Team Leader - Child Development Service

About the Company Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is committed to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and focuses on providing comprehensive care for all New Zealanders. Our mission is to develop a health system that emphasizes partnership, equity, sustainability, family-centered care, and excellence through integration and collaboration. About the Role We are currently looking for a skilled and motivated Team Leader with an Allied Health background to guide our multidisciplinary Child Development Service (CDS). This service is dedicated to supporting infants, children, and adolescents with disabilities and developmental delays, along with their families. In this leadership position, you will ensure the delivery of high-quality, integrated, and family-centered services that align with the values of Te Whatu Ora and the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi. You will leverage your experience in an Allied Health discipline and your operational and people leadership skills to support a diverse team of professionals. Collaborating across health, education, and community sectors, you will strive for clinical and service excellence. As the Team Leader, you will be instrumental in service coordination, workforce development, and continuous improvement, ensuring equitable outcomes and early access to developmental support for all children. Your leadership will help cultivate a progressive, high-performing service dedicated to enhancing health, independence, and inclusion within our community. About the Team/Service Location The Child Development Service (CDS) comprises two teams: the North Team, located at Puketiro Centre in Kenepuru with outreach to Kapiti, and the South Team, situated in Te Wao Nui at the New Children’s Hospital. Our service offers a comprehensive range of assessment, diagnostic, and therapeutic services for children with physical and intellectual disabilities, as well as diagnostic services for children with autism. The primary objectives of the CDS are the assessment and diagnosis of children with developmental difficulties and disabilities, conducted in collaboration with a wider multidisciplinary team. Our specialties include social work, speech-language therapy, physiotherapy, psychology, developmental pediatrics, and occupational therapy, supported by dedicated administration staff. The success of our team and the achievement of positive clinical outcomes hinge on this role, especially in light of recent improvements in our model of care and forthcoming changes within the team and service. About You To be considered for this role, you should possess the following qualifications and experience: - Relevant health professional qualification and current practicing certificate - Recent experience in a relevant health discipline, with advanced knowledge and expertise in your specialty - Experience in operational, budget, and human resource management - High standard of written and oral communication skills - Proven ability to foster and maintain effective working relationships - Understanding of continuous quality improvement principles - Knowledge and empathy for biculturalism, practicing in a culturally safe manner as determined by the patient - Previous experience in a leadership role is preferred We provide strong support for professional development, which will be based on performance and negotiated with the Operations Manager. Working at Health New Zealand At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we are dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our staff are central to everything we do, and we are committed to being good employers while honoring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and encourage applications from all individuals, regardless of gender identity, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. A diverse and inclusive workforce equips us to better understand and serve our community. We are a pro-equity health organization, focusing on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. How to Apply To apply, please visit our online careers portal. All applications must be submitted by July 7. If you have any questions about the role, please reach out to Philip Adamson at Philip.Adamson@tewhatuora.govt.nz. We will review applications as they are received and may initiate the recruitment process before the closing date of this advertisement.