What does a Social Worker do?
Social Workers are registered health professionals that provide a comprehensive social work service within Counties Manukau DHB.
They assess the social determinants of health that include: family supports, emotional support, housing, employment and financial status, any abuse, practical supports needed at home and access to health service providers and GPs.
Within the Allied Health interdisciplinary Social Workers ensure that the patient and their families are able to cope with their social circumstances during and after their experience in hospital. They assist with budgeting and financial support, family support, child care, daily and emergency social services, supportive counselling, trauma debriefing, grief and loss counselling and other resources necessary for families.
Social workers work across a range of areas such as:
- Acute Allied Health: medical, surgical, women's health, paeds, emergency department
- Renal and National Burns
- Assessment Treatment and Rehabilitation
- Child Development Community Services
- Centre for Youth Health
- Very High Intensity User Team
- Spinal Unit
- Home Health Care, providing services to people in the community.