Social Worker

Tēnā koutou katoa, Mālō nī, Fakaalofa lahi atu, Kia orāna, Tālofa lava, Mālō e lelei, Tālofa, Ni sa bula vinaka, Noa'ia, and warm Pacific Greetings.

E ngā reo, e ngā mana, huri noa I te motu, tēnā koutou katoa.

He tūranga tēnei e wātea ana ki roto o Kia Puāwai

About the role | Mō tēnei tūranga mahi

• Permanent fulltime (1.0FTE) role
• Remuneration as per Social Work Pay Equity

In this role you will work across our care services and provide social work support to rangatahi. You will work alongside Practice Leaders, Specialist Youth Workers and external stakeholders to deliver high quality services in line with treatment plans to shape positive behaviour change.

We use an evidence-based model called the Teaching Family Model (TFM) to help rangatahi reach their potential and equip them with the skills they need to be successful within the wider community.

There is an on-call component to the role where you will support our residential and foster care services in Tāmaki one in every six weeks. Full training is provided.

About You | Mōu

To be considered for this role, you will need:

• Social Work qualification and registration with the New Zealand Social Work Registration Board (SWRB)
• Ability to build strong relationships with peers and stakeholders
• Have a full and clean New Zealand driver's licence
• Experience working with rangatahi who have complex behavioural needs
• Have the willingness and ability to uphold the mana of our organisation by embracing tikanga and matauranga Māori as part of best practice.
• Ability and willingness to work with tangata whenua in a way that upholds our organisational commitments and obligations to Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

What we offer | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou

• A comprehensive orientation and induction programme, including noho marae.
• Outstanding training and supervision including cultural support and development
• An allocated car for commute and work purposes
• Flexible working environment
• 24/7 senior leadership support, practice support from a team of professionals with a wide range of experience
• Enjoy the benefits of a 4-Day Work week, which sees our kaimahi retain 100 percent of their pay, while working 80 percent (or close to) of the time and still delivering 100 percent on the great mahi we do.
• Paid birthday leave

About Kia Puāwai

We are a non-profit tangata Tiriti organisation which specialises in providing therapeutic services for tamariki, rangatahi and whānau who have complex behaviour and/or mental health needs.

Our innovative approach combines Western evidence-based models with mātauranga Māori and Pasifika knowledge. We work in a trauma informed way that acknowledges the impacts of colonisation for tangata whenua and indigenous peoples of Te Moana Nui a Kiwa, including how and why members of these communities may require our services.

Our organisational tikanga: aroha, manaakitanga, whanaungatanga and wairuatanga help us to define what best practice is for working with tangata whenua in Aotearoa.

As a tangata Tiriti organisation, we are committed to upholding our obligations to He Whakaputanga and Te Tiriti o Waitangi. We strive to deliver equitable outcomes through the designing and delivery of effective and appropriate services for tangata whenua and Pasifika.

Our national office is in Tāmaki Makaurau, and we have over 150 staff and caregivers supporting young people and their whānau across Te Taitokerau, greater Tāmaki, Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Hawkes Bay, and the lower areas of Te Ika a Māui and Te Wai Pounamu. To find out more about Kia Puāwai, visit

Closing date | Rā Katinga 10 December 2025. Please note that we review applications as we receive these and we can remove the advert before the closing date if we find a suitable candidate. Please note the official title of the role is Social Worker.

Position Description: please request a position description from

Contact: If you have any questions regarding the role, please contact Chaze Tulafono on

 Ngā mihi nui. Kia manuia, vinaka vakalevu, Kia monuina, Faka'apa'apa atu, Ia manuia, Fakafetai, Fakafetai lasi, Fḁiåkse'ea, Ko bati n rab'a

Menā e ngākaunui ana koe ki tēnei mahi, whakapā mai mō ngētehi atu kōrero ki raro nei.

We welcome and encourage diversity and inclusion in our workforce and adhere to best practice equal employment opportunity principles in all aspects of our recruitment and our ways of working. Kia Puāwai is Rainbow Tick accredited.