START Team Lead

• Role: START Team Lead
• Employment Type: Permanent 1 FTE (up to 1 FTE)
• Taranaki Base Hospital

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

Are you a dynamic leader with vision, drive, and a passion for delivering exceptional patient care?

We are seeking an experienced Registered Health Professional (Registered Nurse or Allied Health) to lead the implementation and delivery of START – the Supported Transfer and Accelerated Rehabilitation Team. START is an early supported discharge model of care that enables predominantly older people to return home following an acute episode or injury, where they can continue their rehabilitation and enablement in their own environment. Care is delivered by trained Health Care Assistants and Support Workers under professional delegation.

As the START Team Lead, you will play a pivotal role in shaping this innovative service, leading a skilled and compassionate team focused on recovery, independence, and reducing hospital readmissions. You will foster collaboration, resilience, and a culture of excellence, while ensuring operational safety and evidence-based practice.

A key part of this role involves providing direction and delegation to Rehabilitation Assistants and ensuring high-quality care delivery in the home setting.

About the Team/Service/ Location

START aims to reduce the risk of readmission to hospital through:

· Improving functional resiliency / independence

· Ensuring seamless re-integration back to primary care

· Managing issues related to medication, nutrition

· Managing carer stress

· Identifying deterioration in conditions

· Supervising, managing care packages

This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a new, innovative service that puts recovery and independence at the heart of care.

For more information on living and working in Taranaki click here

About you

You are a confident and compassionate leader who thrives in dynamic environments and is committed to person-centred care. You bring clinical expertise, operational insight, and a passion for innovation.

Key Attributes:

· Proven experience as a Nurse Coordinator/CNM, Allied Health Leader, or Manager

· Strong background in rehabilitation, older people’s health, or community care

· Exceptional communication skills to support patients, whānau, and staff

· Ability to build and maintain effective relationships across teams and services

· Commitment to fostering team growth and collaboration

· Passion for developing others and creating a cohesive, high-performing team

· Focus on operational safety and evidence-based care

· Experience in change management and service development (preferred)

· Solid understanding of business ethics and leadership principles

· Knowledge of Tikanga Māori, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and Kaupapa Māori principles

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by Monday 27 October 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Andrea Rowe andrea.rowe@tdhb.org.nz

A job description will be available in due course.

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

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.