Occupational Therapist, School Therapy Service

Click here to apply as an internal applicant.

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 163556

Department/Program: Occupational Therapy , Children's Health Program

Location: Halifax

Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly PT ( 80% FTE) x 1 position(s)

Start Date: ASAP

Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare , Healthcare Bargaining Unit

Compensation: $ 33.7998 - $ 44.1747 /hour

Closing Date: 31 August 2023 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, providing tertiary and primary care for two million children, youth, adults, and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees, phy sicians, volunteers, and learners at sites across Nova Scotia . People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each other’s talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home, align our work to our values , and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients, families, and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.

Promoting an anti-racist environment, and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care, is important to us. We are located in Mi’kma’ki, the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Working in Mi’kma’ki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities that also have a long, deep, and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportion of transgender and non-binary people than any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination but have more work to do to build that trust, acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous, Black/African Nova Scotians, Persons of Colour, Immigrants/Newcomers, Persons with Disabilities, 2SLGBTQIA+ to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients, families, and communities that we care for at all job levels.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Managers, Rehabilitation Services, the Occupational Therapist works as part of an interdisciplinary team providing Occupational Therapy services within Halifax Regional Municipality/Central Zone; service is provided to children and youth within the Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE), within Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial, private schools and those who are home-schooled. The Occupational Therapist provides assessment, intervention, and follow-up/evaluation (as appropriate). This may be on a direct, consultative, or monitoring basis. The Therapist liaises with clients/families, team members, IWK, and school staff, to ensure continuity of care and transitions within the school system, health care, and to adult services. The Therapist also participates in program planning and evaluation of the School Therapy Service. The Occupational Therapist works collaboratively and consultatively with identified schools within Halifax Regional Municipality which will require local and regional travel. The therapist is responsible for assessment and evaluation, as well as the development and implementation of treatment plans for children referred to Occupational Therapy with functional challenges related to neurodevelopmental concerns.

This position requires daily recording of workload and therapists must follow the documentation guidelines established by the Health Centre. The Therapist will participate in client meetings, School Therapy service meetings, and liaison meetings with HRCE as appropriate; as well, discipline meetings, discipline and Health Centre related activities/committees, and Pediatric Rehabilitation sub-committees as appropriate. The Occupational Therapist shares responsibility with all Occupational Therapists to provide caseload coverage throughout the Health Centre, as required.

Hours of Work

8:30am to 4:30pm, in accordance with the MOA, some flexibility required

Your Qualifications

• Licensed member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia (COTNS) required.
• Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia Driver’s License and reliable transportation required.
• Current successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support Level (BLS) Program within the last 12 months, or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate, required
• Minimum two (2) years of clinical experience required. Two (2) years of experience working with children and youth with developmental disabilities, is preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in assessment and intervention for young children with developmental disabilities, specifically autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) required.
• Graduate of the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) Approved Occupational Therapy Program required.
• Excellent time management, organization, and problem-solving skills required.
• Knowledge of Program Based Care is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team as well as the ability to work independently required.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication (verbal and written) skills required.
• Certification in First Aid required.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to family-centered care and the Life Needs Model of Pediatric Service Delivery required.
• Community clinical experience preferred.
• Registered member of the Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists (NSSOT) preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in assessment and intervention for school-age children and youth with developmental disabilities required.
• Registered, or eligible for membership, in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) required.

T hank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units, or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials. Additionally, as per Nova Scotia’s COVID-19 Vaccine mandate, any offer of employment will be conditional upon submitting proof of full vaccination status. Medical exceptions or any other kind of requested exception based upon the Health Centre’s obligations pursuant to the Nova Scotia Human Rights Code will be considered on a case-by-case basis

I f you are an employee of IWK Health , please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.