Senior Social Worker

Senior Social Worker – ICU & Generalist Ward Join the Lower Hunter Social Work team at Maitland Hospital in a dynamic job‑share position working across a 7‑day roster. This Generalist Level 3 role has a primary focus on the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and General Medical wards during weekday shifts, with weekend coverage extending to Emergency, Birthing, and Paediatric child protection matters. You’ll work closely with the Maitland Social Work team while collaborating with the broader Cessnock and Kurri‑Kurri Social Work teams to ensure seamless, patient‑centred care. No two days are the same in this varied, rewarding role. Hours: 40 hours per fortnight, including alternate weekends.Weekdays: 09:00–16:30.Weekends: 09:00–15:00. Sole Social Worker on site on weekends, providing coverage to ICU, Emergency and Birthing/Paediatrics (incl. child protection responses). What You’ll Do Provide specialist Social Work support to ICU and General Medical wards. Deliver crisis intervention, trauma‑informed care, grief and loss support, and comprehensive psychosocial assessments. Ensure continuity of care across a busy and varied caseload. Exercise independent professional judgement, particularly during weekend shifts. Contribute to patient‑focused interventions as well as mentoring junior staff and students. Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams across Maitland, Cessnock and Kurri‑Kurri. What We’re Looking For Skilled in trauma‑informed practice, crisis intervention, grief and loss support, and psychosocial assessment. Comfortable working independently and managing weekend responsibilities. Exceptional communicator with strong organisational skills. Ability to maintain continuity of care and contribute to a fair, team‑based workload. Confidence in autonomous decision‑making with minimal supervision. Professional Development & Support You will be supported by the Maitland Site Senior and receive regular professional supervision from an experienced team member. Management is strongly committed to ongoing learning and development, offering comprehensive orientation to the service. Access to My Health learning modules (including targeted ICU training), role‑specific training and continuing professional education aligned with your career goals, and opportunities to build advanced skills across a diverse clinical mix. Requirements Bachelor in Social Work or equivalent with eligibility for membership with the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW). Australian citizen, permanent resident of Australia, or New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand passport. What We Offer At Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD) you will enjoy a career that challenges you with interesting work and spectacular locations. In addition to a competitive salary (Remuneration: $58.95 – $60.86 per hour + superannuation + salary packaging), we offer salary packaging options, fitness passport, employee assistance programme, and opportunities to collaborate with a range of non‑clinical and clinical professionals. Additional Information To be eligible for permanent employment you must meet the citizenship/visa criteria above. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified; no visa sponsorship will be offered. How To Apply Click apply online, submit your information and resume, and address the criteria listed below providing examples that demonstrate your ability. Include responses to the following interview questions: Provide an example of a complex situation you faced as part of a multi‑disciplinary team, where you independently problem‑solved while maintaining professional and ethical boundaries. What was the outcome? Describe your experience supervising students or less experienced staff, how you supported their learning and development, and what strategies you used to meet their supervision needs. Give an example of how you have built and maintained cooperative professional and/or therapeutic relationships with key stakeholders, patients, or their parents/guardians. What approach did you take and what was the result? Contact For role related queries contact Julianne Lozanovski at #J-18808-Ljbffr