Senior Social Worker - Cancer and Blood at Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau, Northland

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Cancer and Blood Services - Whangarei Hospital, Te Tai Tokerau
• Permanent full-time position, working 40 hours per week

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 Senior Social Worker role is primarily clinical and includes a leadership / management component for Core Social Workers. You will provide comprehensive assessments, therapeutic interventions, and intensive support to clients across the lifespan. Your work promotes functional independence, emotional wellbeing, and social connectedness, ensuring individuals and families can navigate complex health, social, and environmental challenges. Specific objectives for your role will be agreed separately with your line manager as part of your annual performance planning process.

In addition, the Senior Social Worker will also:

• Provide clinical leadership within the team or service and assist in developing the clinical capability of others.
• Support service development as agreed with the line manager and professional lead, as appropriate.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Service/Location

The Social Work Department Social Workers provide support and intervention across numerous physical health services including medical and surgical wards, Oncology, Maternity, Neonatal, Paediatrics, Child Health, Health of Older People and Community.

Cancer & Blood services currently provide both Haematology and Medical Oncology out-patient services including SACT administration. You will be working alongside a wide team of multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals to deliver Radiation Oncology. The new Radiation oncology build is due to open in mid 2026, completing cancer care provided in Te Tai Tokerau Great news for our patients!

Work within a tight knit specialist team in the beautiful Te Tai Tokerau, and within the wider Regional team, you will always be supported to grow personally and professionally. He Waka Eka Noa We are all in this together is our philosophy.

For more information on living and working in Northland, click here

About you

As a Senior Social Worker, you will maintain composure and focus under pressure, especially in fast-paced or emotionally demanding situations with an ability to working effectively with other healthcare professionals in a multidisciplinary setting.

• Social Work qualification recognised by the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board NZSWRB
• New Zealand Registration and current annual practising certificate with the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board
• Minimum of four years post-graduate experience including a minimum of two within area of specialty
• Experience of translating evidence into practice
• Professional portfolio of evidence
• Current New Zealand full drivers licence
• Whilst not essential, candidates that have prior experience as a Senior clinician or experience in supervising staff are desired.

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 22^nd April 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Olivia Matthews at NL-jobs@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

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