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JOB DESCRIPTION
Social Worker
Renal Service
Position Title:
Social Worker
Organisation Unit:
Renal Service
Location:
Whangarei, Bay of Islands and Kaitaia Renal Units -Northland
District Health Board
Responsible to:
Nurse Manager, Renal, Northland District Health Board
Primary Functions of
the Position:

To provide efficient and effective social work service through
social work assessment and intervention to clients and their
whanau/caregivers

Be an effective member of a multi-disciplinary team process
that focuses on meeting quality outcomes for clients

Arrange referrals to alternative services as appropriate

Provide facilitation and mediation skills for meetings and
conflict situations
Functional Relationships
The Social Worker will develop and maintain excellent relationships with:
Internal

Nurse Manager and Clinical Nurse
Managers – Renal Service

General Manager, Clinical Services

Service Managers, Clinical Services

Nursing Staff

Allied Health and other MDT members

Outpatients

NTA Coordinators

Specialist Nurses from District Nursing

Needs Assessment Services

Professional Leader, Social Work

Social Workers in other DHB Services

Te Poutokomanawa Staff
External
 Clients, families/whanau and significant
others
 Voluntary Agencies and Iwi Groups
North Able Assessment Services (DRC)
 Statutory Agencies including WINZ,
MSD, HNZ, Police, CYFS
 ANZASW
 The Social Workers Registration Board
Key Responsibilities and Expected Outcomes
Northland District Health Board has established a set of values by which the organisation will
respond, in part, to achieving its goals and objectives through their workforce. The following
Values and supporting statements are expected behaviours of each individual employed with
NDHB:
Values
People First
Tangata I te tuatahi
Respect
Whakaute (tuku mana)
Caring
Manaaki
Communication
Whakawhitiwhiti korero
Excellence
Taumata teitei (hirangi)
Supporting Statement
People are central to all we do
We treat others as we would like to be treated
We nurture those around us, and treat all with dignity and
compassion
We communicate safely, openly and with respect to promote clear
understanding
Our attitude of excellence inspires success, competence,
confidence and innovation
The position of:
Social Worker – Renal Service encompasses the following major functions or key result
areas:
 Quality Health Social Work Practice
 Renal Services Measures
 Participating as an active multidisciplinary team member
 Professional competencies and development
 Treaty of Waitangi
 Health and Safety
Major Categories of Problems addressed within Renal Services
 Adjustment to chronic illness and treatment as they relate to patient’s quality of life
 Physical, social, emotional and relationship problems
 Problems associated with activities of daily living, educational and vocational needs
 Problem-solving for acute/crisis situations and chronicity
 Problems arising within the treatment setting
 Resource needs – finances, living arrangements, transportation, legal issues
 Decision-making in regards to treatment – continuation/cessation, advance directives
The outcome requirements of the above key responsibility areas are outlined below:
Key Responsibility Area
Effectively uses social
work processes to
ensure quality health
social work is provided
Expected Outcomes
Accepts referrals to provide a multi-level analysis for clients with
complex needs identified by the service
 Provide social assessment and intervention for clients
and review the effectiveness of the interventions
undertaken
 Provide information and education to clients and their
families/whanau regarding relevant community
support/services and where appropriate facilitates
linkages between clients and such groups
 Provide appropriate information to clients and other
professionals in order to maximize good decisionmaking processes
 Provide information and education to patients and their
family/whanau regarding travel, financial assistance and
other resources available – undertake to organize as
appropriate
 Provide accurate and timely statistical data at
Key Responsibility Area
Renal Service Measures
Participation
as
an
active multidisciplinary
team member
Maintains professional
standards and assumes
responsibility for
ongoing professional
development
Expected Outcomes
designated intervals
 Actively participate and help formulate clear plans for
support needs for clients to enable early planning and
intervention for minimum hospital stay
 Liaise with CNM’s regarding clients and their needs
 Establish effective networks and working relationships
with other community organizations thereby enabling
inter-agency communication and development of
cohesive action plans to meet the needs of clients
 Practice effective time management, priority setting, coordination and communication skills
 Initiate, maintain and conclude appropriate therapeutic
relationships and partnerships
 Facilitate groups/meetings including family and
interagency meetings for the purpose of co-ordination of
client service delivery and maximizing outcomes of
clients and their family/Whanau

