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 RoleReporting directly to the Director of Allied Health Older Persons Health & Rehabilitation (OPH&R), the Clinical Manager for Social Work will provide day-to-day leadership, operational management, and strategic planning to deliver a sustainable, high-quality service aligned with organisational goals. You'll also offer clinical leadership for the social work profession, focusing on workforce development, safe and high-quality care, and outcomes-focused practice.You will provide operational and professional leadership to the Inpatient Social Worker team as well as providing professional leadership oversight to Social Workers working within the adult community teams in the Older Persons Health and Rehabilitation division.In this role, you will be responsible for:
Providing clinical leadership to Social Workers across our OPH&R service, giving guidance, advice and feedback
Managing operational service delivery for the Burwood inpatient Social Work service
Ensuring the provision of consistently safe and high-quality social work services within all of our clinical areas
Overseeing workforce development programmes and professional development planning
Overseeing clinical audits, the recruitment of new social workers and professional development of the team
Liaising with tertiary providers and training institutions and ensuring strong relationships with Social Work leaders across the organisation and our external partners
Maintaining a clinical caseload within your clinical area
Driving a positive culture of continuous improvement in Allied Health services in line with Allied Health strategy and organisational priorities
About YouWe are seeking a confident and compassionate leader with a strong clinical background in social work and a passion for improving outcomes for tāngata whaiora and their whānau. You bring strategic thinking, cultural responsiveness, and a commitment to developing high-performing teams and future leaders. Your ability to lead change, manage complexity, and foster collaboration will be key to your success in this role.To be successful, you will bring:
A recognised qualification in social work (minimum bachelor's degree), current NZ registration and Annual Practising Certificate, with at least 5 years' clinical experience in the field
Proven leadership and management experience, including team development, workforce planning, and performance management
Strong strategic planning, policy development, and financial management capabilities
Experience in clinical supervision, teaching, and professional development of staff
Knowledge of the NZ Health & Disability sector standards, Privacy Act, and case management practices
Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and Patient Management Systems
Familiarity with change management and quality improvement methodologies, and a track record of leading service transformation initiatives
Cultural responsiveness and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, with a focus on achieving equitable outcomes for Māori & Pacific Peoples
Excellent communication, delegation, and stakeholder engagement skills, with the ability to lead through influence and collaboration
Resilience, adaptability, and emotional intelligence, with a commitment to continuous personal and professional growth
Experience working in both inpatient and community settings is highly desirable
Postgraduate qualification (or commitment to complete) in leadership or clinical practice
Working for Health New ZealandHealth New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is 'the weaving of wellnesses'. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes.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 particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.How to ApplyTo view the position description and/or apply for the role please click “apply now” on our careers page. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on 16th September 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Please note, we will be reviewing applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert therefore we encourage you to apply early.
