Speech Language Therapist

Location: Kenepuru Community Hospital

Contract: Permanent/Part Time (0.5FTE / 20 hours per week)

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 are seeking an energetic, efficient and motivated Speech Language Therapist to join our inpatient Allied Health Team, working in the area of neuro-rehabilitation, orthopaedics, and older adults. The team is part of the wider Allied Health Inpatient team at Kenepuru Community Hospital where there is also the opportunity to work with patients who have amputations, and older adults with mental health conditions.

The Speech-language Therapist in this position will have an understanding of the theory underpinning communication and acquired swallowing disorders in adults. They must be able to independently assess, diagnose and treat dysphagia and acquired communication difficulties in adults to achieve the best possible health outcomes for patients.

This position will provide mentorship to rotational Occupational Therapists, students and delegates work to Allied Health Assistants.

About the Team/Service/ Location

The inpatient rehabilitation multi-disciplinary team is a close-knit team of allied health, nursing and medical colleagues, based at Kenepuru Hospital. We are a team that loves to learn and upskill, and we encourage service-improvements that help the patients and the team. A perk worth mentioning is the free parking available on site.

This role sits within the wider Kenepuru Inpatient Allied Health team which consists of over 45 Allied Health staff from Occupational Therapy, Dietetics, Speech Language Therapy, Psychology, Diversional Therapy, Physiotherapy, Social Work, and our Allied Health Assistants. We work together closely to provide a service of high standard to patients and their families and whānau. We are a very supportive team; we provide training and learning opportunities, supervision, mentorship, and we celebrate our wins with food. It really is a warm and inviting space to work in.

Our recent service improvements include introducing Inter-Professional-Practice models, an Amputee pathway, a Stroke Pathway, working closer with our early supported discharge team (known as AWHI), and working in closer collaboration with our nursing and medical colleagues. We continue to grow in our cultural responsiveness as a team and a service, and we welcome anyone who is also on the journey to improve health equity outcomes for Maori and Pacific peoples to join us as we learn and improve together.

About you

Our ideal candidate would have the following:

• Relevant qualification in speech-language therapy that is recognized and approved by the New Zealand Speech-language Therapists’ Association (NZSTA) with a current APC
• An appreciation of Inter-Professional Practice (IPP, top of scope, skill sharing, and delegation) or a willingness to learn to work this way.
• Experience in the hospital inpatient setting
• A understanding of the health needs of our Māori and Pacific communities
• Eager to reduce inequities and improve health outcomes
• Current full drivers licence
• Experience performing instrumental swallowing assessment desired (FEES, VFSS) (or willingness to learn)
• Passion for supporting students and junior staff members

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand.

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 embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 4 August. If you have any questions about the role, please contact [email protected]

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advertisement.

Position description Apply now