Undertake timely psychosocial evaluation that will
contribute to the creation of the client’s treatment plan –
review and renew as necessary
 Undertake casework with clients, families/whanau - to
include supportive counseling, crisis intervention,
discharge planning, goal-directed counseling
 Facilitate group work – family meetings/conferencing,
interagency planning, educational opportunities,
emotional support, self-help
 Facilitate referral to other agencies in line with the
identified needs of the patient
 Assist clients and family to obtain information and other
resources
 Participate in care planning and collaboration
 Advocate on client’s behalf within the hospital setting or
with appropriate local and national agencies
 Describe and work to overcome identified barriers
to treatment and access to same
 Attend relevant inpatient/outpatient meetings to provide
clear summaries of social work assessment and
possible interventions for clients
 Maintain effective working relationships with all
members of a MDT
 Provide education to MDT in areas of social work
expertise or special interest
 In collaboration with the MDT be responsible for
providing social assessment and intervention to clients
who have identified psychosocial needs
 Contribute to Renal Training Days by facilitation of
Patient Panel in order to describe the lived experience of
patients undergoing renal replacement therapy
 Prepare and present information to members of MDT
concerning social issues affecting clients/families
involved in renal treatment
In consultation with the Nurse Manager and Professional Advisor
Social Work, maintains professional standards and ensures
knowledge/skills development is ongoing
 Develop and maintain personal/professional practice in
accordance with professional standards, legislative
requirements, policies and guidelines of the DHB
 Consults with and participates in peer supervision with
Key Responsibility Area
Expected Outcomes
other social workers in regard to professional issues
 Undertake professional supervision in accordance with
NH Social Work Service Supervision Policy
 Maintain membership of ANZASW and complete
competency assessment within 12 months of
employment and at 5 yearly intervals thereafter
 Complete the process for Social Work Registration and
maintain an annual practicing certificate
 Develops special area(s) of expertise in accordance with
Service delivery priorities and/or professional discipline
interests
 Organizes for and attends a formal performance
appraisal on an annual basis and, in consultation with
Professional Advisor Social Work, formulates a personal
work development plan that will be reviewed at this
performance appraisal
 Participate in social work monthly meetings,
development days, in-service training and other
meetings of Social Work Services within Northland
Health
 Participate in relelvant educational opportunities,
conferences and workshops as agreed in PDP.
Renal Services Social Work Competencies and Development
Measures



