OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST GRADE 1 TO 3 (NEUROLOGY, NEUROSURGERY AND ADULT PSYCHIATRY) (6/8TH)

This position is for an Occupational Therapist at Tygerberg Hospital in Parow Valley, working within the clinical fields of neurology, neurosurgery, and adult psychiatry. Advertised on an Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) grading scale, the post is available at Grade 1, Grade 2, or Grade 3 level depending on the successful candidate’s years of relevant experience after registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The role is offered as a 6/8th appointment, meaning a part-time schedule of six-eighths of full-time hours. The incumbent will join the hospital’s Occupational Therapy Department, delivering specialised rehabilitative services to patients with neurological conditions, neurosurgical interventions, and adult psychiatric disorders.

Applicants must hold an appropriate qualification that permits registration with the HPCSA as an Occupational Therapist, and they must be registered with the HPCSA. For Grade 1, South African qualified employees need no experience after registration, while foreign qualified employees who are not required to complete community service in South Africa need at least one year of relevant post-registration experience. Grade 2 requires a minimum of ten years of relevant experience for locally qualified applicants, or eleven years for foreign qualified applicants exempt from community service. Grade 3 requires twenty years for local applicants and twenty-one years for foreign applicants. Beyond these formal requirements, the ideal candidate should have experience in neurology, neurosurgery, and adult psychiatry occupational therapy, along with intermediate to advanced seating experience, splinting experience, and a background in student training and supervision. Sound knowledge of relevant national and provincial legislation and various physical conditions is essential, as are strong interpersonal, organisational, and planning abilities. The role demands good written and verbal communication skills and the ability to work well within a multidisciplinary team.

The core duties include conducting comprehensive assessments and occupation-based treatment for patients in the specified clinical areas. The therapist will perform basic, intermediate, and advanced seating assessments for wheelchair users, fabricate and prescribe upper and lower limb splints, and measure and produce pressure garments. Discharge planning must be executed in line with departmental procedures, and the therapist will manage cases independently by attending ward rounds and multidisciplinary meetings where applicable. The position also involves contributing to the management of physical resources within the Occupational Therapy Department and providing training and supervision to occupational therapy students.

Notably, candidates who do not yet hold the required registration may still apply, provided they submit proof of application for registration with the HPCSA and proof of payment of the prescribed registration fees on or before the day of the interview. This concession applies only to health professionals applying for the first time for registration as an Occupational Therapist with the relevant council, including those needing to change their registration status. There is no application fee of any kind required for this post. This is a valuable opportunity for both experienced occupational therapists and newly qualified practitioners seeking to specialise in neurology, neurosurgery, and adult psychiatry within a major tertiary hospital setting.