• Permanent Full-time position 1.0FTE (40 hours per week)
• Hours of work are Monday - Friday, contributing to weekend rosters required
• As this role is an Advanced practice role it sits in the Designated Scale as per PSA Allied Health, Scientific and Technical Collective Agreement
• Based at Christchurch Health Campus

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

Do you have strong clinical skills in hand therapy and a desire to grow your skills working within the Hand therapy team at the Christchurch Health Campus?

We have an exciting opportunity to join the supportive Occupational Therapy team at Christchurch Hospital. This is a full time (40 hours/week) permanent role on the Christchurch Hospital Acute Campus site.

You will be supported to develop your skills within these areas and will also work alongside your colleagues and team leaders to develop the services.

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Undertaking expert assessments, completing appropriate interventions and providing advice or referring to other services
• You will work collaboratively as part of the Hand therapy team (Physios and Occupational therapists) within the out-patient setting for most of your role. However you will also support the hand therapy mahi within the in-patient wards
• Working with patients from diverse social and cultural backgrounds and working collaboratively with whanau, the wider multidisciplinary team to ensure the best outcomes
• Identifying and leading quality improvement initiatives
• Supporting, enabling and leading education of staff
• Mentoring and supervision of other colleagues within the wider Occupational Therapy service

It is also expected that you will contribute to the weekend roster.

About You

You will have relevant hand therapy experience with clinical skills in assessment and intervention centred on occupational performance. You will have a passion and desire to work in hand therapy within a team environment as an occupational therapist, and to be involved in quality improvement work within occupational therapy and across the wider allied health and inter-disciplinary teams. 

You can expect to be well supported in your role. You will receive mentoring, supervision and professional development so that you can grow as an occupational therapist and progress in your career.

You will demonstrate the following:

• Experience in Hand Therapy (essential)
• Registration with the Occupational Therapy Board NZ and an Annual Practising Certificate (essential)
• Registration with Hand Therapy NZ OR Australian Hand Therapy Association essential
• Comprehensive clinical assessment and problem solving skills  
• Ability to work autonomously and collaboratively, to develop positive interpersonal relationships, and work flexibly within the inter-disciplinary team, with a team player attitude
• Proven skills and experience with leading service improvement projects/ work
• 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
• 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 
• Effective time management and organisational skills
• Strong prioritisation skills

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.

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 - on our careers page. All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on Sunday 28th September. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay(at)tewhatuora.govt.nz or Clinical Manager Bronwyn Suzana on 0274 330 950 or Brownyn.suzana(at)cdhb.health.nz

Please note, we will be reviewing applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert therefore we encourage you to apply early.