills

Fully registered

NZ driver’s license

On-call readiness

Cultural awareness

Youth work experience

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

Join our Kia Puāwai whānau in making a positive difference in the lives oftamariki, rangatahi and whānauin our community.

We have an exciting opportunity for aSocial Worker (fully registered)to join ourSpecialist Caregiver Programmein theWaikatoregion. This is apart-time role .5 PTE (20 hours per week)based at ourWaikato Office.

We use an evidence-based model calledTeaching Family Model (TFM)– an evidence-based therapeutic model that helps rangatahi develop pro-social behaviours and thrive in their communities. Full training in the TFM model will be provided.

Social workers play a key role in helping rangatahi learn, practise, and sustain new pro-social skills in everyday situations. Through coaching, modelling, and reinforcing positive behaviours, they work alongside caregivers to build confidence, emotional regulation, and independence, supporting young people to succeed at home and in their communities.

In this role, you will:

• Provide care-based services for at-risk young people with mental health, behavioural and/or emotional needs.
• Build strong relationships with rangatahi, caregivers, and stakeholders.
• Promote the voice of young people in professional settings.
• Support the development and implementation of treatment, self-regulation, and risk management plans.
• Maintain clinical documentation and support transitions into and out of the programme.
• Encourage whānau involvement in the care journey (where appropriate).

For the successful social worker to deliver in this role, we are looking for flexibility in how the 20 hours are spread across a working week. We have preferred hours; however, the suitable candidate will be someone who can show flexibility in moving afternoons to mornings in circumstances such as attending school hui with the Rangatahi. At present the Midlands service holds a contract for five (5) rangatahi, this number may fluctuate between 1 to 5.

The preferred hours are:

• Thursday - full day (8 hours). This allows the you to take part in regular Kia Puāwai updates eg National Karakia, full staff hui, and caregiver recruitment hui (phone screening expressions of interest, sending out application packs, taking part in recruitment drives).
• Monday, Tuesday - afternoons (4 hours p/day). This allows you to meet rangatahi which predominately happens at afterschool hours. If you have flexibility within the weeks schedule that would be adventageous.
• Friday afternoons are a preference (4 hours)

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• A full New Zealand driver’s licence.
• To be a fully registered social worker
• Proven experience achieving positive outcomes with young people.
• Availability to be on-call on a rostered basis once you are trained and comfortable (additional remuneration provided).
• Cultural awareness and a willingness to engage in a bi-cultural journey.
• Competency with tikanga and te reo Māori is advantageous, or a commitment to starting your journey into Te Ao Māori whilst taking ownership of your learning and growth.

We are a tangata Tiriti NGO which specialises in providing therapeutic services for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau who have complex behavioural and/or mental health needs.

Our innovative approach combines Western evidence-based models with mātauranga Māori and Pasifika knowledge. We work in a trauma informed way that acknowledges the impacts of colonisation for tangata whenua and indigenous peoples of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, including how and why members of these communities may require our services.

Our organisational tikanga: aroha, manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and wairuatanga help us to define what best practice is for working with tangata whenua in Aotearoa.

As a tangata Tiriti organisation, we are committed to meeting our obligations to He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We strive to deliver equitable outcomes through the designing and delivery of effective and appropriate services for tangata whenua and Pasifika.

We have over 160 staff and caregivers supporting tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau across Te Tai Tokerau, greater Tāmaki, Waikato, Te Moana a Toi, Te Matau a Māui, and the lower areas of Te Ika o Māui and Te Wai Pounamu. To find out more about Kia Puāwai, visitwww.kiapuawai.nz

• Comprehensive training in the evidence-based model Teaching Family Model (TFM)
• Paid birthday leave
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Enjoy a whānau-friendly workplace with flexible working options.

Please note: We review applications as they are received and may close the advert early if a suitable candidate is found.

Position Description:Request a copy from ***********@kiapuawai.nz
Contact:For questions about the role, contact Sue McAllister at **************@kiapuawai.nz or 021828946.

We welcome and encourage diversity and inclusion in our workforce and adhere to best practice equal employment opportunity principles in all aspects of our recruitment and our ways of working. Kia Puāwai is Rainbow Tick accredited.