Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Registered Nurse (Key Worker) - CAFMHS at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Southern, Otago

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Dunedin
• Permanent, part-time role (0.8 FTE, 32 hours per week)
• Salary - $75,087 - $107,600 and KiwiSaver

About the role

As a Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Registered Nurse (Key Worker) within the Child, Adolescent and Family Mental Health Service (CAFMHS), you will play a key role in supporting tamariki and rangatahi (0-14 years) experiencing moderate to severe mental health challenges. Based in Dunedin, you'll work within a specialised outpatient service providing comprehensive mental health assessment, intervention, and treatment that is youth-focused, evidence-based, and grounded in whānau inclusion.

You will manage your own caseload and work collaboratively as part of a multidisciplinary team, which includes allied health, public health, scientific and technical professionals across Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Southern. This role is central to delivering care that is consistent with our organisational values and vision, including interprofessional practice that empowers families and communities.

Your core responsibilities include:

• undertaking mental health assessments and delivering tailored interventions
• working closely with the wider care team to ensure continuity of care and patient flow
• supporting safeguarding processes involving child protection, family violence, and risk assessment
• collaborating with external agencies to provide wrap-around services
• engaging in continuous professional development and contributing to service improvement initiatives.

Social Worker position description.

Occupational Therapist position description.

Registered Nurse position description.

About you

With a sound understanding of child and youth-focused mental health interventions, you bring a therapeutic, evidence-based, and whānau-inclusive approach to your practice. You are confident working both independently and as part of a multi-disciplinary team, contributing to interprofessional care across diverse communities.

Your ability to build effective, respectful relationships with young people, their families and wider support networks is central to your practice.

In addition, you are:

• experienced in mental health assessment, intervention, and treatment planning for youth (0-14 years) with moderate to severe needs
• skilled in safeguarding practices and navigating complex family systems
• committed to service improvement, innovation, and evidence-based care
• registered with the New Zealand Registration Board and hold a current Annual Practising Certificate.

If you are passionate about supporting rangatahi to thrive, believe in the power of whānau engagement, and want to be part of a dynamic and supportive team making a real impact in the Southern region, then we would love to hear from you.

Salary range

This role falls between Step 1 ($77,087 p.a) and Step 7 ($107,600 p.a pro-rata) of the Allied, Public Health and Technical scale or between Step 1 ($75,773 p.a) and Step 7 ($106,739 p.a pro-rata) of the RN scale.

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 Māori, 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 Friday, 21 November 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact James Boyd james.boyd@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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

We only accept online applications. Please apply via our website.