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HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini

Social workers

Kaimahi toko i te ora

Social workers advise, support and advocate for people with personal or social problems.

Social workers work with all ages, from pēpi (babies) to older people. They usually specialise in areas such as health, drug and alcohol or family violence.

Social workers may be able to help you and your whānau (family) with arranging financial support, emotional support and other services within the community.

They work in a range of settings. This includes schools, hospitals, government agencies and community agencies. Social workers are trained to understand cultural needs and are guided by the Treaty of Waitangi.

What social workers do

What a social worker does depends on the area they work in, but they may:

Finding a social worker

A general practice team or government agency can help you find a social worker. So can a hospital, school or community agency. The social worker's services are free if you meet the relevant criteria.

Te Whatu Ora has health social workers who specialise in:

Qualifications and training

In New Zealand, a social worker must have a qualification recognised by the Social Workers Registration Board (SWRB). Most social workers have social work degrees. Most workplaces expect social workers to be registered with the SWRB and have current practising certificates.

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Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed September 2024.

Sources

Page reference: 422291

Review key: HISNY-105442