Social worker Caregiver - Waikato

Permanent, full-time opportunity for a SWRB registered Social Worker based in Hamilton but covering the Waikato region.

• Specialised role, focusing on recruiting, assessing and supporting caregivers to provide the best possible care.
• Make a tangible difference to the experience and outcomes of tamariki and young persons in Aotearoa.

About the role

Caregivers take on a critically important role in the lives of tamariki who cannot live safely at home. As a Caregiver Recruitment and Support Social Worker, you will partner closely with our caregivers to help them understand the role they play at each stage of a child\'s journey through care. With your strong relationship management skills and commitment to providing tailored support, you will ensure that our caregivers are well prepared with the resources, skills and information that they need to provide nurturing, safe and stable homes for tamariki. As part of your work, you will build relationships with and support whānau and non-whānau caregivers, emergency and respite caregivers and long-term caregivers.

The role of a Caregiver Recruitment and Support Social Worker is varied and deeply rewarding, with the opportunity to deliver tangible and meaningful benefits to your community. You will work as a team with the child\'s Social Worker to identify key or underlying issues and develop creative, individually tailored strategies that provide cohesive support from all angles to facilitate great outcomes for tamariki who need caring for. Where required, you will also work with other agencies, community groups and providers to ensure the needs of our caregivers are met.

As this role is a Social Worker position, not Caregiver, you must hold a Social Work qualification and be registered with SWRB.

We work from a strengths-based perspective and proactively share knowledge, learnings and insights across the team to ensure that all our members feel heard, supported and well prepared to deliver their best. You will receive a full induction into the role, regular training and supervision, and have the benefit of a strong peer and leadership group. The successful applicant will be part of the CGRS Waikato Region.

About us

Oranga Tamariki—Ministry for Children has a commitment to putting tamariki and rangatahi at the heart of what we do. In our work, we aim to demonstrate these values :

What you will bring

What\'s in it for you

Oranga Tamariki offer an impartial remuneration package, that offers progression annually for experience through tenure. Annual remuneration for this position starts between $81k and $94k dependant on experience, with tenure-based progression steps above this range.

We offer a vibrant and supportive team, flexible work options and a genuine commitment to wellbeing. We offer significant training and professional development so that you can thrive and grow. We welcome diversity and are committed to working in an inclusive and respectful way.

This is your opportunity to apply your skills and experience to the wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi. To see all the benefits of working for Oranga Tamariki, please visit

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.

How to apply

Apply online with your CV and Covering Letter, please include in your application your work availability. If you are an Oranga Tamariki employee already, please ensure you apply with a log in using your Oranga Tamariki email address. If you have any questions about role, please contact

Applications close : Sunday 12th October 2025!

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