Position overview

Community Health and Integrated Care is a vibrant and diverse division within Canberra Health Services, providing multidisciplinary rehabilitation, aged care and community-based support across a range of settings.

Community Care Occupational Therapy delivers services from community health centres and in clients’ homes across the ACT. The service provides assessment and intervention related to assistive technology and home modifications for people aged 18 years and over. Our clients present with a wide variety of medical conditions, including neurological and orthopaedic conditions, complex and chronic health issues, frailty, and rapid functional decline. We also provide services to National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) participants and to clients supported through the Commonwealth Home Support Program.

Our Occupational Therapists benefit from strong peer support, working collaboratively with a multidisciplinary team and participating in regular clinical supervision. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional care while fostering a positive, supportive workplace culture. Our team is committed to upholding the Canberra Health Services values of being Reliable, Progressive, Respectful and Kind.

Community Care Occupational Therapists work to their strengths and share knowledge to cultivate an environment of curiosity, innovation and excellence. Our collective goal is to achieve positive client outcomes through high-quality, person-centred clinical services. We are a high-performing team engaged in continuous quality improvement and research.

Staff wellbeing is a high priority. The Community Care Occupational Therapy team is inclusive, compassionate and supportive—we take the time to listen, show empathy and demonstrate understanding toward each other and the people we serve.

Key Responsibilities

Under limited direction from the Community Care Occupational Therapy Manager, the HP2 Occupational Therapist contributes to positive client outcomes by delivering high-quality, evidence-based occupational therapy services in community settings as part of an interdisciplinary team.

You will:

• Provide occupational therapy assessments and interventions with appropriate support, delivering services across a range of clinical areas.
• Work collaboratively with clients, carers, multidisciplinary colleagues and external service providers to ensure coordinated, person-centred care.
• Use sound clinical reasoning and professional judgement to manage cases, adapting approaches and problem-solving within the community context.
• Participate in education and training activities, contributing to staff learning and supporting student development.
• Engage in team and program activities, including case discussions, meetings and service planning.
• Contribute to clinical governance and quality initiatives, including safety compliance, quality improvement, research and health promotion.
• Provide supervision and guidance to HP1 staff, Allied Health Assistants, and students, and assist with the supervision of other students as required.
• Maintain accurate, timely clinical documentation and meet reporting and data requirements in line with organisational and professional standards.
• Perform other duties appropriate to this classification, supporting effective service delivery.

Competencies

Specific responsibilities include but are not limited to the following.

• Demonstrates strong organisational skills and a high level of initiative.
• Applies a reflective practice mindset and uses critical thinking to form well-reasoned, defensible conclusions based on evidence and sound judgement.
• Shows adaptability and flexibility, responding effectively to change and meeting clients’ evolving needs.
• Communicates effectively, including through active listening, and negotiates confidently with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Qualifications

Essential

• Degree in Occupational Therapy with minimum of 12 months post-graduation experience working professionally in occupational therapy.
• Be registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).
• Current driver’s license with ability and willingness to drive/travel as the role requires.

Desirable

• Have an understanding of how the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) indicators align with this role.

Experience

Essential

• A minimum 12-month professional paid experience.

Desirable

• Prior experience providing domiciliary care within a public health service.
• Experience working with older, frail and vulnerable populations.
• Experience working with participants of the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
• Experience in supervising allied health assistants, junior staff and students.
• Experience or knowledge of the CHS Exceptional Care Framework, and all other related frameworks.

Prior to commencement

Appointment to this position is conditional on being granted and retaining appropriate clearances:

• Pre-employment National Police Check.
• Current registration issued under the Working with Vulnerable People (Background Checking) Act 2011 is required (NDIS).
• Comply with Canberra Health Services Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination policy.
• Comply with CHS credentialing and scope of clinical practice requirements for allied health professionals.

Important information

All employees are required to:

• Adhere to the Canberra Health Services Values and the ACT Public Service Code of Conduct.
• Act in accordance and comply with all relevant Safety and Quality policies and procedures.
• Comply with all relevant clinical and/or competency standards.

What you Require (Key Selection Criteria)

These are the key selection criteria for how you will be assessed in conjunction with your resumé and experience.

1. Demonstrated knowledge and developing capability in delivering best-practice occupational therapy assessments and interventions in community settings, including aged care, chronic disease management, assistive technology and home modification recommendations, with support and supervision as required.
2. Ability to coordinate client care effectively within a community context, engaging collaboratively with clients, carers, multidisciplinary team members and service providers to support high-quality, person-centred outcomes.
3. Ability to communicate effectively in diverse and often complex community-based situations, including confident use of digital systems to complete timely clinical documentation and produce clear, comprehensive reports for a professional audience.
4. Demonstrated ability to contribute to professional education and support learning, including providing guidance to students and participating actively in supervision and reflective practice.
5. Understanding of, and adherence to, safety and quality standards, Work Health and Safety requirements and principles of positive patient experience. Consistently displays behaviours aligned with Canberra Health Services values: reliable, progressive, respectful and kind.

Work environment description

The following work environment description outlines the inherent requirements of the role and indicates how frequently each of these requirements would need to be performed. Please note that the ACT Public Service is committed to providing reasonable adjustments and ensuring all individuals have equal opportunities in the workplace.