Social Work | Lakes

Public Service, Allied Health

Description

Health social workers are specialised professionals and provide services to people using the services of Lakes District Health Board - Rotorua and Taupō. We work collaboratively with the patient, their family/whānau and other multi/inter disciplinary teams and interagency teams.

Health social workers can assist with:

Helping individuals, families and whānau in making their own decisions about community based care.
Providing information and helping families access resources in the hospital and the community.
Providing support and health-related short term counselling.
Advocating for and negotiating on behalf of individuals, families and whānau.
Helping with planning and discharge (referrals to other agencies in the community is part of this).

Issues that may arise when in hospital:

Health, sickness and disability issues
Grief/loss
Carer stress
Coping strategies
Family violence
Elder abuse
Low mood
Legal issues e.g. Power of Attorney
Relationship issues that are impacting on health

Health social workers are service based; situated in inpatient, outpatient and community settings. They can be found at the following locations:

Physical Health Services	Mental Health Services
Surgical Unit	Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health (iCAMHS)
Orthopaedic Unit	Adult Community Mental Health & Addiction Services
Medical Unit	Mental Health Service for Older People (MHSOP)
Older Persons and Rehabilitation Unit	Taupō Mental Health
Woman, Child and Family Service (Maternal; Neonatal and Child Health)
District Nursing (Community Health)
Taupō Hospital (Generic Physical Health)
Te Aka Mauri - WCF Community Health

Where to find us: see the Rotorua Hospital and Taupō Hospital maps.

Staff

Name	Service Area	Contact
Shelley Kirk	Professional Lead Social Work	(07) 349 8755 Ext 8050

Referral Expectations

People have the right to ask for or decline health social work services and also have a right to be treated in accordance with the Health & Disabilities Act.