Social Worker - Emergency Department

• Fixed term parental leave cover, full time (1.0FTE), 4 x 10 hour shifts per week through to end of October 2026
• Based at Christchurch Health Campus
• Hours of work are 9:30pm - 08:00am Wednesday - Saturday 

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

Social Work Services at Christchurch Hospital are looking for an experienced health Social Worker to join our team working across the Christchurch campus. You’ll be working in our Emergency Department - one of the busiest ED's in Australasia.

Social Work Services provide 24-hour social work service 7 days a week, as part of a multi-disciplinary team who take a holistic approach to patient care.

We provide psychosocial assessment in conjunction with a multi-disciplinary team to evaluate the current needs associated with a person’s admission and to provide appropriate support. This role will require you to work across a range of different multidisciplinary teams, so being a team player who can adapt will be essential to your success. Our service is committed to the professional development of our staff and offer regular ongoing development opportunities.

In this role you will be responsible for:

• Psychosocial assessment, monitoring and support of patients
• Triaging workloads to meet patient needs and service demands
• Supporting team needs with work prioritisation and delivery
• Work in partnership with our Māori Health team

About You

As an experienced Social Worker, you will have the ability to make rapid assessments and have expert knowledge of community services and able to work with trauma, grief and loss. You’ll bring your positive attitude and enthusiasm to our supportive team and be able to rise to challenges in our fast-paced and fluid environment. You will also demonstrate: 

• Competency in the use of digital technology
• You will be able to work effectively in teams and independently 
• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth 
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to relate to people from all walks of life
• Experience within Care and Protection, Family Harm, and Trauma, is highly desirable
• Current APC and NZ Registration with the Social Work Board is required

Working for 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 view the position description and/or apply for the role please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on 8th February 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.