Woman, Child and Family Social Work

AREAS WE COVER

Ward areas covered by Woman, Child and Family Social Work are:

• Birthing Unit
• Peri-natal Unit
• Special Care Baby Unit
• Children’s Unit, and
• Child Development Team at Te Au O Hinetai

We see clients as:

• Inpatients (staying on the ward)
• Out patients (those who come in for clinic appointments)
• Community (these tend to be inpatient/outpatient clients who we might follow up at home in the community)

We also provide Pregnancy Counselling for women who are making decisions around unplanned/unexpected pregnancy; or who are considering termination of pregnancy.

Criteria for entry to our service includes:

• Children with critically compromised health
• Parents not coping
• Babies with admissions to SCBU for longer than 1 week
• Children with disabilities/chronic health or life limiting conditions
• Trauma – critical birth, critical accident, death, new and serious diagnosis
• Families experiencing difficulties eg: family violence, multiple stressors, drug and alcohol dependency, multiple family members with health issues

SERVICES WE PROVIDE

We provide:

• Support and counseling
• Advice, information and education re: services, managing stress, managing financial/practical difficulties
• Linkage to other services – helping to access community social support services
• Advocacy and access to resources
• Assistance with adjustment in illness, treatment  or lifestyle choices
• Management of risks to safety of children and families

Clients have the right to give informed consent to participate in any social work service.  Confidentiality is maintain by social workers.  There are, however, limitations to confidentiality which can be discussed with the social worker.

CONTACT US

We have two Social Workers in the Woman, Child and Family Service: