Social Worker - Senior Practitioner

Te Kaika; Dunedin; On-site; NZD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

A kaupapa Māori health provider in Dunedin, New Zealand, is seeking a Senior Practitioner – Social Worker to lead the delivery of whānau-centred services. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in social work, experience in child protection and youth justice, and excellent communication skills. Additional benefits include ongoing professional development and flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance.

Benefits

Ongoing professional development

Flexible work arrangements

Employee wellness support

Career advancement opportunities

Qualifications

• Proven experience in social work.
• Current registration with the SWRB.
• Strong leadership skills to mentor others.
• Trauma-informed and whānau-centred approach.
• Excellent communication skills.
• High level of professional integrity.
• Full, clean New Zealand driver’s licence.

Responsibilities

• Manage own caseload and support colleagues.
• Ensure services are trauma-informed and compliant.
• Collaborate across health services for support.
• Guide in child protection and youth justice.
• Maintain accurate case records.

Skills

Child protection knowledge

Youth justice understanding

Leadership skills

Relationship-building

Digital tools proficiency

Education

Relevant social work qualification

Job description

Nau mai, haere mai! Join our whānau and make a difference.

Are you an experienced Social Worker ready to lead with purpose and support transformative change for mokopuna, whānau, hapū, and iwi? Te Kāika is seeking a Senior Practitioner to help deliver integrated, whānau-centred services across our organisation.

About Us

Te Kāika is a kaupapa Māori health and social services provider dedicated to delivering holistic, whānau-centred care across Otago. We work to address not only individual health needs but also the broader wellbeing of whānau and communities.

About the role

As a Senior Practitioner – Social Worker at Te Kāika, you will lead and support the delivery of high-quality, kaupapa Māori, whānau-centred services for mokopuna, whānau, hapū, and iwi. This dynamic role involves:

• Managing your own caseload and supporting colleagues with complex assessments, care plans, and interventions.
• Ensuring services are trauma-informed, culturally appropriate, and aligned with Te Tiriti o Waitangi and relevant legislation.
• Collaborating across Te Kāika’s social and primary health services to deliver integrated, wraparound support.
• Providing guidance in child protection, youth justice, and out-of-home care, ensuring positive outcomes for tamariki and rangatahi.
• Maintaining accurate case records and meeting all reporting, compliance, and quality assurance standards.
• Supporting staff development and contributing to ongoing learning, supervision, and audit processes.
• Building strong relationships with mana whenua, community providers, and inter-agency partners.
• Participating in the after-hours on-call roster and upholding the mana of Te Kāika in all aspects of your work.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a passionate and experienced Senior Social Worker who is committed to kaupapa Māori approaches and improving outcomes for mokopuna, whānau, hapū, and iwi. You will bring:

• Proven experience in social work, with a strong understanding of child protection, youth justice, or out-of-home care.
• Current registration with the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB) and a relevant social work qualification.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to mentor and support kaimahi in complex casework and professional development.
• A trauma-informed and whānau-centred approach, grounded in tikanga Māori and responsive to the needs of mana whenua and Kāi Tahu.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with experience working across multidisciplinary teams and with external agencies.
• High level of professional integrity, including strong documentation, case management, and adherence to relevant legislation and codes of ethics.
• Confidence in using digital tools and maintaining accurate records in a timely and confidential manner.
• A full, clean New Zealand driver’s licence and willingness to participate in the after-hours on-call roster.

What we offer

At Te Kaika, we are committed to supporting the wellbeing and professional growth of our employees. We offer a range of benefits, including:

• Ongoing professional development and training opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
• Access to employee wellness and mental health support programs
• Opportunities for career advancement and leadership development

If you are dedicated to empowering mokopuna, whānau, and communities through social work and committed to delivering culturally grounded, whānau-centred care, we invite you to apply now.