Maitland Hospital Social Worker: dynamic, varied role across ICU, medical, and weekend coverage with professional development
Remuneration: $ $60.86 per hour + superannuation + salary packaging
Location: The Maitland Hospital
Employment Type: Permanent Part Time
Position Classification: Social Worker Level 3
Hours Per Week: 20
Requisition ID: REQ621017
Applications Close: Sunday 7th December 2025
About the role
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 (including 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
We're seeking a well-rounded, confident Social Worker who is:
* Skilled in trauma-informed practice, crisis intervention, grief and loss support, and psychosocial assessment
* Comfortable working independently and managing weekend responsibilities
* An exceptional communicator with strong organisational skills
* Able to maintain continuity of care and contribute to a fair, team-based workload
* Confident 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
* Opportunities to build advanced skills across a diverse clinical mix
Requirements:
- Bachelor in Social Work or equivalent with eligibility for membership with Australian Association of Social Work (AASW)
What we offer:
At Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD), enjoy a career where you're challenged by interesting work and surrounded by spectacular locations. Join the team enriching health in millions of ways every day:
* Sustainable Healthcare: Together towards zero
* Proximity to shopping and other services
* Salary packaging options
* Fitness Passport
* Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members
* Opportunity to work and collaborate with a range of non-clinical and clinical professionals
Additional Information:
* To be eligible for permanent employment in this position you must be an Australian Citizen, or a permanent resident of Australia, or a New Zealand citizen with a current New Zealand Passport. Employment of a temporary visa holder may only occur if no suitable local candidate is identified for the position; in this instance, you may only be offered employment in line with the conditions and expiry date of your visa.
* We are unable to accommodate visa sponsorship for applicants requiring a visa for this position.
* An eligibility list will be created for future permanent part time and temporary part time vacancies.
How to apply:
Click apply online, submit your information and resume, and address the criteria listed below providing examples that demonstrate your ability.
* Can you 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?
* Please describe your experience in supervising students or less experienced staff. How did you support their learning and development, and what strategies did you use to meet their supervision needs?
* Can you 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?
Need more information?
1) Click here for the Position Description
2) Find out more about applying for this position
For role related queries or questions contact Julianne Lozanovski on
Information for Applicants:
Applicants will be assessed against the essential requirements and selection criteria contained within the position description (link below). For assistance addressing selection criteria visit:
Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit:
This is a Category A position. Recommended applicants will be reviewed for compliance with NSW Health policy directive PD2024_015: Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination against Specified Infectious Diseases for Category A positions prior to offer. All new employees must agree to comply with the requirements outlined in the policy.