Occupational Therapist – Inpatient Mental Health

• Fixed Term Part Time 0.5FTE (20 hours per week), through to April 2027
• Based at Burwood Campus

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

An opportunity now exists for an Occupational Therapist to work within the inpatient wards at Burwood Hospital, in Older Person's Mental Health. In this role you will work with patients to enable optimum safety and function during this phase of their recovery. You’ll work with clients from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and need to bring your holistic skills, enthusiasm and passion to achieve the best outcome for your patients.

This role includes working with people who are over 65 have experienced a mental health conditions and /or dementia who are currently living in the community. This role demands the ability to assess, treat and rehabilitate people who have experienced a mental health issue to enable them to remain independent and within the community or to look at other facilities to support their wellbeing.

There is the need to understand group activity and be able to direct a Diversional Therapist in  the provision of treatment. There is significant demand of the assessment of current mental health and cognitive function to determine a treatment plan and a sustainable discharge.

You will carry your own clinical caseload and work within a collaborative team of health professionals. Burwood Hospital offers the opportunity to be part of both the ward team and the wider Occupational Therapy Department and take the opportunities to access professional development through, in-service training and clinical supervision.

You will be responsible for:

• Undertaking Occupational Therapy assessments and developing and implementing treatment plans, considered within a holistic approach
• Providing education and resource, where appropriate, to the client and their family/whānau, as well as the wider team
• Prioritising, organising and managing a case load while allocating time appropriately

About You

We are seeking an experienced Occupational Therapist who will be able to demonstrate your excellent communication skills and build rapport with patients and their whānau. To be successful in this role you will demonstrate the following: 

• Comprehensive clinical assessment and problem-solving skills, with experience in mental health 
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively
• Work flexibly within the team, with a team player attitude
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, to liaise effectively with health professionals both within the in-patient services and in the community
• Strong clinical reasoning skills and use of evidence informed practice
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Strong prioritisation skills and experience with complex discharge planning
• A positive attitude and enthusiasm for this area of work
• Knowledge of te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth 
• Registration with the NZ Occupational Therapy Board and current Annual Practicing Certificate
• As local travel is required, a full driver’s license is essential

Working for 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 view the position description and/or apply for the role please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on 24th May. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz

Apply now

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