Acute Social Work - ED Critical Care

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

This is an exciting opportunity for a qualified practitioner to join the Acute Social Work services and undertake a part time (0.6 FTE) permanent position within Waikato Hospital.

This position is in the Emergency Department which is part of our Critical Care team. There will be an expectation to also cover the High Dependency Unit / Intensive Care Unit, Acute Medical Unit and Short Stay Assessment.

If you are interested in working in a fast-paced environment and have a passion to focus on health equity for Māori and the Pacifica population we would love to hear from you.

A wide range of education, training and learning opportunities are offered to our allied health staff, for more information click here.

Our Social Work team covers the Emergency Department, Critical Care, Medicine, Surgery, Women's Health, Paediatrics, Older Persons & Rehabilitation, Renal, Oncology and Community. Although our team works within a range of health services in hospital and community-based settings throughout the Waikato district, they report professionally to a manager within our Allied Health Service.

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 Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities

About you

You will bring at least 3 years of professional social work experience, ideally in health or related settings, along with :

• Current registration with the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB).
• Current New Zealand Annual Practising Certificate (APC).
• Full New Zealand drivers licence
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and adapt to a fast-paced environment

Ideally :

• Skilled in comprehensive social assessments and delivering tailored interventions.
• Ability to identify and respond to family violence concerns with appropriate screening and support.
• Knowledge and experience in child safety and safeguarding vulnerable adults.
• Confidence in connecting patients and whānau to community resources and support networks.
• Strong commitment to bicultural practice and equity in healthcare.
• Understanding of the psychosocial impact of illness and changing health status.
• Competence in crisis response and de‑escalation strategies.
• Effective case coordination and advocacy skills to ensure patient‑centred care.

How to Apply

To apply please click Apply online or apply via our Waikato Careers website by clicking here .

All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11 : 59 pm on 26 November 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Elisa Travailleur at . Or Caryn Van Shipley on

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

Job details

Job Reference :

Job Reference : WAI30280

Location :

North Island - Waikato - Hamilton

Job type : Expertise :

Clinical - Allied Health - Social Worker

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