Occupational Therapist, Garron Centre

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health•Halifax, NS

4d•CA$38 - CA$51•Onsite

About The Position

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, physicians, 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 who 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 proportions 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.Reporting to the Clinical Manager of the Garron Centre for Child and Adolescent Mental Health. The Occupational Therapist is responsible and accountable for assessment and treatment planning for acutely ill patients under the age of 19 years presenting with a variety of psychiatric disorders. The Occupational Therapists applying should expect to work with patients with eating disorders, major mood disturbances, psychosis, anxiety disorders, and undiagnosed but serious emotional and behavioural dysregulation and/or psychiatric disorders. Key to success in this position is the Occupational Therapist’s application of specialized knowledge gained through education and experience in mental health/psychiatric populations in order to maximize the scope of practice for mental health. The unit’s full interdisciplinary team consists of nursing, psychiatry, psychology, recreation therapy, social work, child life, transition support and teaching staff. This team works collaboratively on the interdisciplinary care plan for each child, youth and family. The Occupational Therapist plays a significant role in assisting the patient in achieving health and quality of life through participation in a balance of meaningful occupations. This is the only dedicated psychiatric inpatient unit in the province for children and adolescents. Most of the admissions to this unit come through the Emergency Department.

Requirements

Graduate of a World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) Approved Occupational Therapy Program required.
Licensed, or eligible to be licensed, with the College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia (COTNS) required.
Registered, or eligible for membership, in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) required.
Successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support (BLS) program within the last 12 months or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate required.
Two (2) years of clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist with child and adolescent populations, required.
Demonstrated experience in group facilitation required.
Demonstrated ability to work both as a member of an interdisciplinary team and independently in a patient and family-centred environment.
Demonstrated knowledge of mental health disorders and treatment modalities.
Demonstrated excellent communication, organizational, problem-solving and administrative skill.

Nice To Haves

Clinical experience with children and adolescent, or other, populations experiencing mental health issues, an asset.
Experience within child and adolescent inpatient psychiatric unit preferred.
Demonstrated experience working within a Trauma Informed Care model preferred.
Experience with Assessment of Motor Processing (AMPs) preferred.
Demonstrated ability to network with and/or familiarity of community agencies servicing a similar population.
Competency in other languages an asset.

Responsibilities

conducting, interpreting and utilizing standardized assessments of occupational function
using functional assessments to establish occupational identities and roles
contributing to remediating the impairments
assessing for and recommending assistive technology as appropriate to enhance occupational performance
providing individual and/or group intervention on a direct, consultative or monitoring basis
providing input into discharge and/or follow-up planning and initiating referrals to other care providers
attending and participating in in-services, clinical rounds and client conferences
carrying out community and school visits where feasible
coordinating the scheduling of treatment and leisure activities for all patients
participating in the delivery of all aspects of daily clinical treatment to support cohesive, integrated care among all groups of patients