• Permanent full time opportunities, 1.0FTE (40 hours per week)
• Based at Burwood Campus, in Spinal Injuries Rehabilitation
• Hours of work are Monday - Friday 0800 -1630

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 have multiple opportunities for experienced Occupational Therapists to work within the inpatient - s services at Burwood Hospital. 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. You will need to demonstrate your excellent communication skills and build rapport with patients and their whānau. 

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.

As one of two national spinal units in New Zealand, we support people living with Spinal Injuries from Invercargill to New Plymouth.  

This role is working with acute spinal cord injured patients who have been admitted to Burwood Hospital. This is an opportunity to work in one of two national and internationally recognised units, and gain specialised skills in this field.  This role includes the rehabilitation of people who have experienced a life changing event to become independent and return to the community. Your day would include upper limb rehabilitation, ADL rehabilitation, wheelchair and seating assessment and provision and complex discharge planning. There is the opportunity to develop sills that will enable to excel in rehabilitation  of spinal cord injuries , work with complex outpatients and assess patients in their own regions through outreach clinics.

In this role, 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/whanau, as well as the wider team;
• Prioritising, organising and managing a case load while allocating time appropriately;
• Engaging in service delivery reviews and associated quality improvement initiatives;

About You

We are looking for experienced Occupational Therapists to join our team at Burwood Hospital, specialising in acute spinal cord injury rehabilitation. The ideal candidate will have strong clinical assessment and problem-solving skills, with the ability to develop and implement holistic treatment plans. We seek individuals who are able to work both autonomously and collaboratively, with excellent communication skills to engage effectively with patients, their whānau, and the multidisciplinary team. A commitment to ongoing professional development, effective time management, and Registration with the Occupational Therapy Board Of New Zealand is essential.

Your skills will include:

• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively, to develop positive interpersonal relationships, and work flexibly within the team, with a team player attitude
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a range of stakeholders
• Strong clinical reasoning skills and use of evidence informed practice
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Experience with complex discharge planning is advantageous
• Enable NZ Equipment accreditation or willingness to obtain
• Registration with the NZ Occupational Therapy Board and current Annual Practicing Certificate
• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth
• A minimum of 2 years - post-qualification experience
• As local travel is required, a full driver - s license is essential

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is - the weaving of wellnesses. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes.

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.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

We particularly 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 Tuesday 18th March. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz