Social work — Waikato
Health social workers are professionally qualified social workers who assist patients and their whānau/families to manage the emotional and social impacts of illness and/or disability.
On this page
Where to find us
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Waikato social workers are based throughout the community as well as at:
Services we provide
Health social workers assist people and their whānau to develop strategies to manage any changes that have happened as a result of ill health or disability.
Services include:
- supportive counselling around health issues and the impacts those issues have on both the individual and the whānau
- helping in all cases of suspected family violence, abuse and neglect
- supporting people and their whānau as they make important health-related decisions
- assisting people to access the available support services they may need in the community
- providing advice and support to access agencies such as Work and Income and ACC.
Referral information
You can access a health social worker through your healthcare provider, such as a:
- GP or family doctor
- district nurse
- public health nurse.
If you are in hospital, you can access a health social worker through:
- nursing or medical staff members
- other hospital staff, such as a kaitiaki or physiotherapist.