Education Therapist Specialist - Occupational Therapist

Requirements

• RVQ 13/14 qualification in Occupational Therapy recognised by SAQA.
• Registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as Occupational Therapist.
• Registration with the South African Council for Educators (SACE) will be an added advantage.
• Five-years of relevant experience after registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA).
• Knowledgeable about a) National and Provincial Education legislation, policies and regulations (e.g.
• Health Professions Act, Screening Identification Assessment and Support policy (SIAS), South African Schools Act (SASA), Employment of Educators Act (EEA), White Paper 6 (Support for special needs learners), b) Analytic, diagnostic and assessment tools, c) Intervention methods, d) Child development, e) Therapeutic models and techniques, f) Understanding of group dynamics, g) Protocol and professional ethics.

Duties

• Assess the learner’s level of functioning to identify barriers to learning based on the Occupational Therapists’ scope of practice:
• Conduct screening for the learners; administer formal and informal assessments.
• Analyse and interpret information to make decisions regarding the need for therapeutic intervention, engage in multi-disciplinary team discussions and make recommendations and/or referrals.
• 2) Provide intervention (direct and indirect therapy) relating to barriers to learning:
• Provide direct and indirect Occupational Therapy services based on an Occupational Therapy plan to learners in public special schools and public ordinary schools; determine individualized and group Occupational Therapy; prescribe, issue, and maintain assistive devices; maintain records of Occupational Therapy, effective administration practices and report to supervisors as required.
• 3) Engage in therapeutic capacity-building programmes and skills sharing on related therapy issues/matters:
• Provide direct and indirect Occupational Therapy services based on an Occupational Therapy plan to learners in public special schools and public ordinary schools;
• Provide appropriate information regarding programmes offered by therapists to internal and external stakeholders (e.g., School Based Support Team, District Based Support Team, parents etc.).
• Promote awareness of the different therapy disciplines; participate in awareness campaigns of different disabilities; provide direct or indirect outreach services when required; engage in continuous professional developmental activities based on the relevant programmes offered in the school; supervise undergraduate Occupational Therapy students and therapy assistants as required.
• 4) Manage Therapy support materials and equipment:
• Request appropriate and adequate therapy support materials and equipment based on learner needs; safeguard therapy support materials and equipment; maintain records of therapy material, equipment and the issuing of assistive devices and report faults and maintenance needs of the materials and equipment; participate in inter and intra-sectoral networks and collaborations.
• 5.
• Participate in inter- and intra- sectoral networks and collaborations.
• Collaborate and interact with stakeholders (e.g., Department of Health, Department of Social Development, local government, and the broader Community).
• 6.
• Management and Administration:
• Manage effective administration practices of Occupational Therapy interventions; ensure compliance with the code of Ethics of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA); practice sound interpersonal relations, engage actively in performance appraisals per requirement.

How to apply

New to the Z83 form? Read the application guide.

Enquiries

Notes from the department

• Applications must be submitted on a duly completed New Z83 form (effective from 01 January 2021), e-Recruitment System automatically generates Z83 immediately you press apply and generate Z83.
• Applicants are not required to submit copies of qualifications and other relevant documents upon application but must submit a fully completed Z83 form and detailed Curriculum Vitae.
• NB:
• Z83 in the e-recruitment system is currently not signable; so, applicants who submitted applications via the e-recruitment system will not be disqualified for an unsigned Z83 instead will be requested to sign on/or before the interview day.
• View the list of the positions you applied for on “My Job Applications” and do note that the system Z83 does not reflect work experience and qualifications, however, every detail of your information does reflect to the Recruitment team.
• Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit certified copies of qualifications, and other relevant documents (like a copy of Permanent Resident Permit for Non-RSA Citizens/Permanent Resident Permit Holders to HR on or before the interview date.
• Failure to submit all the required documents will disqualify the application.
• Correspondence will be limited to short-listed candidates only.
• If you have not been contacted within six (6) months after the closing date of this advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful.
• Selected candidates will be subjected to a personnel suitability check (criminal record check, citizenship verification, financial/asset record check, qualification/ study verification and previous employment verification).
• All shortlisted candidates, including the SMS shall undertake two pre-entry assessments.
• One will be a practical exercise to determine a candidate’s suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements, and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment.
• The Selection Panel will recommend candidates to attend a generic Managerial Competency Assessment in compliance with the DPSA Directive on the implementation of Competency-based Assessment.
• Successful candidates will also be subjected to security clearance processes.
• Where applicable, candidates will be subjected to a skills/ knowledge test.
• The competency assessment will be testing generic managerial competencies using the mandated DPSA SMS competency assessment tools.
• Successful candidates will be appointed on a probation period of twelve 12/24 months.
• It is the objective to address the Employment Equity Affirmative Action Measures in line with the Employment Equity Plan and to achieve equitable representation across race and gender.
• The EE targets of the recruiting Department will be adhered to although the applications are welcome from all racial groups.
• The Recruiting Department reserves the right to amend/ review/ withdraw the advertised posts if by so doing, the best interest of the department will be well served.
• (Females and People with Disabilities are also requested to apply and indicate such in their applications).
• Misrepresentation in the application documents will result in automatic disqualification and disciplinary action in the event the candidate has already been appointed.
• SMS pre-entry certificate (Nyukela) must be submitted prior appointment.
• Full details can be sourced by following the link: https://www.thensg.gov.za/training-course/sms-pre-entry- programme Note:
• Due to austerity measures, the Department will not carry any related costs (transport, accommodation, and meals) for candidates attending pre-selection assessment/s and interviews.
• Due to austerity measures, the Department will not carry any related costs (transport, accommodation, and meals) for candidates attending pre-selection assessment/s and interviews.