Social Worker - Rotorua

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children; Rotorua; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible working options

Professional development opportunities

Southern Cross Health cover

Job summary

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children in Rotorua is seeking a fully registered social worker to join our site team. You will work with tamariki and whānau, guided by mana, aroha, tika, pono and whakapapa, putting whānau at the centre while you navigate complex cases with resilience and sound judgement.

This role emphasizes culturally grounded practice, strong partnerships with whānau, hapū, iwi and community providers, and a collaborative, multi-agency approach.

Qualifications

• Fully registered social worker with current practicing certificate.
• Experience working with tamariki and whānau in complex environments.
• Confidence in working with Māori, Pasifika and indigenous models of practice.
• Understanding Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in practice.
• Ability to build trusted relationships with whānau and community.
• Clear, confident decision-making and accountability for your practice.
• Collaborative approach within a multi-agency environment.

Responsibilities

• Walking alongside tamariki and whānau, ensuring their voices are heard and reflected in decisions.
• Building trusted relationships with whānau, hapū, iwi and community partners.
• Assessing concerns and making sound, evidence-based decisions to support safety and wellbeing.
• Working alongside other professionals to coordinate practical, effective support.
• Contributing to hui where shared thinking and collective decision-making are critical.
• Supporting whānau through key processes with care, clarity and professionalism.

Skills

Registered social worker

Relationship building

Decision making

Collaborative working

Whānau-centred practice

Education

Current practicing certificate

Job description

Hei awhitanga ngā mahi o Rotorua

Tū te tangata, tū te rohe, tū te mana

Tihei mauri ora

Rotorua is a place where whānau, whakapapa and community are at the centre and where social workers have the opportunity to do some of the most meaningful and challenging mahi in Aotearoa.

We are building something different at our Rotorua site. With renewed leadership and a clear focus on strengthening practice, we are lifting expectations and reshaping how we work - with a strong commitment to culturally grounded, whānau-centred approaches.

It takes a whole village to raise tamariki’. We are offering a great sense of community and a unique opportunity for someone to join our team as the social worker of Rotorua site - If you are ready to be part of a team that is raising expectations and doing the mahi differently, we want to hear from you.

Mō mātou | About us

Oranga Tamariki carries a responsibility to support the safety and wellbeing of tamariki and whānau across Aotearoa.

In Rotorua, this means working in genuine partnership with whānau, hapū, iwi and community providers. Our practice is grounded in mana, aroha, tika, pono and whakapapa, guiding how we engage, make decisions, and show up every day.

This role represents an opportunity to shape a new way of working with culturally grounded solutions and innovations that support our operational strategy 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.

Mō te tūnga | About the role

This is a busy Rotorua site where you will need to think on your feet, adapt quickly to change, and stay steady under pressure. The pace is fast, expectations are high, and the work requires resilience, sound judgement, and the ability to move decisively while keeping whānau at the centre.

Your mahi will include:

• Walking alongside tamariki and whānau, ensuring their voices are heard and reflected in decisions
• Building trusted relationships with whānau, hapū, iwi and community partners
• Assessing concerns and making sound, evidence-based decisions to support safety and wellbeing
• Working alongside other professionals to coordinate practical, effective support
• Contributing to hui where shared thinking and collective decision-making are critical
• Supporting whānau through key processes with care, clarity and professionalism

Ngā pūmanawatanga ōu |What you will bring

• Fully registered social worker with a current practising certificate
• Experience working alongside tamariki and whānau in complex environments
• Confidence in working within Māori, Pasifika and indigenous models of practice
• A sound understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its application in practice
• The ability to build trusted relationships with whānau and community
• Clear, confident decision-making and accountability for your practice
• A collaborative approach within a multi-agency environment

Nōu te rourou | What’s in it for you

• The opportunity to be part of a site actively lifting practice and doing things differently
• Visible, supportive leadership committed to quality social work
• A team culture focused on reflection, integrity and continuous improvement
• Ongoing professional development and growth opportunities
• Flexible working options
• Competitive salary and benefits, including Southern Cross Health cover

Most importantly, you will be part of work that makes a real difference for tamariki and whānau.

If you have any questions about role, please contact

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.