Occupational Therapist

Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada • Winnipeg, MB

20d • Remote

About The Position

Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada (VLRC) is a national health services organization dedicated to empowering people who are blind or partially sighted to live safely and independently. Our certified specialists provide client-centered rehabilitation, mobility training, and daily living skills programs that help clients build confidence and thrive. We work collaboratively with ophthalmologists, optometrists, and other health care professionals, offering essential care on a referral basis in homes, workplaces, and communities across the country. We value our employees as our greatest asset — and we’re committed to supporting their well-being, professional growth, and work-life balance.

Requirements

• Master of Occupational Therapy Degree
• Current practicing member of the designated provincial Occupational Therapy regulatory body.
• Knowledge of normal and abnormal early childhood development.
• A valid driver’s license is required.
• Current clean child abuse registry and criminal records check.

Nice To Haves

• Demonstrated understanding of vision loss in children is an asset
• Experience working with children with additional impairments.
• Training related to specialized seating and positioning, feeding, adaptive technology and sensory integration is an asset.
• Experience supervising volunteers and support personnel an asset
• 3 or more years experience working with children with vision loss as well as children with additional disabling conditions is an asset.
• Direct lived experience is valued as an asset.

Responsibilities

• Completing initial interview, ongoing assessment and therapy of children birth to school age with vision loss to identify rehabilitation goals and develops service plan to address goals with families.
• Develops individual intervention and therapy programs in accordance with goals.
• Assists the child’s family to access available resources to address their vision needs.
• Facilitates a child’s transition into community and school programs.
• Provides functional expertise for the comprehensive multi-faceted service and operations program within a matrix reporting structure.
• Conducts/or participates in an initial and ongoing assessments for children aged, birth to school entry, with vision loss.
• Assists child, family and community team in developing rehabilitation goals.
• Develops and/or contributes to Individual Family Service or Intervention Plan developed by the local community IE Team to assist children with vision loss in developing motor, visual, cognitive, self-care, social, literacy and sensory skills in accordance with vision rehabilitation goals.
• Evaluates child’s progress to revise service plans and implement programs that address client and family needs.
• Assesses environmental conditions, accessibility and safety in settings that the child encounters (home, preschool, playgrounds, etc.)
• Provides support and information to parents and caregivers on methods and techniques for helping to overcome barriers to inclusion.
• Provides support and information to parents/caregiver to enhance advocacy skills.
• Acts as a consultant/resource to the professional and service community regarding issues pertaining to children with vision loss including children with additional disabling conditions.
• Provides interventions and supports to the child and family in the form of: direct intervention; resources and information; collaboration with other programs and service providers; presentations; and transition planning.
• Completes required documentation including assessments, progress reports, statistics on service delivery, etc.
• Keeps abreast of current materials, technology, standards of practice related to providing service to children with vision loss by review of professional literature, attending conferences/workshops and accessing other current sources of information.
• Interacts with children, their family, caregivers, and community team to develop and identify vision related goals and develop early intervention and therapy programs, and support families to follow through on recommendations.
• Works closely and collaboratively with key partner organizations.
• Builds and maintains good working relationships with professionals in other agencies and community groups, particularly others on the child’s therapy team.
• Educates stakeholders about VLRC and its specialized programs offered to children and their families and the importance of early intervention.
• Works as a multi-disciplinary team and participates in team meetings.
• Advocates on child’s behalf in medical clinics, schools, etc. when possible.
• Instructs and supervises volunteers and students (and Occupational Therapy Assistants where applicable) to work with children.
• Utilizes problem solving abilities related to implementing and developing intervention and therapy programs for children with vision loss.
• Problem solving involved in adapting programs, materials and equipment to address the needs of children with complex health conditions.
• Must be able to work with a child’s family recognizing their complex needs including; cultural, religious, mental health needs and/or emotional support.
• Provides leadership and guidance when training and supervising volunteers, parents, students and community.
• Takes initiative to develop/implement the most appropriate intervention for client and in maintaining current knowledge associated with children with vision loss.

Benefits

• Comprehensive benefits for health, vision, dental, corporate discounts employee and family assistance program
• Flexible work arrangements, generous paid time off, and work-life balance initiatives
• Career development through training, mentorship, and advancement opportunities
• Inclusive work culture with supportive teams, employee recognition, joy in work wellness program, and mental health supports

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level