Social Worker - Youth Mental Health

Are you a registered Social Worker who is passionate about working alongside taiohi and doing ‘whatever it takes’ to help young people flourish?

Do you bring creativity, energy and a willingness to think outside the square? Are you confident delivering brief therapeutic interventions, facilitating groups and finding engaging ways to connect with young people?

If so, we’d love to hear from you.

About REAL | Mō mātou

Our spirit is ‘loving life’ — and that’s what we strive to support our taiohi to experience.

REAL provides health and wellbeing services alongside local communities to support taiohi aged 12–24 to develop life skills, build strong connections and create positive futures. We work alongside young people, whānau, schools, and wider community networks to provide support that is meaningful, practical and responsive to their needs.

Our services have been developed with and for taiohi, reflecting what matters to them. We continue to grow our services across the motu to meet the changing needs of young people and their communities.

The role | Mō tēnei tūranga mahi

This is a full-time position based in Whanganui, Monday to Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm.

You’ll join our Whetū Marewa service — meaning ‘rising star’ — our access and choice programme for young people. The name reflects the potential within every taiohi and our belief that young people can achieve healthy, connected and fulfilling lives.

Whetū Marewa is a community-based, brief and early intervention service supporting taiohi who may be experiencing mild to moderate mental health challenges, or social stressors.

As a Social Worker, you’ll provide assessment, therapeutic support and short-term, solution-focused interventions designed to create meaningful and achievable change. You’ll work alongside taiohi and their whānau to identify strengths, build resilience, increase confidence and support wellbeing.

You’ll provide both individual and group-based therapeutic interventions, working from our office, in schools and out in the community.

This is a role where no two days look the same. We want you to bring your creativity and be prepared to think outside the square when engaging taiohi. Engagement in therapy doesn’t always need to look like sitting in an office— sometimes connection happens through an activity, a shared experience, humour, creativity or simply doing something that makes sense to the young person.

We believe it’s possible to achieve therapeutic outcomes while having fun. Building relationships, creating moments of joy and helping young people experience success are all important parts of effective therapeutic practice.

You’ll use your professional skills, clinical judgement and creativity to make interventions engaging, relevant and accessible, while maintaining a clear focus on positive therapeutic outcomes.

What you can bring | He aha tōu ki tēnei tūranga

You’ll bring your experience, creativity and passion for working alongside taiohi, with a genuine belief in their strengths, potential and ability to create positive change.

You will bring:

• Current New Zealand Social Work registration
• An understanding of local community issues and a commitment to tikanga Māori.
• A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to upholding the mana of taiohi, whānau and the kaupapa Strong therapeutic skills and the ability to deliver effective brief and short-term interventions that achieve meaningful outcomes.
• The ability to uphold the integrity and mana of both the young person and the service.
• Experience in group facilitation, creating engaging and inclusive spaces where taiohi can connect, learn, share and build confidence.
• A creative and flexible approach to practice, with the confidence to think outside the square and try different ways of engaging young people.
• A relationship-based approach that prioritises trust, connection, mana and the voice of the taiohi.
• Experience working across individual, whānau, group, school and community settings.
• Strong assessment and intervention skills, with the ability to identify strengths, build resilience and support positive change within a short-term intervention model.
• An inspiring, enthusiastic and positive outlook, with a good sense of humour and the ability to bring warmth and energy to your work.
• The ability to work confidently both independently and collaboratively, developing strong relationships with taiohi, whānau, schools, community services and other professionals.
• The ability to develop and maintain strong internal and external relationships.

Most importantly, you’ll bring a belief that positive change can happen in many different ways. You’ll be someone who can combine professional Social Work practice with creativity, curiosity, humour and a willingness to have fun — supporting taiohi to experience connection, confidence and enjoyment while achieving meaningful therapeutic outcomes.

About you | Mōu

We’re looking for an experienced Registered Social Worker, preferably with 5+ years’ relevant experience in mental health, to join our REAL Youth Services team in Whanganui.

You’ll be confident working within a brief and early intervention model and comfortable balancing clinical responsibility with a flexible, youth-centred approach.

Our preferred candidate will have:

• A current New Zealand Social Work practising certificate.
• 5+ years’ relevant mental health experience preferred.
• Experience working with young people/taiohi and whānau.
• Experience in therapeutic interventions and group facilitation.
• An understanding of local community issues and tikanga Māori.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• The ability to work independently and innovatively.
• A full New Zealand driver licence.
• A current First Aid Certificate.
• Knowledge of, and demonstrable commitment to, the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

The benefits | Ngā āhuatanga kei a mātou

We want our people to feel valued and supported, so you’ll have access to a range of benefits, including:

• Increased employer KiwiSaver contribution.
• Fifth week of annual leave after 12 months of service.
• 2 paid wellbeing days each year.
• Holiday programme assistance.
• HealthNow payment card – $250 per year to support health and wellbeing for you and your whānau.
• Perk & Perk Plus discount app.
• A supportive team environment where creativity, innovation and wellbeing are valued.

Why REAL?

At REAL, we’re not looking for someone who simply wants to tick boxes.

We’re looking for someone who wants to make a difference.

Someone who can build a genuine connection with a young person, recognise their strengths, find a different way in when the usual approach isn’t working, and celebrate the small wins along the way.

Someone who understands that therapeutic work can be purposeful and enjoyable.

If you’re a Social Worker who brings professional expertise, creativity, curiosity, humour and a passion for helping taiohi flourish, we’d love you to join us.

Applications close: 30 September 2026. Please note, this advertisement may close earlier if a suitable candidate is found.

Position Description: Please copy and paste the URL relevant to your discipline into your browser:

Occupational Therapist: https://www.wisegroup.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Real-Occupational-Therapist.pdf

Registered Counsellor: https://www.wisegroup.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Real-Registered-Counsellor.pdf

AOD: https://www.wisegroup.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/PW-AOD-Practitioner.pdf

Questions? Contact Kerry Debrah, Service and Relationship Manager, at Kerry.Debrah@pathways.co.nz.

For further information, visit our website www.real.org.nz for more information.

Pathways is committed to healthy lifestyles and actively supports a smoke-free environment. We encourage people with lived experience of mental illness and addictions to apply.