Advanced Clinician - Community Speech Language Therapy

• Fixed Term back fill position until 18/9/2026, 0.9FTE (36 hours per week) , based at the Princess Margaret Hospital
• This role is a Designated Advanced Practice Role – Step 9, but if you're not quite there yet, we still want to hear from you! Successful applicants will be appointed at the level that matches their experience
  

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

This Advanced Speech Language Therapist role will provide evidence-informed and culturally safe practice across our Older Persons Health and Adult Community Therapy teams with degenerative conditions being a clinical focus for this role. 

In this predominantly clinical role, you will implement a variety of service delivery methods including; group therapy, virtual care, outpatient clinics and home visits as clinically indicated. While based administratively at Princess Margaret Hospital, this position provides care to the community across the Canterbury region. 

Using your extensive clinical skills and knowledge, you will work alongside operational and clinical leaders to support the continuous improvement of the Community Speech-Language Therapy Service.  This includes clinical pathway development in associated clinical areas of specialty, creation of robust evidenced based clinical and teaching resources, and participating / translating current research into local clinical practice.  Developing opportunities to maximise the skills of our unregistered workforce is also a focus.

This role will also include supporting clinical education and training opportunities for colleagues at a regional level, as well as offering BSLP and MSLP student clinical education in the specialised area of managing degenerative conditions. 

Fostering relationships within Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora and with wider networks will be a vital aspect of achieving these objectives.

About You

You will be a New Zealand registered Speech Language Therapist who has experience with providing outpatient clinics, virtual care and community-based interventions as well experience managing complex swallowing and communication impairments.

To be successful in this role you will also demonstrate the following: 

• Proven experience in managing adults with a broad range of complex acquired communication and swallowing difficulties, including advanced skills in supporting specialist medical differential diagnosis
• Ability to flexibly integrate interventions using problem solving and robust communication, whilst being led by your client’s goals
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with an ability to work alongside, influence and communicate with a range of personalities
• Can use clinical expertise to lead change alongside clinical and operational leaders
• Demonstrates ability to inspire and motivate colleagues
• Significant experience with Videofluoroscopy- particularly working with patients with a complex biopsychosocial profile that may impact the patient’s performance within the VFSS
• Extensive clinical experience within neurological and degenerative conditions
• Comprehensive knowledge of Augmentative and Alternative Communication methods
• Specific skills in utilising Risk Feeding pathways
• Demonstrated clinical skills in supporting and managing clients with a palliative prognosis
• Experience with facilitation of consumer engagement in service design and delivery
• Hold a full New Zealand drivers licence

Although this is a Step 9 Designated Advanced Practice Role, we’re also open to candidates still working toward advanced practice requirements. Appointment will be made at the appropriate level.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities. 

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 11:59pm on 27th January. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz