• Permanent position 40 hours per week (1.0FTE). Flexible working arrangements and part time will be considered.
• Able to work well both autonomously and part of a cohesive multidisciplinary team.
• Registered with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand with a current APC.
• Primarily based in Whaikaha Secure ID Unit, however there will be opportunities to work across Intellectually Disabled Persons Health (IDPH) Services.
• Be part of Occupational Therapy Service Provision across IDPH, working alongside other Occupational Therapists and providing support to Allied Health Assistants.

Mō te tūnga - About the Role

Thank you for your interest in joining our amazing team of nurses and allied health professionals working in our Forensic Intellectual Disability Inpatient Service located in Christchurch, New Zealand. With an array of mountains, lakes, beaches and wilderness nearby, Christchurch is a great base for exploring the outdoors as well as offering some great choices when it comes to restaurants and shopping in the city.

Our service enables our staff to make a real difference in the lives of people across the South Island. The work is fast paced, varied and valued - a combination that is sure to guarantee job satisfaction.

The Whaikaha Unit is a 4-bed in-patient clinical unit within Te Whatu Ora that is part of Specialist Mental Health Services at Hillmorton Hospital. It provides specific clinical assessment and treatment for our consumers. Our service provides specialised regional services for consumers with an intellectual disability (ID) who present with challenging behaviour and if subject to the Intellectual Disability Compulsory Care and Rehabilitation Act (IDCC& R Act 2003) will have forensic considerations in their support plans.  Occupational therapy support across all the intellectual disability services is an integral part of this role and will provide a wider understanding of the whole service.

Our staff are the key to our success in delivering quality services for our consumers. We welcome applications from Occupational Therapists with experience working with ID consumers and in Mental health and/or forensic services as well as Occupational Therapists who are interested in a career in Intellectual Disability.

Now is a particularly exciting time to join our service as we are developing a model of care and building a new high care area onto our current facilities. We are committed to becoming a centre for excellence for ID services.

Ko wai koe | About You

We aim to be a leader in New Zealand for the delivery of intellectual disability inpatient services. We have career opportunities for applicants keen to work in an innovative and best practice environment.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Providing Occupational Therapy Specific Assessment to consumers such as functional assessments and Sensory processing Assessments
• Planning, implementing and evaluating Occupational Therapy interventions for consumers in conjunction with them and their whanau.
• Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team to deliver individualised and culturally appropriate programmes to consumers within our service.
• Development and implementation of Positive Behaviour Support Plans in conjunction with the MDT

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako - Skills and Experience

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the proven ability to engage people at all levels.
• Excellent time management and organisational skills, with an ability to complete assigned tasks to a high standard and on time.
• A passion for supporting individuals to build personal life skills.
• A positive solution focused approach with ability to use own initiative and be motivated to work autonomously and as a member of a close team.
• Excellent skills in risk assessment and management.

For the right candidate, the ID Service will offer: 

• Opportunities for professional development and career progression with an opportunity for those new to mental health participate in the New Entry to Specialist Mental Health Programme (NESP)
• Specialist in-house training and workshops
• Support for postgraduate study
• The opportunity to be part of a large tertiary hospital

Mō mātou | About Us

- Ko ngā tāngata, te mātua mahi - Putting people at the heart of all we do -

Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand, leads the day-to-day running of our health system across New Zealand, with functions delivered at local, district, regional and national levels. It weaves the functions of the 20 former District Health Boards into its regional divisions and district offices, ensuring continuity of services in the health system.

Here in Waitaha, Canterbury we deliver health services to the almost 600,000 people that live in the Canterbury region. We are committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its principles by ensuring our partnership with Māori are at the forefront of all our conversations.

Ngā hua | Benefits of working at Te Whatu Ora [Health New Zealand]

When you work at the Te Whatu Ora, you are part of a wider whānau that will support you along your journey. We offer great coaching, mentoring and learning outcomes for all staff. We are always improving our facilities across all campuses and have amazing discounts from select retailers, restaurants and business.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

Only applications submitted via our career site will be accepted, therefore apply directly on our career site here. 

For additional information about this role please contact Jenny Bailey, Recruitment Partner on jenny.bailey@cdhb.health.nz

We have a range of clinical and non-clinical roles at Health New Zealand, there could be a place for you!

Please visit our careers website for other roles and find your ideal fit within Health New Zealand

The Future of the Health Industry

The role that you are applying for is one that may only be performed by a person who has been vaccinated against Covid-19.  It is therefore a condition of this application that you are vaccinated against Covid-19. As a person working in the health and disability sector you will come into contact with a large number of people, some of whom may be vulnerable.  Without a vaccine, there is the risk that you may contract Covid-19.  The requirement to be vaccinated is to keep you safe and also to endeavour to protect others against the potential transmission of Covid-19 as a result of you contracting it in the course of your employment.