New Entry to Specialist Practice (NESP), Specialist Mental Health Service

Exciting opportunities await New Graduate Occupational Therapists.

We are looking for motivated and passionate Occupational Therapists to join the Allied Health New Entry to Specialist Practice (AH NESP) programme within Specialist Mental Health Service (SMHS), Waitaha Canterbury.

These positions are supernumerary for 11 months, providing opportunity to work alongside experienced and skilled Occupational Therapists to consolidate and develop your clinical skills.

With allocated study days, your study and learning will be applied to your clinical practice.

At SMHS we are committed to building our Māori and Pacifica workforce. One of these supernumerary positions has been prioritised for a Māori or Pacifica clinician.

 These supernumerary NESP roles provide:

• Up to 2 rotations through different clinical areas within SMHS.
• Thorough orientation and training package.
• Provision of a workplace mentor.
• Regular individual and group clinical supervision.
• Completion of the Postgraduate Certificate in Health Science (Allied Mental Health and Addictions). For more info: https://www.tepou.co.nz/initiatives/new-entry-to-specialist-practice-allied-mental-health-and-addiction/48 
• Fixed term, 11months (January – December)
• Ongoing communication of permanent role opportunities throughout 2026.
  

You must be:

• A New Graduate Occupational Therapist with no previous clinical mental health experience.
• Registered OR provisionally registered with OTBNZ or SWRB.
• Committed to learning and developing your professional practice in mental health domain.
• A New Zealand resident, with a full driver’s license. 
  

Your application must include:

• A copy of your CV, including the names and contact details of two referees.
• A one page covering letter stating, “Why you want to develop a career in Mental Health, and what particular qualities and experiences you would bring into SMHS”.
  

Please apply online, or for further queries, contact:

Alice Groves, Allied Health NESP Co-Ordinator alice.groves@cdhb.health.nz.  Mob: 0211992427