Practice Lead (Social Worker)

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey. Hestia Rodney Women's Refuge - North Shore, North Island Practice Lead (Registered Social Worker) - Family Violence | Orewa Hestia Rodney Women's Refuge is seeking an experienced Practice Lead (SWRB registered) to provide strong practice leadership and operational oversight for our advocacy team supporting women and children experiencing family violence. This is a hands-on leadership role requiring confident decision-making, high professional standards, and the ability to coach, challenge, and develop advocates. You will be responsible for lifting and maintaining consistent practice, including risk work, professional boundaries, and documentation quality. As a charity, we operate in a highly accountable environment. Every dollar spent must be justified, documented, and able to withstand audit scrutiny - this role requires strong judgement and financial stewardship. What you'll be responsible for Provide firm, visible day-to-day leadership and direction to advocates and frontline staff Own practice quality: risk assessment, safety planning, professional boundaries, and case noting/documentation standards Implement and maintain consistent systems (file reviews, coaching, corrective feedback, follow-through) so practice stays "audit ready" Make safe, timely decisions in a fast-paced environment and stand confidently behind them Train, induct, and upskill new advocates (including structured onboarding) Address performance and conduct concerns early and fairly, using policies and procedures Report to the General Manager with regular updates on practice quality, risk, staffing/performance matters, and emerging issues; escalation concerns early to ensure there are no surprises Work effectively with external agencies and stakeholders as required Travel occasionally within NZ (less than quarterly; sometimes overnight) Participate in occasional after-hours calls as required What we're looking for (non-negotiables) SWRB registration and a current NZ driver licence Significant experience in family violence practice (risk assessment, safety planning, crisis response) Proven experience leading practice standards (documentation quality, boundaries, decision-making, coaching) Confidence having difficult conversations and holding people to account while remaining respectful and fair Strong working knowledge of policies/procedures and the ability to apply them consistently Comfort working in a charity / funded environment with tight budgets, documentation requirements, and audit accountability This role will suit you if you… Are calm under pressure, direct when needed, and able to hold boundaries Care about high-quality, defensible practice and clear case notes Can reset expectations and lift a team's standard in a proactive manner This role may not suit you if you… Avoid conflict or find it hard to challenge poor practice Prefer consensus at all costs over clear expectations and accountability Dislike working within policy, documentation, and audit requirements #J-18808-Ljbffr