Social Worker in Schools

About the Organization

Presbyterian Support Northern is dedicated to enabling individuals to actively engage with their communities and flourish. With a team of 900 extending from Taupo to Whangarei, the organization delivers essential health and social services through its well-known programs, including Enliven, Family Works, Lifeline, and Shine. Its mission focuses on empowering clients to improve their lives, guided by values of Hope, Trust & Integrity, Compassion, Partnership, and Tangata Whenua.

Role Overview

Family Works Northern champions children's welfare by offering expert counselling and social work services within community settings and schools. The Family Works New Lynn team seeks a Social Worker to become part of the Social Work in Schools (SWIS) initiative. This opportunity suits graduates or emerging social workers eager to support children, youth, and families in achieving well-being and resilience.

Based in Helensville and Massey, the role involves collaborating with local schools to deliver early intervention and preventive social work assistance to children, youth, and their families. The Social Worker will manage a caseload and facilitate both individual and group interventions aimed at addressing challenges proactively and fostering sustainable positive outcomes. Their approach embraces strength-based and multi-systemic methodologies, recognizing the crucial contributions of families, schools, and communities in nurturing young people.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide social work services within schools located in Helensville and Massey.
• Offer early intervention and preventive support to children, young people, and their whānau.
• Effectively manage an active caseload.
• Conduct both one-on-one and group sessions to deliver support programs.
• Collaborate closely with schools, families, and other service providers.
• Apply a strength-based, multi-systemic framework to facilitate positive transformations.
• Travel between school sites as required using a personal reliable vehicle (mileage reimbursed).

Qualifications and Experience

• Possession of a tertiary qualification specializing in Social Work.
• Current registration with the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB).
• Experience engaging with children, youth, or families; exposure to school environments is advantageous.
• Holding a full, clean New Zealand driver's license and access to a dependable vehicle for work purposes.
• Strong interpersonal skills with an ability to build and sustain effective relationships.
• Capability to maintain professional boundaries while operating within defined practice standards and performance indicators.
• Knowledge of Tikanga Māori and a respectful commitment to working with Tangata Whenua.
• A genuine passion for enabling children, young people, and their families to realize positive change.

Additional Information

This position is a fixed-term contract lasting until 30 June 2027. Applicants who are recent graduates or early-career social workers with limited experience are encouraged to apply, especially those who prioritize learning, relationship-building, and committed support for children and their whānau.

Employee Benefits

• Boost Programme: Immediate access to numerous perks including discounts, gym memberships, and holiday deals with over 50 New Zealand brands.
• Referral Bonus: A $200 incentive for recommending friends or family who join the organization.
• Employee Recognition: Acknowledgment for continued service and nominations for living the organization's core values.
• Long Service Leave: Five extra days of leave granted after five years of service.
• KiwiSaver Contributions: Employer contributions in addition to base salary.
• Leave Purchasing: Option to buy up to 10 additional annual leave days each year.
• Wellbeing Support: Confidential assistance and online resources available through an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP).
• Free annual flu vaccinations to promote employee health.
• PSN Scholarship: Financial aid and academic support for professional development and further education.

Diversity and Inclusion

The organization is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace, valuing every contribution. Initiatives include being dementia-friendly, DVFREE Tick Accredited, affiliated with the Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion, and a member of the Pride Pledge.