Social Worker - Child Emergency Care
Permanent 0.8FTE position
- Hours of work are 32 hours between Monday to Thursday 13:30 -22:00 based at Christchurch Health Campus
- Bring your passion and specialist knowledge of tikanga Maori to support, advocate, engage and work towards achieving equitable healthcare outcomes for Maori
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.
About the Role
Social Work Services at Christchurch Hospital are looking for an experienced health Social Worker to join our team working at the Christchurch campus. You'll be working in our Child Health department based in the Child Emergency Care Unit.
Social Work Services provide 24-hour social work service 7 days a week, as part of a multi-disciplinary team who take a holistic approach to patient care.
This role has a specific focus to strengthen whanau-centred, equity-led practice in the Emergency department and Child Emergency Care (CEC), to support the Shorter Stays in ED Health Target. The role will be required to work in partnership with Hauora Maori Kaimahi, to achieve shorter stays in ED, improve patient flow, and equitable outcomes for Maori. In this role you will:
- Engage with patients and their whanau to complete biopsychosocial assessments and develop tailored care plans
- Work in partnership with Hauora Maori Kaimahi to improve patient flow, reduce ED stays, and achieve equitable outcomes for Maori
- Provide emotional, practical, and informational support, advocating for patients and linking them to essential services
- Respond to clients in crisis situations, offering immediate support and solutions
- Communicate effectively with patients, whanau, and multidisciplinary teams to enable collaborative decision-making
- Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records using digital systems
About You
We are seeking a compassionate Social worker who thrives in fast-paced environments and values cultural safety and equity. To succeed in this role, you will have:
- Full SWRB registration and a current Annual Practicing Certificate
- Experience in implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in action
- Strong digital skills (Outlook, Teams, Excel)
- The ability to work under pressure, manage stress, and respond effectively in crisis situations
- Exceptional relationship-building and advocacy skills, with a commitment to supporting vulnerable patients and whanau
- Experience with care, protection and family harm is essential
- Competency with te ao Maori, tikanga, and te reo Maori and a commitment to continuing your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth
- Experience or qualifications in Alcohol and Other Drugs is desirable
- Training in Trauma-Informed Care is highly desirable
- Minimum 2+ years post graduate experience
Working at Health New Zealand
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Maori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.
How to Apply
To apply please click 'apply now.' All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal by 8th February 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz