Social Worker

Keeping families safely together

Lifewise intensive in-home alternative to foster care programme

Lifewise is an innovative organisation working together with marginalised people to create better services and solutions to enable their full participation and ability to thrive.

Lifewise Intensive In-home Parenting Support Programme was developed as a safe alternative to foster care. It helps to build the capability of parents and whānau to provide safe nurturing care for their children, by reducing stressors, increasing protective factors and working towards significant and sustainable parent-led goals.

Our workers engage with whānau in a client led, strengths based and solution focused approach that looks different for each whanau, in every home, as it is responsive to the priorities, skills, capabilities and culture of each family and whānau.

We are seeking someone who has a learning mindset, is passionate about doing what it takes to support families to stay together and who can think outside of the box.

We offer an excellent team of dedicated practitioners, a strong, supportive organisation, rewarding work and outcomes and a competitive salary in line with SWRB Pay Parity.

WHAT YOU'RE RESPONSIBLE FOR

• Providing practical support and guidance to whānau to identify and work towards achieving their goals and plans for safe care of children in their homes
• Day to day work with whānau in their home and in the community to support, coach, resource and advocate for better outcomes for children in their care
• Assessing and identifying risk in adherence with Child Safety policy
• Maintaining accurate and timely data collection and recording
• Participating in clinical and peer supervision and reflective practice
• Being able to demonstrate an authentic bi-cultural intention in practice, together with an understanding of and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi in practice.
• Promoting a culture where health and safety are seen as integral to success through planning, delivery, monitoring and review of health and safety processes.

WHAT SKILLS & EXPERIENCE YOU NEED

• A NZ recognized tertiary qualification in social work or similar
• Excellent relationship building skills
• Must have relevant experience working with families and children
• Commitment to strengths based, client led practice
• Understanding and experience of working with at-risk whānau
• Sound knowledge of parenting/raising children
• Sound knowledge and commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles and its relevance to social work and family work practices in Aotearoa NZ
• Commitment to on-going learning and development
• A functional knowledge of relevant legislation
• Excellent communication skills including written and report writing
• Accurate and efficient time management and case management including record keeping
• Full, clean driver license
• Legal right to work in New Zealand

If this looks like the challenge you have been looking for, please submit a Cover letter with your CV to the manager, Lifewise Family Services.  Applications close 5pm Monday 12th January 2026.

A Position Description is available on request – email