Team Leader - Child Development Service

Location:  Wellington Regional Hospital  & Puketiro, Kenepuru Hospital (Porirua)

Contract: Permanent, Full-Time

*Please note that this role is only available for current Health New Zealand / Te Whatu Ora staff.  Any non-Te Whatu Ora applications will be declined.*

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 

We are seeking a skilled and motivated Team Leader with Allied Health background to lead our multidisciplinary Child Development Service (CDS), dedicated to supporting pēpī, tamariki, and rangatahi with disabilities and/or developmental delays, and their whānau. 

This leadership role is responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, integrated, and whānau-centred services in alignment with Te Whatu Ora’s values and the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. You will bring proven experience in an Allied Health discipline, alongside operational and people leadership skills, to support a diverse team of professionals. Working collaboratively across health, education, and community sectors, you’ll ensure clinical and service excellence. 

As Team Leader, you will play a pivotal role in service coordination, workforce development, and continuous improvement ensuring equitable outcomes and early access to developmental support for all children. Your leadership will help shape a progressive, high-performing service committed to improving health, independence, and inclusion in our community.

About the Team/Service Location 

The Child Development Service (CDS) has two teams: North Team is currently based at Puketiro Centre, Kenepuru with outreach to Kapiti, and the South Team is in Te Wao Nui, the New Childrens’ Hospital. The service provides a wide range of assessment, diagnostic and therapeutic services for children with both physical and intellectual disabilities and diagnostic service for children with autism. 

The primary goals of the CDS are assessment and diagnosis of children with developmental difficulties and disabilities undertaken in collaboration with the wider multi-disciplinary team as appropriate: Specialties include social work, speech language therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, developmental paediatrics and occupational therapy, and the team is supported by designated administration staff. Leadership of the group and good clinical outcomes are dependent upon this role. A recent Improvement Project has seen significant changes in the model of care in the service. More change is signalled going forward both within the team and service. 

About you 

Relevant health professional qualification and current practising certificate 

• Recent experience in a relevant health discipline, with advanced knowledge and expertise related to speciality Experience in operational, budget and human resource management 
• High standard of written and oral communication 
• Proven ability to create and maintain effective working relationships 
• Experience and understanding of principals of continuous quality improvement 
• Knowledge and empathy for bi-culturalism and practice in a manner which the patient determines is culturally safe 
• Previous experience in a leadership role (preferred) 

Very good support for professional development will be provided on the basis of performance and in negotiation with the Operations Manager. 

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 by 7 July. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Philip.Adamson@tewhatuora.govt.nz 

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