Social Worker in Schools

About the organisation

Presbyterian Support Northern is a not-for-profit organisation serving communities from Taupo to Whangarei. Its work focuses on improving wellbeing through essential health and social services, with well-known services including Enliven, Family Works, Lifeline and Shine. The organisation is guided by a purpose of helping people live better lives, and its values include Hope, Trust & Integrity, Compassion, Partnership and Tangata Whenua.

The opportunity

Family Works Northern supports children through counselling, social work, and community and school-based programmes that create long-term positive change. In this role, you will be based in local school settings and manage a caseload of families, delivering early intervention and preventative social work support for vulnerable children, teenagers and their whānau. The work combines individual and group interventions and uses a strengths-based, multi-systemic practice approach.

This position is intended for an early-career or newly graduated social worker who has already gained some practical exposure through work, placements or internships and wants to continue building capability in a supportive environment.

Key responsibilities

• Provide early intervention and preventive social work services within school environments.
• Manage a caseload of families and work directly with vulnerable children, teens and their whānau.
• Deliver both one-to-one and group-based support.
• Use a strengths-focused, multi-systemic approach to support lasting positive change.
• Build effective relationships with students, families, schools and colleagues.
• Work in line with professional practice expectations, KPI requirements and boundary standards.

What we are looking for

To succeed in this role, you should bring a warm, professional and engaging manner, along with the following:

• A tertiary qualification in Social Work with Social Work as the major or specialisation.
• Current registration with the Social Workers Registration Board.
• A full, clean New Zealand driver licence and access to a reliable vehicle.
• Some prior experience as a social worker.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to form and sustain positive working relationships.
• Confidence in maintaining professional boundaries and meeting practice requirements.
• Working knowledge of Tikanga Māori and a clear commitment to working with Tangata Whenua.
• Experience supporting children in a school environment would be an advantage.

Benefits and support

• Professional external supervision and ongoing professional development.
• Access to counselling and support through Employee Assistance programmes.
• Wellbeing resources and support for you and your family.
• Discounted Southern Cross medical insurance.
• Discounts on a range of products and services through the BOOST programme.
• Referral rewards for successfully recommending friends or family to join PSN.
• Formal service recognition from five years of service onward.
• Employer KiwiSaver contributions on top of base salary.
• Option to buy up to 10 extra days of annual leave each year.
• Recognition through the Spirit of PSN employee recognition scheme.

Diversity and inclusion

PSN is committed to building an inclusive workplace where people feel valued and included for the contribution they make. The organisation notes that it is a dementia-friendly organisation, a DVFREE Tick Accredited employer, a member of Te Uru Tāngata Centre for Workplace Inclusion, and a member of the Pride Pledge.

Additional information

If you have questions or would like a copy of the role profile, you can contact [email protected]. To learn more about the organisation and its careers, visit the PSN careers page.

The organisation ends the invitation to apply by encouraging candidates to join the team and help be part of the solution.