Occupational Therapist

Location: Kapiti Health Centre

Contract: Fixed Term Parental Leave Cover (March 2026 – March 2027), Part Time (0.80 FTE / 32 hours per week)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. 

About the Role 

The Kapiti Community ORA Team is excited to advertise a fixed term position for a Community Occupational Therapist to join our multi-disciplinary service. This role is community based, working within an interdisciplinary team that works collaboratively to support patients maximise their independence at home and their functional goals. We are looking for an Occupational Therapist who is able to use their skills across the service – working in a strengths based style to complete comprehensive assessments and implement meaningful interventions.  The role has scope for professional development in line with the goals of the service. An occupational therapist who can provide safe and clinically effective patient/client assessment and intervention.

This role requires an enthusiastic and skilled practitioner who is confident to triage and manage a busy caseload. You will bring a positive attitude to patient rehabilitation and enjoy working with a motivated and experienced team.  The role will be varied with a wide range of patient needs and goals.  Experience with ACC contracts, Wheelchair and Seating skills, and Enable applications is greatly valued.

About the Team/Service Location 

The Kapiti Coast is a beautiful place to live and work. You’ll join a supportive team with depth and skill who work collaboratively for best patient outcomes. Our Team is multidisciplinary and includes Dietitians, Speech Language Therapists, Physiotherapists, Social Workers and Nurses. We are supported by a Geriatrician onsite and provide both compensatory and rehabilitative assessment and intervention to people on the Kapiti Coast.

Older Adult, Rehabilitation and Allied Health (ORA) Services are provided to people of all ages in inpatient, outpatient and community settings.  This role is part of the ORA Community service which works out of 3 community bases in Wellington, Porirua and Paraparaumu. These inter disciplinary teams work with all people who meet the eligibility criteria in the Capital and Coast District, which runs from Seatoun in Wellington to Peka Peka Road on the Kapiti Coast, and out to Horokiwi in the east of the district. 

About you 

We are looking for a competent and friendly professional who can work well in a team and understands the unique value each discipline brings to good health and wellbeing. Our Occupational Therapists are required to support individuals and families with prompt functional assessment. This community rehabilitation role reports to the team leader of the Kapiti Community ORA team.  The role is based at the Kapiti Health Centre and works with people from Peka Peka to Paekakariki. As well as providing home visits, occupational therapists will also see patients in an outpatient setting as indicated. . 

The occupational therapist will work individually and alongside their IDT colleagues (including allied health assistants) with  people with a range of personal health conditions and disabilities including survivors of stroke, post traumatic injury, people at risk of falls, frailty, neurological conditions, mild to moderate dementias and amputees. A rehabilitation approach is used. 

Our occupational therapists are often one of several health professionals working across the health sector that interfaces with each person.  The team aims to work collaboratively and seamlessly with other services to meet the person’s needs, taking into account the principles of the New Zealand triple aim. 

 You will be competent in assessment, and feel confident with compensatory and rehabilitative strategies for functional independence and or wellbeing. You understand the impact a change in health status can have on individual and family wellbeing. You will have a good understanding of age-related illness, including dementia and familiarity with local and regional support networks. We need you to be efficient at managing a busy caseload, and able to supportively link patients into appropriate support networks available in the wider community.  As a confident Occupational Therapist you will hold great skills to make and hold fragile relationships and work gently and respectfully with people from all walks of life, culture and value systems. If this sounds like you, and you’d like to join a friendly and hard-working professional team we welcome your application. You will hold a current registration with the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand and have a current APC. 

Working at Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. 

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 12 January 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Philip.Adamson@tewhatuora.govt.nz 

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