Occupational Therapist

**Our Organisation**

Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral (MidCentral) is part of Te Whatu Ora, Health New Zealand and provides healthcare services to over 180,000 people across the Manawatū, Horowhenua and Tararua regions. We are looking for experienced Allied Health professionals to join our growing team within the Older People's Assessment and Liaison Community Service (OPAL CS). We have positions for an Occupational Therapist and Physiotherapists with permanent hours available.

**The hours for the these roles are**:
Occupational Therapist - Part time, 24 hours per week

Physiotherapist - Full time, Monday to Friday

**What is the service?**

The OPAL community service complements the existing range of Te Uru Whakamauora (Healthy Aging and Rehabilitation) services provided to older people with a focus on reducing avoidable displacements from home. OPAL CS delivers home-based care for older people with complex age related physical, social, long-term conditions or mental health needs. This service aims to shift more health care from hospital settings closer to people's homes, and pivotally, incorporate Kaupapa Māori approaches in its service to achieve equitable outcomes for Māori kaumatua. The OPAL CS teams will be co-located in the community of the three key localities of the MidCentral Region: Palmerston North City/Feilding, Horowhenua, and Tararua.

**What is the role about?**

In this role, you will be working in the community alongside a supportive transdisciplinary team consisting of geriatricians, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, social worker, NASC, Māori connectors, allied health assistants. The team will partner with general practices and community providers to identify older people with frailty in the community to provide comprehensive geriatric assessments and deliver therapy services to help them remain independent at home. The team will also be supporting people transitioning home from hospital settings and your work will be based in various clinical locations, visiting clients in the community, and in associated facilities.

**We currently have positions open for the Tararua.**

This role provides an opportunity to work in a dynamic environment where you can build on a variety of skills not just within your discipline, but skills that crosses disciplinary boundaries. You will be a valued core member of the OPAL CS team and will have an opportunity to take lead and shape this growing service.

**What are we looking for in applicants?**
- New Zealand registered Occupational Therapist or Physiotherapist, with a current practicing certificate and minimum experience of 2 years
- Hold Enable NZ Accredited Assessor status, be Service Accredited or eligible to become accredited
- Enthusiastic, energetic, resilient, with a ‘can do' attitude
- Experience and ability to work effectively within a trans-disciplinary team, utilising individual and professional skills.
- Ability to adapt and flex to trial new ways of working
- Strong desire to help clients and whānau achieve their goals
- An understanding or willingness to learn about te reo Māori and tikanga Māori
- Effective written, oral and interpersonal skills with an ability to communicate with people from a wide variety of backgrounds and cultures.
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- Basic computer, IT and clinical documentation skills
- A full, current driver's licence
- essential
- Hold relevant residency status to work in New Zealand - essential

**Benefits**
- An encouraging learning environment where you will continue to grow and be challenged
- A professional and supportive culture and team setting
- Fulfilling and challenging work with great lifestyle options
- Tailored wellness programmes

**How to apply**
- We strive to be a place where people love to work and learn. We aim to develop a diverse team that reflects the communities that we serve and we welcome people of all ethnicities, genders, sexual orientations, religious and political beliefs, socio-economic situations and accessibility needs._MidCentral actively seeks Māori into our workforce to reflect the community we serve._
- Some positions are defined as a Core Children's worker under the Children's Act and require full safety checks completed before employment_