Recreation Therapist, Recreation Rehab

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health•Halifax, NS

4d•CA$36 - CA$49•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.Reporting to the Manager, Rehabilitation Services, the Recreation Therapist works as a member of the multidisciplinary rehab teams to provide services to children, youth, and their families in ambulatory settings (including hospitals, schools, daycare, homes, etc) in order to enable children, youth and their families to acquire the skills, knowledge, and behavior that will allow them to enjoy their leisure and participate as independently as possible in their home and community. The therapist will promote and enhance leisure lifestyle development for children and youth with disabilities through individual, family, and group interventions. The Recreation Therapist is responsible for the assessment of a child’s recreational and leisure needs, determining goals with the child and family, designing and implementing appropriate interventions and plans, including appropriate documentation/recording of the plan as well as evaluating the interventions in an efficient manner. These interventions are completed with the child and family within a variety of approaches such as an individual program, part of an interdisciplinary team, or community programs/supports. The therapist works in collaboration with IWK care teams, Professional Practice Leaders, and community partners. The Recreation Therapist may be involved in ambulatory program development with the goal of enhancing the development of life-long leisure skills and attitudes, eliminating barriers to leisure, and optimizing the leisure involvement of children and youth with disabilities in partnership with families, therapists, and community groups. The therapist participates in team and practice meetings, working groups, and committees as required.

Requirements

Baccalaureate degree of Science in Therapeutic Recreation or Bachelor of Recreation with a specialization in Therapeutic Recreation required.
Certified as a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist by the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) required.
Minimum two (2) years of experience as a recreation therapist required (exclusive of practicum)
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
Experience working with clients of various ages and disabilities required.
Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in leisure/recreation assessment and intervention for young children with disabilities required.
Knowledge of leisure education and leisure counseling processes required.
Knowledge of various health conditions and their impact on health, well-being, and quality of life required.
Effective counseling, communication (verbal & written), and presentation skills are required.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team as well as the ability to work independently.
Excellent time management, organization, and problem-solving skills required.
Demonstrated ability to set priorities required.
Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to family-centered care required.
Demonstrated ability to establish and promote interpersonal & community relationships required.
Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license and reliable transportation required.

Nice To Haves

two (2) years of experience in pediatric rehab preferred
Knowledge of program-based care is an asset
Competencies in other languages are considered an asset

Responsibilities

Assessment of a child’s recreational and leisure needs
Determining goals with the child and family
Designing and implementing appropriate interventions and plans
Documentation/recording of the plan
Evaluating the interventions in an efficient manner
Promoting and enhancing leisure lifestyle development for children and youth with disabilities through individual, family, and group interventions
Participating in team and practice meetings, working groups, and committees as required
Ambulatory program development with the goal of enhancing the development of life-long leisure skills and attitudes, eliminating barriers to leisure, and optimizing the leisure involvement of children and youth with disabilities in partnership with families, therapists, and community groups.