Quality Assurance






Identify and collect evidence-based practice resources
that will assist the ongoing development of the social
work role and social work standards of practice within
Renal Services
Identify, articulate and practice according to social work
theories and frameworks that provide best fit in dealing
with problems and dilemmas arising from the chronic
illness experience and the demands of continuous, lifelong treatment
Negotiate with Nurse Manager regular opportunities for
research, exploration etc of the social work role in
accordance with current workforce standards.
Provide statistical information for the monthly and
annual report
Ensure documentation processes meet legislative,
Northland Health and Ministry of Health requirements
Attend meetings relating to the improvement of service
quality, communication and the care of clients
Ensure complaints and issues are brought to the
attention of the Nurse Manager in a timely and effective
manner in accordance with service policies and
procedures
Participate in service planning and implementation of
action plans as required by Group Manager
Participate in review of social work policy and
procedures within Northland Health
Renal Service Social Work Quality Assurance
Measures
 Undertake project work to achieve an improvement in
the delivery of social work service to renal clients
 Collaborate with MDT members to achieve identified
Key Responsibility Area
Treaty of Waitangi
Health & Safety
Expected Outcomes
improvements in the delivery of services to renal clients
 Develop and apply feedback mechanisms from clients
about the delivery of social work services within the
renal area
 Develop and apply strategic tools to ensure culturally
appropriate service to renal clients
 Develop and maintain professional practice with clients that
is culturally safe and in accordance with policies and
procedures of Northland DHB, Standards of Practice of the
Aotearoa NZ Association of Social Workers (ANZASW) and
the Social Work Registration Board (SWRB)
 Contribute to the promotion of the principles of Treaty of
Waitangi and the involvement of Maori within the decision
making process for their health and independence, within
District Health Board management processes and
procedures
 Include the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi within all
aspects of the role and its outcomes
 Ensure that consultation and engagement processes include
appropriate mechanisms to meet the need of Maori in a
culturally appropriate and safe manner
 Attend the Northland District Health Board Treaty of
Waitangi Training
 Observe and promote safe work practices, rules and
instructions relating to work, and be pro-active in hazard
management
 Willingly co-operate in the achievement of all health and
safety goals and initiatives by:
 Practicing and observing safe work methods;
 The use of safety equipment;
 Reporting unsafe conditions or equipment; and
 Reporting and documenting all accidents or incidents
Variation of Duties
Duties and responsibilities described above should not be construed as a complete and
exhaustive list as it is not the intention to limit in any way the scope or functions of the
position. Duties and responsibilities may be amended from time to time, in consultation with
the employee, to meet any changing conditions and service requirements.
Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Essential
 SW Qualification as recognized by the
SWRB
 Able to attain full registration with SWRB
 Current valid drivers licence
Desirable
 Current member ANZASW
 Has attained ANZASW competency
 Current Practicing Certificate SWRB
Experience
Essential
 Proven ability to maintain professional
standards and competence
 Demonstrated experience in social work
processes, theories and concepts with
particular emphasis on strengths based
practice
 Relevant social work experience that can
be translated into a chronic health setting
 Computer and internet literacy
Awareness and Understanding of
Essential
 The Treaty of Waitangi and its application
to the health setting
 Privacy Act (1993) and Health
Information Privacy Code (1994)
Desirable
 Experience in working in a multidisciplinary health setting with a diverse
workforce
 Ability to prioritize and adapt to working
within a chronic health environment
 Group presentation skills
Desirable
 Health and Safety in Employment Act
(1992)
 Health and Disability Commissioner
(Code of Health and Disability Services
Consumers’ Rights) Regulations (1996)
 New Zealand Council of Healthcare
Standards
Skills & Personal Attributes
Skills






Proven social work assessment and intervention skills – working knowledge of relevant
community services
Evidence of social work practice skills in working with individuals, groups, family/whanau
and community situations
Demonstrates effective communication and documentation skills
Functional understanding of Te Tiriti O Waitangi and how this can be integrated into
social work practice – knowledge of Tikanga Maori relating to Te Taitokerau
Demonstrates ability to work effectively and co-operatively within multidisciplinary teams
and other professionals from a variety of disciplines and workplaces
Willing to receive individual, peer and group supervision of clinical work and contribute
same for other social workers
Personal Attributes
 Ability to work independently and as part of a team
 Ability to foster and maintain harmonious working relationships in multi-disciplinary setting
without compromising ethical standards of practice or client safety
 Proven ability to accept referrals for a variety of reasons
 Ability to recognize own limitations and take appropriate remedial action
 Ability to think creatively and laterally and reflect on practice
 A commitment to ongoing professional development that enhances the mana of social
work within renal services
Performance Development Review
An initial review of performance will be conducted after three months, with an annual review
thereafter.
An individual Development Plan will be developed to reflect the contribution this position is
expected to make towards achieving the team’s objectives and measures. Key result areas
will be developed and agreed at this time.
Authorised by:
Signature:
Date:
Acceptance
Acceptance of the position implies acceptance of this position description.
Position Title:
Signature of employee:
Date: