Advanced Clinician - Occupational Therapy

• Are you motivated and committed to progressing your career in clinical leadership?
• Permanent full-time position (40 hours per week) working across our Adult Inpatient Group – acute and extended stay wards
• Based at Hillmorton Hospital campus, Specialist Mental Health Services (SMHS) 

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

Advanced Clinician – Occupational Therapy is an exciting, newly adapted position within our Adult Inpatient Group (AIG) service; providing advanced occupational therapy clinical input, consultation, and service development across both acute and extended treatment wards (Te Awakura, Wāhi Oranga, and Wāhi Tautoko). 

As an integral member of our multidisciplinary team, you will be responsible for providing advanced occupational therapy consultation and support to other clinicians, alongside individual assessment and intervention to tāngata whai ora and their whānau, particularly for highly complex presentations. 

With a reduced clinical caseload to allow appropriate release time for portfolio responsibilities; you will take the lead role in continued development and co-ordination of the well-being programme across AIG, alongside service development and ongoing oversight of the expanding kaiāwhina workforce (Allied Health Assistants) inclusive of supporting recruitment, training/education, and professional development needs. The role will also entail providing additional clinical support as required, such as co-facilitation of psycho-education groups and covering urgent assessment and intervention during periods of leave. 

With our new acute inpatient build (Wāhi Tūmanako) currently under construction, it is an exciting time to come onboard and make a pivotal difference for our tāngata whai ora. Working closely with the Clinical Occupational Therapy Specialist, Management, and SMHS Occupational Therapy Leadership Team; your advanced knowledge and skill will be key in supporting and improving service delivery across AIG. 

About You

We are looking for an experienced and highly motivated Occupational Therapist to join our Adult Inpatient Group and the SMHS Occupational Therapy Leadership team.

You will be responsible for:

• Providing comprehensive Occupational Therapy assessment, formulation and intervention; drawing on current evidence-based practice and research to inform practice, enabling recovery focused intervention and safe discharge planning.
• Providing advanced role modelling, consultation, advice, and education to occupational therapists and the wider MDT/AIG leadership team; being an integral part of service development and quality improvement.
• Having oversite of the AIG therapeutic well-being programme; including co-facilitation, support, and upskilling of other clinicians and Allied Health Assistants as required, and co-ordination/liaison with wider staffing and community partners (such as NGO’s & volunteers).
• Taking a lead role in robust service development and ongoing oversight of the expanding Kaiāwhina workforce (Allied Health Assistants) in collaboration with other members of the SMHS Occupational Therapy Leadership team. 

You will have: 

• Registration with OTBNZ, a current APC and full NZ drivers’ licence.
• A minimum of 5 years’ clinical mental health experience, ideally in adult inpatient care across acute and rehabilitative services plus confidence in supporting tāngata whai ora with comorbidities (such as physical or neurodevelopmental conditions).
• Post graduate qualifications (Mental Health & Addictions), further relevant training/qualifications or working towards this.
• Experience with clinical supervision and training and/or development of staff.
• Experience in quality/service improvement and/or research activities.
• A passion to develop your leadership skills further; supporting staff and services to excel in providing the best possible specialist mental health care for tāngata whai ora and whānau.

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 Thursday, 4th June. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Recruitment Partner Lisa Gray on Lisa.Gray2@tewhatuora.govt.nz

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

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.

Position description Apply now

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