Community Social Worker - Emergency Department

* Southland Hospital
* Permanent, full-time role
* Salary range $100,163 - 110,210 (Allied Health SECA)
Help shape a new service supporting patient flow and wellbeing in Southland Hospital's Emergency Department.
We're excited to offer a new opportunity for an experienced social worker to join our Allied Health team in the Emergency Department (ED) at Southland Hospital.

This role is central to achieving the National Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments Health Target, helping patients and whānau navigate complex social needs, avoid unnecessary admissions, and facilitate safe, timely discharge.
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
As a Community Social Worker in ED, you will:
* provide social work case management and care coordination
* undertake assessments, interventions, and evaluations to mitigate safety risks and enhance well-being
* support patient flow by working closely with the multidisciplinary team
* address safeguarding concerns (e.g., family violence, child protection, cognitive impairment)
* collaborate with community providers to deliver wrap-around supports
* contribute to service development, including documentation, resource creation, and data collection to demonstrate impact.
This will be a seven-day service, meaning the team provides coverage across the week.

Your roster will include some weekend work, but you will not work seven days per week.

Specific weekend arrangements and hours of work will be discussed during the recruitment process.
View position description.
About the Team/Service/Location
Our Southland Allied Health team is small enough to foster strong relationships and collegial support, yet broad enough to offer rich clinical variety.

You'll be part of a collaborative environment that prioritises quality, equity, and whānau-centred care, with district-wide professional networks across the Southern region.
Based in Invercargill, Southland Hospital offers short commutes, affordable living, and easy access to Queenstown, Dunedin, and Fiordland's natural beauty.
For more information on living and working in Invercargill, click here.
About you
To succeed in this role, you will:
* be registered with the New Zealand Social Workers Registration Board and hold a current Practising Certificate
* have at least five years of relevant clinical experience, ideally in a hospital setting and with an understanding of physical and mental health
* demonstrate strong clinical reasoning and rapid decision-making skills
* be skilled in screening for hidden risks and delivering evidence-based interventions
* have experience addressing barriers to accessing primary care and social services
* possess excellent organisational and time-management skills
* be committed to implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice
* have a full, clean New Zealand driver's licence.
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 Sunday, 16 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.