Social Worker For Team For Assertive Community Treatment (Tact)

Contract: Permanent, Part-time (0.55 FTE)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we're building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the Role

The Social Worker is a core clinical member of the multidisciplinary Team for Assertive Community Treatment, providing advanced psychosocial assessment, formulation, and intervention for people with severe and enduring mental illness and complex psychosocial needs. You will work with individuals who are often difficult to engage, may be subject to compulsory treatment, and frequently experience co-occurring substance use, homelessness, social exclusion, and involvement with the criminal justice system. The role operates within a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive framework consistent with Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora values and Te Tiriti o Waitangi obligations. The role requires assertive outreach, high-level engagement skills, and inter-agency advocacy to address the social determinants of mental health, and to support sustained community living.

About the Team/Service Location

TACT is the Team for Assertive Community Treatment. We provide intensive case management for people with severe and enduring mental health problems; holistic assessment and psychiatric intervention; employment and housing assistance; family/whānau support; treatment for substance abuse; and other supports critical for an individual's ability to live successfully in the community. We have the resources and time to create opportunities for recovery for even the most difficult to engage people with complex needs.

About you

• Hold a relevant qualification in social work with current professional registration in New Zealand.
• Have experience working with adults and their whānau in a community mental health setting, including clients who may be estranged from family, and demonstrate understanding of the profound impact of chronic mental illness on both clients and their whānau.
• Demonstrate advanced skills in psychosocial assessment, risk management, and therapeutic intervention.
• Be able to engage assertively with people with severe, enduring, and complex mental illness, including those difficult to reach or reluctant to access services.
• Contribute confidently to multidisciplinary care planning and work collaboratively with community partners and agencies.
• Practice with a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach, with a strong commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and partnership with Māori and Pacific communities.
• Have excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Bring resilience, adaptability, a sense of humour, and a strong team spirit to a demanding but rewarding role.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is 'the weaving of wellness'. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

How to Apply

To apply please click 'apply now.' All applications must be submitted through our online careers' portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Marianne.Lovgren@tewhatuora.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advertisement.