Social Worker

Location: Kenepuru Community Hospital

Contract: Permanent, Full Time (1.0 FTE, 40 hours per week)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. 

About the Role 

We are seeking an experienced, energetic, efficient and motivated Social Worker to join our inpatient MDT.  The team is part of the wider Allied Health Inpatient team at Kenepuru Community Hospital, and there are three main areas of work, Health of Older Persons, Orthopaedics (which includes amputees), and Neuro-Rehabilitation. 

The emphasis of this role is on timely and high quality Social Work input, as part of a MDT approach to delivery of care. The ability to assess and contribute to decision making and complex discharge planning as part of a team, is crucial for this role. The successful applicant will have an opportunity to work with patients and their whānau with a range of psychosocial issues, such as adjustment to changes in health and functioning, coping with a traumatic incident or when there are concerns of family violence. 

About the Team/Service/Location 

The inpatient MDT is a close-knit team of Allied Health, nursing and medical colleagues, based at Kenepuru Hospital. We are a team that loves to learn and upskill, and enjoy shared lunches and complete the daily quiz together. We are also guided by the Clinical Lead for Rehabilitation with the following current projects:

• Reviewing models of care
• Patient-centred goal setting
• Using a whakawhanaungatanga approach to patient and whanau hui

This role sits within the wider Kenepuru Inpatient Allied Health team which consists of over 35 Allied Health staff from six different professions.  We work together closely to provide a service of high standard to patients and their families and whanau.  We are a very supportive team who provide training and learning opportunities, supervision, encourage professional development and have fun and laughter along the way. Our recent service improvements include introducing Inter-Professional-Practice models, and working in closer collaboration with our nursing and medical colleagues. We continue to grow in our cultural responsiveness as a team and a service, and we welcome anyone who is also on the journey to improve health equity outcomes for Maori and Pacific peoples to join us as we learn and improve together. 

About you 

• Qualified Social Worker, registered with the Social Work Registration Board with a current APC 
• Experience working in an inpatient setting (desired)
• Driven to reduce health inequity, and to improve health outcomes
• Excellent communication, documentation, and flexibility
• Able to use computers/technology well
• Able to contribute to a healthy team culture

Working at Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. 

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 21 April. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Philip Adamson at Philip.Adamson@tewhatuora.govt.nz 

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advertisement.