Registered Social Worker – Practice Lead
Wellington Women’s House | Mount Victoria, Wellington
32 hours per week | Remuneration aligned with the Social Workers Pay Spine
Make a meaningful difference in the lives of wāhine
Are you a passionate social worker who believes every woman deserves safety, dignity, stability and the opportunity for a fresh start?
Wellington Women’s House is looking for a compassionate, skilled and motivated Registered Social Worker to join our team as our Social Worker – Practice Lead.
This is an opportunity to combine hands-on social work with practice leadership in a small, women-centred transitional housing service. You will work alongside wāhine as they navigate housing challenges, strengthen their independence and work towards a more sustainable future.
You will also play an important role in supporting our Support Workers, strengthening practice across the team and helping ensure the support we provide is safe, consistent, culturally responsive and centred on the needs and aspirations of our residents.
We welcome applications from experienced social workers who bring sound judgement, initiative and a genuine commitment to supporting wāhine. You do not need to have held a formal Practice Lead position previously if you can demonstrate the skills, experience and willingness to develop in this area.
About Wellington Women’s House
Wellington Women’s House, Te Whare Awhi Wāhine o Whanganui-ā-Tara, provides women with a supportive transitional housing environment where they can work towards stability, independence and longer-term housing.
Our mahi is grounded in respect, empowerment, cultural responsiveness and the belief that every woman brings her own strengths, experiences and aspirations.
We are a small, collaborative team committed to providing a safe and respectful whare where wāhine can focus on their next chapter.
About the role
This is a hands-on social work role with a practice leadership component. You will balance direct work with residents, professional assessments and planning, and guidance for our Support Workers.
Your mahi will include:
Building trusting, respectful relationships with wāhine and supporting them to identify their strengths, needs and goals.
Completing social work assessments, risk assessments and individual support and transition plans.
Working alongside residents experiencing housing insecurity, trauma and complex life circumstances.
Supporting residents to access appropriate services, strengthen their independence and work towards safe, sustainable housing.
Providing guidance and day-to-day practice support to Support Workers, helping build confidence and consistency across the team.
Promoting trauma-informed, strengths-based and culturally responsive practice.
Supporting the team to recognise risk, maintain professional boundaries and respond appropriately when specialist or additional support is needed.
Maintaining accurate, timely and professional case notes, assessments and documentation.
Working collaboratively with the Manager, Support Workers and external agencies to achieve positive outcomes for residents.
Contributing to reflective practice, service development and continuous improvement.
The role is intentionally structured to focus on professional social work practice and resident outcomes, rather than routine House administration.
About you
You are a thoughtful and capable social worker who can build meaningful relationships, exercise sound professional judgement and remain calm when situations become challenging.
You understand that good social work is about working alongside people, recognising their strengths and supporting them to make informed decisions about their own lives.
You will bring:
Registration with the Social Workers Registration Board and a current Annual Practising Certificate.
Relevant social work experience, including working alongside people experiencing housing insecurity, trauma or complex circumstances.
Strong assessment, planning, risk management and professional documentation skills.
A commitment to mana-enhancing, strengths-based and trauma-informed practice.
An understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, tikanga Māori and the importance of culturally safe and responsive practice.
The ability to build respectful relationships while maintaining clear professional boundaries.
Good communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to work effectively with external agencies.
Confidence working independently while contributing positively to a small team.
Sound digital skills and the ability to maintain accurate records using digital systems and case management tools.
Experience guiding, mentoring or supporting colleagues would be an advantage. Previous formal people-management or Practice Lead experience is not essential if you can demonstrate the professional judgement, initiative and leadership potential required for the role.
Most importantly, you will bring compassion, integrity, curiosity and a genuine commitment to the wellbeing and mana of wāhine.
What we offer
The opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of women working towards safe and sustainable housing.
A role where you can combine direct social work practice with opportunities to influence and strengthen team practice.
The opportunity to contribute your ideas, experience and professional perspective within a small, collaborative service.
Meaningful work that supports women to build confidence, independence and a new chapter in their lives.
Remuneration
Remuneration is aligned with the Social Workers Pay Spine, with placement determined by relevant experience and the applicable category and step.
The salary offered will reflect the successful applicant’s relevant social work and practice leadership experience. The position is 32 hours per week.
Interested in joining us?
If you are passionate about social work, committed to working respectfully alongside wāhine and interested in contributing to a service that supports meaningful, lasting change, we would love to hear from you.
Please submit your CV and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience, your approach to social work practice and what draws you to this role at Wellington Women’s House.
Wellington Women’s House is committed to providing a respectful, inclusive culturally responsive service. We welcome applications from people who share these values and bring the professional capability, compassion and commitment to contribute to our mahi.
***Applications will be reviewed as they are received. We reserve the right to appoint to the position before the advertised closing date if a suitable candidate is identified***