Experienced Acute Occupational Therapist - Critical Care (Physical Health)

Nau mai, haere mai ki Te Whatu Ora – Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley District

Location: Wellington Regional Hospital – Acute Wards and Critical Care 

Service:    Wellington Hospital Inpatient Service - Older Adults, rehabilitation and Allied Health (ORA)

Contract:  Permanent – Part Time & Full Time positions available (if seeking part time, please state requested hours in your cover letter)

Salary:  $88,627 – $110,210

Kōrero mō te tūranga – About the role

We are excited to offer the opportunity for grow and develop occupational therapy intervention within our critical care service. We have recently received an additional occupational therapy role supporting the expansion of critical care beds within Wellington Regional Hospital. Additional funding has been received to increase critical care bed capacity and expansion of our workforce, this work is currently underway across the country. 

This role will work within in the acute inpatient occupational therapy service to support referral management and flow across the hospital. It will work alongside the regional allied health critical care education team to develop and implement best practice for occupational therapy within the critical care space which will include further education opportunities to develop knowledge and skills. 

The occupational therapy role is a pivotal member of the allied health team working in the critical care space, where they assess and support the ability of critical care patients to carry out activities of daily living such as bathing and feeding, and help meet the emotional and psychological needs of patients who have gone through periods of critical illness. Patients in critical care have significantly limited ability to participate in ADLS, are in disorientating and overwhelming environments, have high risk of delirium and risks associated with immobility, may have long term cognitive changes, long term impacts on mobility and participation, have increasing survival rates from critical illness and incidents resulting in increased long term disability risk: Post Intensive Care Syndrome.   You will see a variety of patients including post-operative complications; Trauma; Neurological conditions; organ failure; sepsis; spinal and cardiovascular concerns. 

Contributing to acute healthcare you will formulate and deliver individualised inter-professional intervention, using appropriate clinical assessment, reasoning skills and evidence informed practice. 

Mō tō mātou rōpū – About our team

The Wellington Occupational Therapy Team work largely in the inpatient setting at Wellington Regional Hospital – the regions only Tertiary Hospital. The team is growing to a team of 20 which includes rotational positions. We work in the acute setting, assessing and treating patients to contribute to successful discharges and acute hospital flow. We are part of a wider ORA service that has occupational therapists working across multiple sites including Kenepuru, Hutt Hospital, community, outpatients and rehabilitation settings with opportunity to network across the district.

We have a friendly, dynamic and enthusiastic team with a team approach. This occupational therapy team work cohesively to collectively respond to capacity demands. We promote an open and respectful culture with shared mentorship and clinical discussion. Our team lives the values held by Capital, Coast and Hutt District and collectively strive to embrace manaakitanga, kotahitanga and rangatiratanga. 

Our occupational therapy service provides assessment, treatment and discharge planning to our patients in various clinical specialities across the hospital providing ongoing variety and challenge. Specialties include Emergency Department, Medical assessment and planning unit (MAPU), Acute Medical Wards, Health of the Older Persons service, Orthopaedics, Trauma, Surgical, Neurology/neurosurgery, ICU, Cardiothoracic, Oncology, and Paediatric hospital. We have a weekend cover roster (approx. once every 10 weeks for 4 hours). 

We work alongside a diverse health team including a strong allied health workforce and share an office space with speech language therapists, physiotherapists, dieticians and social workers. We are supported by a team of Allied Health Assistants who work hard to support the allied health team.

Moū – About you

• Preferably three or more years’ experience 
• Have registration with the with Occupational Therapy Board NZ with a current annual practicing certificate
• Commitment to mentoring and supporting rotational Occupational Therapists as required.
• Supporting student placements and learning. 

We are looking for clinicians with experience in the acute physical health setting with experience in critical care or who have an interest in advancing their expertise and clinical knowledge. Working with a diverse group of patients with significant health needs, you’ll demonstrate excellent clinical and communication skills and have a flexible, problem solving approach. 

We are looking for a therapist who is a great communicator, active team member who takes pride in delivering best practice to all our patients and enjoys working in an acute health care setting. You will be part of a wider team of occupational therapists including rotational staff. This role will give you an opportunity to progress both your clinical and non-clinical skills, giving you the chance to advance your practice and support the growing development of the occupational therapy team as a valued and respected part of the multidisciplinary team within the Wellington Hospital. 

We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds with the right skills and experience who share our values to apply and would greatly value seeing applicants from Māori, Pacific, disabled and rainbow communities. We’re commited to having a team that reflects our community and work hard to build cultural diversity and inclusivity as foundations to our team. 

E pā ana ki a tatou – About us

Here at Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley District we embrace diversity and welcome applications from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, disability and religions. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and serve our community.

Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley District are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

To find out more about us click on the following links:

Capital and Coast

Hutt Valley

Mental Health, Addiction and Intellectual Disability Service

Me pēhea te tuku tono - How to apply

Click the apply now button to send your application directly to us. For further information on this role please email philip.adamson@tewhatuora.govt.nz and indicate the job title and vacancy number in the subject line.

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.

Ma tini, ma mano, ka rapa te whai

By joining together we will succeed