Job Description
Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role
- Permanent Full Time position 40 hours per week (1.0FTE)
- Based at Christchurch Health Campus (Waipapa Hospital)
- Registered Early Childhood Teacher with excellent knowledge of child development required
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
Are you a passionate Hospital Play Specialist or experienced Early Childhood Teacher looking for a rewarding opportunity? We invite you to become a vital part of our dynamic team, dedicated to supporting the health and well-being of our young patients in a vibrant hospital environment.
As a Hospital Play Specialist, you will work in our licensed early childhood service - The Activity Room, and throughout the paediatric wards. Your role will be to work in partnership with the multidisciplinary team to assist pepe, tamariki, rangatahi, and their whānau navigate the hospital system. Utilising the power of play, you will help minimise stress and anxiety associated with hospitalisation, build coping strategies, and create opportunities for participation in healthcare.
Working with pēpē, tamariki, and rangatahi, your experience as a Hospital Play Specialist will be invaluable in helping children during their time in hospital.
About You
We prefer candidates with experience in hospital play, but if you are a qualified early childhood teacher with a Level 7 qualification and believe you possess the necessary skills, we encourage you to apply!
Key skills and attributes:
- Ability to adapt and work effectively with diverse individuals and groups
- Excellent knowledge of child development
- Strong organisational and time management skills
- Warm and sensitive interpersonal skills to relate to children and families
- Quick rapport-building with tamariki and whānau
- Proficiency in psychosocial assessment tools for children
- 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
- Clear, confident communication skills
- Creativity and a fun-loving spirit!
- Strong self-care skills and a reflective practice approach
- Confident with IT skills
- A supportive team player with a growth mindset
This is a rare opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of children and families during their hospital experience. If you - re ready to bring your skills and creativity to our fun and supportive team, we want to hear from you!
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. - All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59pm on Monday 23rd June. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz