Occupational Therapist - Front of Whare

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

Location: Wellington Regional Hospital – ED/MAPU 

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

Contract: Permanent – Part Time / Full Time positions available 

Kōrero mō te tūranga – About the role

We are excited to offer the opportunity for grow our acute inpatient occupational therapy team. We have recently received additional FTE and we are in a position to develop depth and quality in our service, and better meet the increasing complexity of patients requiring intervention and responding promptly. We have two roles we are currently recruiting to. 

This Front of Whare role is a pivotal member of the allied health team working at the front door of our tertiary hospital in Te Pae Tiaki/Emergency Department (ED) and Medical Assessment and Planning Unit (MAPU). Our dynamic occupational therapist who was previously in this role has returned home to Australia, we are looking for someone who is able to replace them. 

Our Front of Whare team is evolving and now is the chance to be part of the change from the beginning. We’re developing from a multidisciplinary model of care to grow a flagship inter-professional allied health team. Working collectively to address unplanned care with a patient focussed, problem solving approach, this team is all about pace and agility whilst maintaining high clinical standards. 

We are looking for therapists who are great communicators, active team members and 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. 

You will work alongside our advanced health of the older person occupational therapist to further develop pathways and implement best practice initiatives to support our older persons when they can be supported safely home, avoiding hospital admissions and receiving earlier interventions interfacing with other hospital services including community teams and advancing home wellness initiative service (AWHI). 

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). 

You would collaborate with patients and the multidisciplinary team providing specialist occupational therapy interventions. We value being patient-centred and occupation focused, passionate and enthusiastic clinicians with an interest in service development who have an interest in advancing their expertise and clinical knowledge in acute care. 

You will be well supported by a friendly, supportive and enthusiastic team. We offer on-going professional development and formal supervision. If you are passionate about delivering excellent clinical practice, influencing and supporting other occupational therapists then we’d love to hear from you.

Moū – About you

We are looking for clinicians with an interest in service development who have an interest in advancing their expertise and clinical knowledge. Contributing to acute healthcare you will formulate and deliver individualised inter-professional intervention, using appropriate clinical assessment, reasoning skills and evidence informed practice. 

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. Experience in initiating and leading change would be preferred but for the right candidate, we can work together to build your skills in this area. 

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. 

• Preferably five or more years’ experience
• Have registration as an Occupational Therapist 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. 
• Weekend cover roster (approx. once every 10 weeks for up to 4 hours)

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 diverse backgrounds. We’re commited to having a team that reflects the community we serve. 

Mō tō mātou rōpū – About our team

The Wellington Occupational Therapy Team work largely in the inpatient setting at Wellington Regional Hospital. The team is growing to a team of 17, including 5 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 Te Whatu Ora team 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. 

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.

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 DHB

Hutt Valley DHB

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 recruitment@ccdhb.org.nz and indicate the job title and vacancy number in the subject line.

Ma tini, ma mano, ka rapa te whai

By joining together we will succeed