Occupational Therapist: Health Risk Assessor Kula Partners Health & Wellness – full‑time role based in Johannesburg, Gauteng. The Occupational Therapist: Health Risk Assessor is responsible for conducting professional, objective, evidence‑based health risk and functional assessments across a range of employee health, incapacity, disability, and insurance‑related matters. Assessment Focus Sick and Temporary Incapacity Leave (STIL) Extended Sick Leave Temporary Incapacity Temporary Total Disability Permanent Incapacity Permanent Health Insurance (PHI) Total Permanent Disability (TPD) The successful candidate will assess work ability, functional limitations, rehabilitation potential, workplace accommodation needs, and return‑to‑work considerations while ensuring alignment with clinical governance standards, applicable legislation, and client‑specific frameworks. This role requires close collaboration with case managers, administrators, treating practitioners, independent specialists, insurers, HR representatives, and other stakeholders to support fair, consistent, and clinically sound outcomes. The successful candidate will play a critical role in supporting employers, insurers, funds, and employees through high‑quality functional and occupational assessments relating to incapacity, disability, rehabilitation, return‑to‑work planning, and insurance‑related cases. Key Responsibilities Conduct occupational therapy and functional assessments relating to incapacity, disability, work ability, rehabilitation, and workplace accommodation. Analyse medical evidence, job demands, occupational information, and functional limitations. Evaluate the relationship between medical conditions and the employee’s ability to perform essential job functions safely and sustainably. Assess physical, cognitive, psychological, behavioural, and psychosocial factors impacting work ability. Identify rehabilitation opportunities, workplace adjustments, restrictions, and return‑to‑work pathways. Distinguish between temporary impairment, prolonged incapacity, permanent impairment, and rehabilitation potential through sound clinical reasoning. Reporting and Documentation Produce professional, evidence‑based, objective, and defensible assessment reports. Clearly differentiate between factual information, medical evidence, employee‑reported information, and professional opinion. Maintain accurate case notes, audit‑ready records, and documentation in line with internal governance standards. Ensure timely completion of reports and adherence to agreed turnaround times. Stakeholder Engagement Engage professionally with clients, employees, HR representatives, treating practitioners, insurers, and internal teams. Participate in case discussions and information gathering processes. Clarify workplace requirements, attendance concerns, rehabilitation options, and occupational barriers where necessary. Clinical Governance and Quality Assurance Work within the professional scope of Occupational Therapy practice and all applicable ethical and legal standards. Participate in peer review, calibration, supervision, and quality assurance activities. Escalate complex or high‑risk matters appropriately. Contribute to the continuous improvement of clinical workflows, templates, and assessment framework. Minimum Requirements Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy; current registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as an Occupational Therapist. Following will be advantageous: Functional Capacity Evaluation training; Disability Management certification; Vocational Rehabilitation training; Medico‑legal assessment experience; Ergonomics or Occupational Health exposure. Technical Skills Strong report writing ability. Ability to analyse medical and occupational information critically. Good understanding of job demands analysis and functional assessment. Computer literacy, including Microsoft Office and case management systems. Ability to work with templates, workflows, structured assessment tools, and electronic records. Knowledge Requirements Occupational therapy principles relevant to function, work ability, and disability. Functional assessment and work capacity evaluation. Job demands and occupational performance analysis. Rehabilitation and return‑to‑work principles. Temporary and permanent incapacity concepts. Disability management principles. Insurance and employer case assessment environments. Reasonable accommodation and workplace adjustment principles. Professional report writing standards. Ethical and legal duties relating to confidentiality and recordkeeping. POPIA and confidentiality requirements. South African labour and incapacity management context. Relevant professional registration and scope of practice obligations. Experience Minimum 3–5 years’ post‑community service experience as an Occupational Therapist. Strong experience in one or more areas: Incapacity management; Disability management; Occupational health; Vocational rehabilitation; Insurance‑related assessments; Medico‑legal assessments; Functional work capacity evaluation; Workplace assessments; Return‑to‑work planning. Role‑Specific Expectations Maintain a high standard of professional objectivity and neutrality. Ensure that assessments are evidence‑based and not influenced by external pressure. Apply sound occupational therapy judgement across different case categories and client frameworks. Produce reports that are clear, practical, and defensible. Support fair, consistent, and well‑documented case outcomes. Contribute to a clinically sound, auditable, and high‑quality service environment. #J-18808-Ljbffr