Oral Health Therapist | West Coast

• Varying West Coast Locations Hokitika, Greymouth, Westport, please indicate in your cover letter your preferred location
• Hours are Monday – Friday 0800 – 1630
• Full time permanent positions available

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.

Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari, he toa takitini

My strength, is not the strength  of one, it is the strength of many

About the Role

As an Oral Health Therapist, you will be providing dental therapy to our tamariki (children) on the beautiful West Coast.

We currently have permanent opportunities working  across Te tai o Poutini,  the West Coast. You’ll be working in community and school settings with tamariki (children) and their whānau(family). You will have the opportunity to work with diverse patient groups, managing a wide variety of oral health problems. You will be a reflective practitioner who embraces innovation and advances in clinical practice and will enjoy working in a team alongside other skilled dental/oral health therapists and assistants. 

Some travel across Te Tai o Poutini, the West Coast may be required. 

In this role, you will be responsible for:

• Providing high quality oral health care appropriate to the physical, social and cultural needs of pre-school and school age clients;
• Attending meetings, in-service training and courses relevant to the needs of the service and individual Dental/Oral Health Therapist;
• Participating in team meetings and the service quality improvement process.

As this is a role in a remote area you may be eligible for a voluntary bonding scheme where you will receive $11,796 after 3 years service and two additional payments of $3,932 after a fourth year and fifth year.

About you

You will be a Dental / Oral Health Therapist  who is enthusiastic about the care they can provide in a regional setting. You will have a current APC and ideally you will have had exposure to Dental IT PMS experience e.g. Titanium, but this is not essential.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Ability to deliver high-quality dental care to children, adhering to policies and maintaining privacy and IP&C standards
• Strong motivation to participate in ongoing professional development
• Excellent administrative, organisational and time management skills
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively communicate across a wide range of people
• Self motivated, flexible and adaptable in a changing Health landscape
• 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 
• Current Registration and Annual Practising Certificate with the NZ Dental Council
• Clean manual driver's licence
  

About the West Coast

We are unique and like no other in New Zealand with a close-knit community where your work will make a real difference. 

This isn’t a job for just anyone, joining us means sharing our goals and values and being dedicated to this community and our team as we seek to become a centre of excellence in rural health care. 

To find out more about living and working on the West Coast visit https://westcoast.co.nz/live/cut-out-for-the-coast/

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.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.

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. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Alex Jay at Alexandra.jay@tewhatuora.govt.nz