Senior Social Worker – 12 Month Fixed Term

Are you a passionate Senior Social Worker looking to make a lasting impact in the lives of tamariki and whānau?
At Barnardos, we believe every child deserves the best start in life, and we’re looking for an experienced professional to join us in shaping brighter futures for vulnerable children and their families in Taranaki.

About the Role
In this 12-month fixed-term position, you will be part of an intensive home visiting programme designed to empower vulnerable children (aged 0–5) and their whānau. Your expertise will help improve children's health, learning, relationships, and safety. You'll work alongside families facing complex challenges, supporting them to thrive despite mental health, addiction, or other difficulties.

Whānau with high needs can be referred to Barnardos Taranaki at any time, from pregnancy confirmation until the baby is 12 months old. This service is for families facing mental health issues, addiction, care and protection concerns, relationship difficulties, parenting challenges, and other complex needs.

Responsibilities
As a Senior Social Worker, you will:

Support tamariki and their caregivers by offering a wide range of skills and parenting strategies.
Collaborate with whānau to assess the needs of children and babies.
Create tailored, solution-focused plans using appropriate interventions and resources to empower families.
Facilitate group programmes that equip parents and caregivers with tools to support their children's growth.
Encourage whānau to use their strengths, support networks, and resources to develop greater resilience and maintain a positive and safe environment for their children.

Skills and Experience
To excel in this role, you’ll bring:

NZSWRB registration and a passion for working with tamariki and whānau.
8 – 10 years of experience in child and family social work, including case assessments and collaborative care planning.
Strong communication skills and the ability to engage effectively with families from diverse backgrounds.
A commitment to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and a deep respect for tikanga Māori.
A current, clean driver’s license.

Why Join Us?
We believe in supporting our staff, just as much as we support our whānau. Joining our Barnardos Taranaki roopu means you’ll be part of a team that genuinely cares about your wellbeing and professional growth.

We offer:

Supportive Work Environment: Be part of a dynamic, collaborative team where your ideas and contributions truly matter, fostering a culture of growth and innovation.
Health Benefits: Enjoy reimbursement for flu vaccination costs and exclusive discounts with health providers, prioritizing your wellbeing.
Meaningful Impact: Engage in a role that empowers you to make a real difference in the lives of tamariki and whānau, shaping brighter futures for the community.
Employee Assistance Programme: Access confidential support services for personal or work-related challenges, ensuring you have the resources you need to thrive both professionally and personally.

About Barnardos Aotearoa
As a child and family services branch of Barnardos, we’ve been offering services within the Taranaki roopu for over 40 years, shaping brighter futures together with children and families. Our mahi across social services, early learning, and advocacy for children’s rights and wellbeing means we're there for the whole childhood journey, and beyond. With your help, we can do even more.

This position sits within the Barnardos Child & Family Service Practitioner job family.

Interested?
Ready to take the next step in your career and make a real difference in your community? We’d love to hear from you. For more details, contact Clare Blackman on 027 240 2728, or apply now! Let’s work together to create a brighter future for tamariki and their whānau.

Applications
This is a fixed-term role, and we want to ensure all candidates are aware of our current sponsorship policies. At present, Barnardos Aotearoa offers sponsorship exclusively for Early Learning Teacher positions. As such, applicants for this role must already possess the legal right to work in New Zealand for the duration of the contract. While we value diversity in our workforce, we're unable to provide visa sponsorship for this particular position at this time. We appreciate your understanding and encourage you to apply if you meet these criteria.

Please only apply if you are eligible to work in New Zealand. Applications will remain open until the position is filled.

Social Worker (New Plymouth)