Physiotherapist

KEEWAYTINOOK OKIMAKANAK•Thunder Bay, ON

8h•CA$95,000 - CA$100,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Physiotherapist in this position is primarily responsible for the assessment, treatment and consultation services required as part of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak (KO) and community Child First Team serving children from birth to 18 years of age with a developmental delay or disability living in remote northern communities. The role of physiotherapist is to apply, adapt and incorporate conventional pediatric physiotherapy treatment strategies into the therapy plans children identified in each community. This position requires a physiotherapist who is a transdisciplinary thinker providing integrated programs for children with motor impairments and associated difficulties. This will require the ability to plan and deliver in collaboration with professional colleagues, integrated programs that address all aspects of each child’s development i.e. motor, language and communication, cognitive and social skills. The Physiotherapist will travel to 5 KO communities for one week four times a year and will utilize telemedicine to provide follow up, consultation, teaching and reassessment when not in the communities. Travel to Thunder Bay and Red Lake will also be required at least once every year.

Requirements

Must be sensitive to the cultural traditions of the Keewaytinook Okimakanak people
Experience working with First Nation communities
Proven leadership abilities, including accountability, and work-habits
Experience and skills working in a political environment
Experience in collecting and reporting statistics
Knowledge of the complex multi-layered structure of health and social program targeted to children with developmental delays or disabilities and their families
Masters of Physiotherapy
Registered and in good standing with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario
Effective decision making and leadership qualities
Strong written and verbal communication skills
Demonstration and oral presentation abilities
Must be a permanent resident of Canada

Responsibilities

To provide appropriate and effective physiotherapy intervention to children with a developmental delay or disability living in KO communities.
To plan programs and conduct assessments of the children’s physical learning needs
To provide advice, guidance and information to the child, their family/caregivers, health care professionals and the community-based Child First Case Manager and workers.
The ability to work actively with the children during their motor and self-care programs.
It is expected that the staff member maintains a good level of physical health and wellbeing in order to fulfil the physical requirements of the role.
To maintain up-to-date knowledge of paediatric physiotherapy. This should include: neurophysiology, musculoskeletal/orthopaedics/surgical/medical interventions/treatment strategies.
To be professionally and legally accountable for all aspects of work undertaken.
To apply clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and reflection to effectively contribute to team clinical decision making.
To carry out appropriate and accurate assessment and therapy input to children who have diverse clinical presentations and complex needs, utilizing appropriate assessment tools.
To work within groups as a both a leader or skilled facilitator. To lead or assist children in sessions.
which will include mobility and transfers, sensory/motor tasks, activities of daily living, communication and academic programs
To have knowledge of orthopaedic/musculoskeletal development in children with sensory motor difficulties and implement appropriate intervention both individually and within programs.
To evaluate intervention and progress through reflection, analysis and outcome measures and document appropriately.
To support child centered care ensuring the child and their family/caregivers are actively involved in their own goal setting.
To ensure that the child and their family’s goals (based on assessment of need) are integrated into programs which are imaginative and creative and develop the child’s motivation.
To lead group and individual programs in such a way that each child can maximize their potential for learning new skills and consolidating existing ones across the full range of development.
To have knowledge of pediatric specialist equipment and be able to assess and order equipment appropriately.
To undertake complex risk assessments in the following areas: moving and handling risk assessment, use of specialist equipment, environmental risks. To advise others on how to manage, or minimize risk to themselves and the child.
To work with other key staff in assessing the changing needs of the children on a regular basis and use the outcomes of these assessments to plan and modify programs.
To communicate and liaise with parents regularly and consistently in order to develop a close working relationship, meet their needs and objectives and promote continuity of care.
To participate in and contribute to capacity strengthening activities for staff, parents, Elders and volunteers.
To undertake such other duties as may reasonably be expected.
Work with the communities to Identify and evaluate the risks to the programs (clients, staff, volunteers), and assist the communities to implement measures to control and minimize risks.
Maintains confidentiality
Respect and safeguard client rights
Respect the client’s autonomy and right to be treated with respect, dignity, and worth
Safeguard the client’s well-being, and cause no harm to clients
Ensures that clients have opportunities to express concerns
Encourages feedback on ways to improve services
Promote education and continuous learning
Participate in educational opportunities
Share knowledge with colleagues
Participate in continuous quality improvement activities
Identify capacity strengthening activities required by the communities and assist them in the development of a capacity strengthening plan
Keep accurate and timely records and reports observations
Reports incidents, accidents, and unusual activity, immediately
Participate in and accept supervision/feedback from the Health Director
Accepts other duties as may be assigned