START Occupational Therapist

Health 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.

Job Details

• Role : START Occupational Therapist
• Employment Type : Permanent 0.5 FTE
• Location : Taranaki Base Hospital

About the Role

We 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 / Location

The START team will aim to reduce the risk of readmission to hospital through :

About you

We’re looking for someone who :

You will have :

We are looking for someone who brings clinical expertise, compassion, and innovation to this role. 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 Zealand

Health 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.

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.

How to Apply

To 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 ( ).

A 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.

Apply now for this role or get more information by contacting Drew Fray.

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