Service Manager- Paediatric Social Work
Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Position Classification: Social Worker Level 5
Remuneration: $141,319.00 - $144,756.00 + Super + Salary Packaging
Hours Per Week: 38
Requisition ID: REQ677648
Closing Date: Tuesday 4th August
John Hunter Children's Hospital | Hunter New England Health
Permanent Full Time | Monday – Friday
Lead, Inspire and Make a Difference
An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced and passionate Social Worker to lead the Paediatric Social Work Service at John Hunter Children's Hospital.
As the Service Manager – Paediatric Social Work, you will provide leadership, operational management and professional supervision to a dedicated team of Social Workers and Aboriginal Liaison Officers. As a valued member of the John Hunter Children's Hospital Allied Health Leadership Team, you will play a pivotal role in shaping service delivery, supporting staff development and improving health outcomes for children, young people and their families.
This role is ideal for a collaborative leader who thrives in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and is passionate about developing clinicians across all stages of their careers—from newly graduated practitioners through to highly experienced staff.
Alongside your leadership responsibilities, you will maintain a clinical caseload within paediatric neurological and neuromuscular services, ensuring contemporary, evidence-based care is delivered to children and their families.
About the Team
Join a welcoming, highly skilled and supportive team of approximately 12 Social Workers who are committed to providing exceptional family-centred care. The team is recognised for its collaborative culture, strong professional support and shared passion for improving the healthcare experience of children across the region.
What You'll Be Doing
In this leadership role you will:
- Lead the day-to-day operational management of the Paediatric Social Work Service.
- Coordinate clinical workloads and ensure safe, efficient and high-quality service delivery.
- Provide professional supervision, mentoring and coaching to team members, supporting ongoing professional development.
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, orientation and retention strategies.
- Drive continuous quality improvement initiatives that enhance patient care and service outcomes.
- Manage service resources to achieve operational, budget and performance targets.
- Lead the planning, implementation and evaluation of clinical services.
- Foster strong multidisciplinary relationships to support integrated, family-centred care.
- Model and promote the Hunter New England Health Values Charter, NSW Health Code of Conduct and the Excellence Framework (Every Patient, Every Time), while demonstrating a strong commitment to cultural respect and Closing the Gap initiatives.
- Participate in the after-hours and weekend on-call roster across John Hunter Hospital and John Hunter Children's Hospital.
About You
You are an experienced and inspiring Social Work leader who is passionate about both patient care and developing others. You enjoy creating positive team cultures, supporting staff to reach their potential and leading service improvements that make a meaningful difference to children and families.
You will bring:
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Extensive clinical experience working with children and families as a social worker
- Demonstrated experience supporting children with a broad range of complex health conditions.
- Excellent communication and relationship-building skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across multidisciplinary teams.
- A commitment to evidence-based practice, continuous improvement and delivering high-quality, family-centred care.
- The ability to lead with integrity, compassion and accountability in a busy clinical environment.
Essential Criteria
- Degree in Social Work that provides eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
- Proven leadership experience in managing and developing clinical teams.
- Willingness and ability to actively participate in the after-hours and weekend on-call roster covering John Hunter Hospital and John Hunter Children's Hospital.
What we can offer you:
✅ Sustainable Healthcare: Together towards zero
✅ Monthly Allocated Days Off (for full-time employees)
✅ 4 weeks annual leave (pro-rata for part time employees)
✅ Paid parental leave (for eligible employees) - giving you the opportunity for true Worklife balance
✅ Salary packaging options - up to $11,600 plus novated leasing
✅ Fitness Passport for health and well-being - discounted gym options for you and your family
✅ Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for staff and family members
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 Sarah Smith on Sarah.Smith5@health.nsw.gov.au
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 temporary full or part-time vacancies.
Hunter New England Health is dedicated to fostering a child-safe environment that respects and upholds the rights of children and young people, aligned with NSW Health’s commitment to implementing the Child Safe Standards. We aim to ensure that children and young people feel safe, supported, and included in their care. All current and prospective staff are expected to prioritise the safety, welfare, and well-being of children and young people, actively working to protect them from harm and abuse.
At Hunter New England Local Health District, we are an inclusive employer dedicated to fostering a diverse, inclusive, and welcoming workplace. Our commitment to a workforce that reflects the community we care for is essential for delivering the highest quality healthcare to our community. We encourage people with diverse lived experiences to apply. If you require any accommodations or adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know when you apply or at any stage of the process. We will work with you to meet your needs and create the best possible experience. Please contact HNELHD-Diversity@health.nsw.gov.au for confidential support.
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: https://bit.ly/3vL5fq2
Stepping Up Website is a resource designed to help indigenous job applicants apply for positions in NSW Health. For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/HNEHealthSteppingUp
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.
Salary Packaging: is beneficial to most Hunter New England Health employees and may increase your take-home pay! Salary package a range of personal expenses including novated motor vehicle leases, relocation expenses, and HECS/HELP debt. Find out more by contacting SalaryPackagingPLUS! via nswhealth@salarypackagingplus.com.au or 1300 40 25 23.
Hunter New England Health employees may be eligible for a range of benefits such as allocated days off (ADO) for full-time employees, long service leave, paid maternity leave, and salary packaging options including meal expenses.
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