New Plymouth - START Occupational Therapistat Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand Taranaki -
Role: START Occupational TherapistEmployment Type: Permanent 0.5FTETaranaki Base HospitalHealth 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 RoleWe are seeking an experienced and motivated Occupational Therapist to join our new service: START (Supported Transfer and Accelerated Rehabilitation Team).START is an early supported discharge model of care designed to help primarily older people return home safely following an acute episode or injury.
Rehabilitation and enablement continue in the home environment, delivered by trained health care assistants and support workers under the delegation of registered health professionals.As a member of the START team, you will play a vital role in supporting recovery and independence at home.Your work will help reduce hospital readmissions and improve quality of life for our clients.About the Team/Service/ LocationThe START team will aim to reduce the risk of readmission to hospital through: Improving functional resiliency / independence Ensuring seamless re-integration back to primary care Managing issues related to medication, nutrition Managing carer stress Identifying deterioration in conditions Supervising, managing care packagesThis is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new, innovative service that puts recovery and independence at the heart of care.For more information on living and working in Taranaki click hereAbout youWere looking for someone who: Has experience in rehabilitation, older peoples health, or community health Is confident working independently in clients homes Communicates effectively with clients, families, and health professionals Is compassionate, reliable, and committed to person-centred careYou will have: Minimum 3 years experience as an Occupational Therapist, ideally in rehabilitation, older peoples health, or community care Excellent communication skills to support patients, whānau, and multidisciplinary teams Strong relationship-building abilities with internal and external stakeholders Knowledge of Tikanga Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Kaupapa Māori principlesWere looking for someone who brings clinical expertise, compassion, and innovation to this role.
You will be confident working independently in clients homes and committed to person-centred care. A key part of this role involves providing direction and delegation to Rehabilitation Assistants and ensuring high-quality care delivery in the home setting.Working at Health New ZealandHealth 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 ApplyTo apply please click apply now.
All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by Friday 21 November 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Andrea Rowe andrea.rowe@tdhb.org.nzA job description will be available in due course.We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.