Social Worker - NZ Female Pelvic Mesh Service

• 12-month fixed term, part-time position 0.3FTE (12 hours per week) 
• Based at Christchurch Health Campus
• Unique opportunity to shape a new role in the service!

Join a service that puts people first

The national Female Pelvic Mesh Service supports women experiencing complications from surgical mesh. You’ll be part of a multidisciplinary team delivering equitable, trauma-informed, culturally safe care that honours Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country’s largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders. We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

About the Role

This is a fixed-term position for 1 year that would suit a senior social worker. As the first person coming into this role in the service, we are looking for someone who is passionate about setting up a service that will best meet the needs of the community, confident in setting up a referral and triage process and working through any challenges that come with setting up a new role. We anticipate this role will evolve and grow with the successful applicant.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Engage with patients and their whānau to complete biopsychosocial assessments and develop tailored care plans
• Provide emotional, practical, and informational support, advocating for patients and linking them to essential services
• Respond to clients in crisis situations, offering immediate support and solutions
• Communicate effectively with patients and whānau to enable collaborative decision-making
• Maintain accurate, timely, and confidential records using digital systems

About You

We are seeking a compassionate Social worker who thrives in fast-paced environments and values cultural safety and equity. To succeed in this role, you will have:

• Full SWRB registration and a current Annual Practicing Certificate
• Experience in implementing Te Tiriti o Waitangi in action
• Strong digital skills (Outlook, Teams, Excel)
• The ability to work under pressure, manage stress, and respond effectively in crisis situations
• Exceptional relationship-building and advocacy skills, with a commitment to supporting vulnerable patients and whānau
• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori and a commitment to continuing your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth

Working at Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora

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 26/07/2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Courtney Bell at Courtney.bell@cdhb.health.nz

Please note this role is open only to current staff of Health New Zealand. Please do not apply if you are not currently employed by Health New Zealand.

Position description Apply now

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