Physiotherapist, Community and School Therapy Team, Children's Rehabilitation Services

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health•Halifax, NS

9d•CA$38 - CA$53•Hybrid

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 proportion of transgender and non-binary people of 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, and 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 Manager of Rehabilitation Services, the physiotherapist works as part of an interdisciplinary team and provides assessment, intervention, and follow-up/evaluation (as appropriate) for children with goals related to neurodevelopmental concerns. This may be on a direct, consultative, or monitoring basis. The PT provides supervision to Rehabilitation Assistants as appropriate. The successful PT will be responsible for staying current on best practices.The Physiotherapist works as part of an interdisciplinary team providing physiotherapy services to school-aged children within Central Health Zone (Central Zone (Halifax area, Eastern Shore and West Hants)). Service may be provided to children and youth in their homes and community, at the IWK, or in schools in Halifax Regional Centre for Education (HRCE), Conseil Scolaire Acadien Provincial (CSAP), a portion of Annapolis Valley Regional Centre for Education (AVRCE), and private schools. The Therapist liaises with clients and families, team members, IWK providers, and school staff, etc., to ensure continuity of care and transitions within the school system, health care, and adult services. The Therapist also participates in program planning and evaluation of the Community and School Therapy Services. The physiotherapist works collaboratively and consultatively with families and identified schools, which will require local and regional travel. This position requires daily recording of workload, and therapists must follow the documentation guidelines established by IWK Health and their regulatory body. The Physiotherapist works in collaboration with the Community and School Therapy team leader and the Physiotherapy professional practice leader. The Therapist participates in client and family meetings, team and discipline meetings, School Therapy service meetings, discipline and Health Centre related activities/committees, Pediatric Rehabilitation sub-committees, and preceptoring student learners and colleagues as appropriate. The Physiotherapist shares responsibility with their discipline to provide caseload coverage throughout the IWK Health as well as call back and weekend coverage as required.

Requirements

Graduate of a Canadian-accredited Physiotherapy Program or recognized equivalent required.
Licensed, or eligible to be licensed to practice by the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy required.
Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in assessment and intervention for school-age children and youth with developmental disabilities 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.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team in a variety of settings, as well as the ability to work independently required.
Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication (verbal & written) skills required.
Demonstrated excellent time management, organizational, and problem-solving skills required.
Demonstrated understanding and commitment to Family Centred Care required.
Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia Driver’s License and reliable transportation required.

Nice To Haves

Minimum two (2) years of clinical experience in rehabilitation would be an asset.
Two (2) years of working with children and youth with disabilities preferred.
Community clinical experience preferred.
Clinical experience in cardio-respiratory physiotherapy practice preferred.
Knowledge of Program-based Care is an asset.
Competencies in other languages are an asset.

Responsibilities

Provides assessment, intervention, and follow-up/evaluation (as appropriate) for children with goals related to neurodevelopmental concerns on a direct, consultative, or monitoring basis.
Provides supervision to Rehabilitation Assistants as appropriate.
Stays current on best practices.
Provides physiotherapy services to school-aged children within Central Health Zone (Central Zone (Halifax area, Eastern Shore and West Hants)).
Provides service to children and youth in their homes and community, at the IWK, or in schools.
Liaises with clients and families, team members, IWK providers, and school staff to ensure continuity of care and transitions within the school system, health care, and adult services.
Participates in program planning and evaluation of the Community and School Therapy Services.
Works collaboratively and consultatively with families and identified schools, requiring local and regional travel.
Requires daily recording of workload and adherence to documentation guidelines.
Works in collaboration with the Community and School Therapy team leader and the Physiotherapy professional practice leader.
Participates in client and family meetings, team and discipline meetings, School Therapy service meetings, discipline and Health Centre related activities/committees, Pediatric Rehabilitation sub-committees, and preceptoring student learners and colleagues as appropriate.
Shares responsibility with their discipline to provide caseload coverage throughout the IWK Health as well as call back and weekend coverage as required.