Dental or Oral Health Therapist at Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand Waikato, Waikato

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Where you’ll be working Oral Health Service - Waihi, Paeroa and Whangamata 

The details: Permanent Full time - 40 Hours per week (1.0 FTE)

•  Be part of the national transformation in Health
•  Do you want a career opportunity that effects positive change in the oral health of children, while advancing your clinical skills?

Te whiwhinga mahi | The Opportunity

We are searching for a registered Dental Therapist / Oral Health Therapist to join our rural oral health team working in a mobile dental clinic in the Waihi, Paeroa, and Whangamata areas. Working in rural locations provides opportunities for developing autonomy and responsibility. It’s also an opportunity to follow up on your own patient care. Our region offers a diverse population and patient mix. You are also supported by our main office – you aren’t just a number!

Our aim is to be pro-active instead of reactive while responding to the needs of our population and we encourage creativity and innovation across our clinical practices. We are supported by a dedicated call centre which allows for less administrative work for therapists. Four-handed dentistry is standard practice for us.

Click here to view the position description.

(Please note position descriptions can only be viewed on the Te Whatu Ora - Waikato website.)

Mō tātou Ratonga | About our Service

Caring for the oral health of children is incredibly important for their long term health and wellbeing and is a deeply rewarding experience to those providing care. Te Whatu ora - Health NZ - Community Oral Health team strives to be a leader in preventive care and eliminate health inequalities in our community. We empower whānau and include them as part of our team approach to care.

Some highlights of our clinical environment include:

• The ability to refer to and assist at the Nitrous clinic located in Hamilton City

• Access to secondary care services for children

• An OPG X Ray machine for oral health therapist use in Hamilton

• Modern ergonomic equipment including mobiles and multi chair facilities

• Opportunities to participate in innovative oral health promotion and prevention programmes

• Our staff are fully trained, mentored, and are encouraged to attain continued professional development (as we are verified by the Dental Council to provide CPD). We also advocate for the sharing of cultural experiences, including speaking Te Reo Māori to whānau when appropriate

Mōu | About you

• You will need to be flexible, organised, self-motivated and demonstrate that you can work effectively with whanau to improve oral health.
• You will be a team player who understands the importance of partnering with dental assistants and who values support, friendship, and development.
• You will have an appreciation of Te Whatu Ora values and culture that form our successful oral health team.

If you have a current annual practising certificate, broad/dual scopes of practice, and a full driver’s licence, we’d encourage you to apply. We may be able to provide relocation support to a successful candidate outside of our region.

Ko wai mātou | Our Organisation

Te iwi Ngakaunui – People at Heart

• Whakamana – Give and earn respect

• Whakaronga – Listen to me; Talk to me

• Mauri Pai – Fair play

• Whakapakari – Growing the good

• Kotahitanga – Stronger together 

Why Waihi, Paeroa, and Whangamata:

Would you like to live and work in a little slice of paradise? Located at the base of the Coromandel peninsula and the Hauraki District, this region offers gorgeous beaches, spectacular mountain and ocean views, and welcoming small towns. This would be an ideal location for someone wanting to experience an adventurous outdoor lifestyle. You can surf the beaches of Waihi, hike or bike the Karangahake Gorge, and fish and snorkel along the coast of Whangamata.

There are many benefits of rural living including lower cost of living, better quality of life, and less traffic. It’s also conveniently located for partners wanting to commute to busy Tauranga for work.

It is not very often something happens that is big; like, really big. Big to the point that it will touch the lives of every single person in the country. That is what we are talking about here. The provision of Health in Aotearoa New Zealand, and how its run is about to change in a big way.

Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora - Māori Health Authority will together shape the delivery of Health services in Aotearoa New Zealand for generations to come, and will form the core of a modern and integrated service looking after the needs of all our Whānau.

We are dedicated to achieving health equity for Māori and other priority populations. We are a Crown entity and an active partner in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand is guided by Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to upholding the articles.

We are a values-based and inclusive organisation that is committed to deliver the best health outcomes for our total population. Reflecting the population we serve is an important part of the care we deliver to the community. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds with the necessary capability and who share our values to apply. We proactively develop pathways that maximise opportunity for Māori and encourage Māori to apply.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply

Please apply directly online, applications are not able to be accepted via email.

For any queries about the role please contact Nicole.Rickard@waikatodhb.health.nz

Closing date: 30 June 2023

COVID-19:

A national Vaccination Policy which includes COVID19 is under development. In the interim, a Health and Safety Risk Assessment against the requirements of the role will apply to unvaccinated candidates and employees and appropriate risk mitigation (e.g. extra PPE, RAT testing) may be taken as a result. Please note that when a Vaccination Policy is introduced it will apply to this role and need to be supported.