Occupational Therapy Support Worker - Tāwhirimātea

Location: Extended Care, Rehabilitation Regional Rehabilitation Service- Tāwhirimātea unit, Porirua.

Contract: Permanent, Full time, Monday – Friday.

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. 

About the Role 

The Regional Rehabilitation units (2) provide consumers with specialised care with a focus on recovery and rehabilitation in both secure and open settings. We are looking for an innovative and committed Occupational Therapy Support Worker (OTSW) to join the inpatient team at the low secure forensic impatient unit, Tāwhirimātea. The successful applicant will be energetic, have the ability to give positive encourage to tangata whaiora, be flexible with tasks, and be able to work under the direction and delegation of Occupational Therapists.  We are looking for someone to be able to support people with mental health issues to create a daily routine and establish activities on the campus and within the community. The OTSW will be asked to assist with facilitating groups targeting specific goals, carry out individual sessions based on a plan, and will encourage, motivate and support tangata whaiora to participate.

About the Team/Service/ Location 

We are a low secure forensic mental health inpatient service.  Tāwhirimātea has established an Occupational Therapy (OT) team consisting of three Occupational Therapists and two Occupational Therapy Support Workers (this vacancy is for the 2nd).  You will be working alongside a dynamic team that works collaboratively to support and enhance the recovery process for people with enduring mental illness.  You will work alongside of the nursing staff to ensure that individual care plans are supported.  The Tāwhirimātea OT team also works in partnership with other rehabilitation and forensic units within our wider campus.  These teams support the running of programmes that are unit based, Tangaroa based, (our activity centre) and community based.

About you 

You will need to be able to work collaboratively within a team; be able to support nursing staff to ensure that individuals are supported to engage in rehabilitation activities.  You will bring your active listening skills, solution focus approach to fostering tangata whaiora to achieve their identified goals within their pathway journey.  You will have the ability to take on new learning where required to support your role within the team as well as good communication skills with your team members, tangata whaiora and whānau.  You will be proactive in ensuring all occupational therapy led documentation reflects a person centred approach and promotes the enhancement of independence.  This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of clinicians who are committed to promoting excellent public relations through positive interactions with tangata whaiora, whānau and their communities.

Essential:

• Practice in a manner that service users determine as being culturally safe
• Be respectful and able to collaborate in practice
• Use good communication written, verbal and electronic skills
• Ability to work under direction and delegation
• Full drivers' licence is essential
• Experience in working in a mental health setting
• Level 4 Certificate in Health and Wellbeing 
• Meet police vetting requirements

Working at Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. 

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal.

If you have any questions about the role, please contact shelly.alexander@tewhatuora.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advertisement.

Position description Apply now

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