Social Worker - Substance Use in Pregnancy

• Senior clinical role supporting women and families with complex needs

• Lead advanced psychosocial assessment and service coordination

• Make a meaningful impact across hospital and outreach settings

Provide, lead and coordinate advanced social work services for women experiencing substance use in pregnancy across hospital and outreach settings.

Employment Type: Permanent Full Time
Position Classification: Social Worker Level 4
Remuneration: $126,524 – $129,591 per annum
Hours Per Week: 38
Location: Westmead Hospital

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Where you'll be working
Westmead Hospital is a major tertiary referral centre delivering specialist maternity and newborn care to a diverse community. The Substance Use in Pregnancy service provides integrated, trauma-informed support to women with complex psychosocial needs.

• Work within a specialised women’s health and maternity service

• Deliver care across Westmead and Auburn Hospitals

• Provide outreach services to women at Silverwater Correctional Centre

• Collaborate with multidisciplinary clinical and community teams

• Be part of a values-driven, inclusive and supportive workplace

The Substance Use in Pregnancy and Parenting Social Work position is based in our Women and Children's Team at Westmead Hospital and is responsible for providing a high standard of care to the families of Western Sydney Local Health District. You will be working in a supportive department with a positive team culture which values professional, personal and career development.

Minutes from Parramatta CBD, the local area is home to heritage sites, beautiful parks and waterways. Currently undergoing a $1.1 billion redevelopment program, Westmead Hospital, together with its partners, will be one of the largest health, education, research and training precincts in Australia.

What you'll be doing 
The Women and Children's Team at Westmead is a team of 7 social workers providing coverage to the areas of Birth Unit, Special Care Nursery, Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Women's Health Ward, Maternity Postnatal, Gynae-oncology and Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine.
Whilst allocated to cover the Women and Children's Health clinical load, there are opportunities to broaden your skill development as part of team cover and through After Hours Crisis On Call work.

What this role and WSLHD Allied Health will offer you:

• An opportunity to work in a supportive, inclusive and caring team environment.

• Ongoing education and development including regular clinical supervision, monthly staff development sessions to enhance clinical practice and opportunities for external education and training.

• Opportunities to lead and be involved with research, with established partnerships with universities and a WSLHD Professor of Allied Health
   

Programs and learning opportunities for Allied Health staff funded by WSLHD include: 

• FLASH Allied Health leadership program: A program specific to WSLHD which offers Allied Health specific leadership development https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Education-Portal/Professional-Development/flash

• Accelerated Implementation Methodology (AIM): A course for staff leading projects to provide them with the knowledge, skills and structure to effectively manage change

• sparQ: Empowering safety and quality excellence through leadership and development at WSLHD https://www.wslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/Quality-Patient-Safety/sparq

Apply today!!

Use your expertise to create lasting change. Join NSW Health and be part of a team committed to equity, compassion and improving outcomes for women and families. Submit online your resume and addressing the criteria listed below by providing examples that demonstrate your ability before the closing date.

Essential Criteria:

• Qualification: Degree in Social Work with eligibility for membership of the Australian Association of Social Work (AASW).

Selection Criteria:

1. Demonstrated extensive clinical experience in Women’s and Children’s Health including child protection, domestic violence, mental health, problematic substance use, grief and supportive counselling.

2. Demonstrated understanding of issues associated with working with a Culturally and Linguistically Diverse client group.

3. Demonstrated experience in the provision of staff supervision including the ability to mentor and support others in practice changes, gathering data, managing risk and reflective practice.

4. Excellent negotiation, decision making and advocacy skills including the ability to interact constructively and collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders throughout all organisational levels

5. Experience in developing and implementing policies and procedures for service improvement and skills in providing education and training.

6. Demonstrated well-developed time management skills with excellent written and verbal communication, including report writing skills, high level computer literacy skills and demonstrated ability to work with minimal supervision and as part of a multidisciplinary team

7. Demonstrated ability to initiate, lead, complete and implement quality improvement initiatives and service evaluation processes and lead ongoing quality improvement activities with other staff.

8. Participation in the After Hours Crisis On Call Social Work Service.

Requisition ID: REQ622814
Applications Close: 28^th January 2026

 
Need more information? 

• Discover more about the application process. 

• Review the detailed Position Description for insights into role requirements and criteria.   

• Explore the selection process, employment checks, outcomes and notifications. 

• For inquiries about the role, contact Cassandra Barducci on 0447 793 999 or email Cassandra.Barducci@health.nsw.gov.au