Social work — Bay of Plenty
A social worker helps people make decisions when they are sick or have an injury, disability or stress. We provide support across the Bay of Plenty community.
Contact us
To contact our social services, call:
- general enquiries: 07 5798460
- patient enquiries: 07 5798000
- kaupapa māori tauwhiro social workers: 07 5798560
Postal address:
Health New Zealand
Te Whatu Ora – Hauora a Toi
829 Cameron Road
Private Bag 12024
Tauranga 3143
Where to find us
The social work service is at:
Tauranga Hospital
829 Cameron Road
Tauranga 3112
Services we provide
Social workers assess, support, and strengthen social, emotional and psychological wellbeing. We help individuals and whānau to get the best possible health outcomes.
Social workers and kaupapa Māori tauwhiro social workers can provide support with:
- support services after leaving hospital
- help liaising with existing community support
- support with living alone
- advice to move into an aged residential care facility
- people who are caring for another person
- family violence, neglect or non-accidental injury
- anxiety, stress or depression related to being in hospital
- impacts from a diagnosis or treatment
- grief, loss or bereavement
- dealing with a traumatic event
- managing the impact of stillbirth or miscarriage.
They can provide advice about:
- aged residential care
- transport to get to a specialist appointment
- personal alarm information
- information on meal delivery services
- mobility parking permits
- home help for basic household tasks
- personal care assistance.
Referral information
You can access a community health social worker through your healthcare provider.
If you are in hospital, you can access an inpatient health social worker or kaupapa Māori tauwhiro social worker through:
- nursing or medical staff members
- other hospital staff.