Occupational Therapist, Infant and Preschool Services

Occupational Therapist, Infant and Preschool Services at IWK Health

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 that 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 we 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 Managers, Rehabilitation Services, the Occupational Therapist, Infant and Preschool Services works as part of an interdisciplinary team providing Occupational Therapy services to infants and pre-school-aged children in a Family-Centred Care Environment. The Occupational Therapist provides assessment, intervention, and follow-up/evaluation (as appropriate) for children with occupational performance challenges related to neurodevelopmental concerns. This may be on a direct, consultative, or monitoring basis, and requires local and regional travel. The Therapist liaises with clients/families, team members, daycare, preschool, pre-primary, and school staff to ensure continuity of care. The OT provides supervision to Rehabilitation Assistants as appropriate. The successful OT will be responsible for staying up to date on best practices.

This position requires daily recording of workload, documentation of program plans for clients, and documentation of intervention plan changes. Therapists must follow the documentation guidelines established by IWK Health and their regulatory body. The Occupational Therapist works in collaboration with the Preschool team leader and the Occupational Therapy professional practice leader. The Therapist participates in client and family meetings, team and discipline meetings, discipline and Health Centre-related activities/committees, Pediatric Rehabilitation sub-committees, and preceptoring student learners as appropriate. The Occupational Therapist shares responsibility with all Occupational Therapists to provide coverage throughout IWK Health, as required.

Hours of Work

Monday - Friday days, flexibility required.

Your Qualifications

• Graduate of a World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) Approved Occupational Therapy Program is required.
• Registered member of the Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator (NSOTR) (previously known as the College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia (COTNS)) required.
• Registered, or eligible for membership, in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in assessment and intervention for infant and preschool-age children with developmental disabilities is required.
• Community clinical experience preferred.
• Experience in feeding an asset.
• Experience in splinting an asset.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to family-centred care, the Life Needs Model of Pediatric Service delivery, and Solution Focus Coaching is 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, is required.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team, as well as the ability to work independently.
• Demonstrated interpersonal, presentation, and communication (verbal and written) skills required.
• Excellent time management, organization, and problem-solving skills required.
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to family-centred care required.
• Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia Driver’s License and reliable transportation required.
• Knowledge of program-based care is an asset.
• Competencies in other languages are considered an asset.

Key skills/competency

• Occupational Therapy
• Pediatric Rehabilitation
• Family-Centred Care
• Neurodevelopmental Concerns
• Assessment & Intervention
• Documentation Standards
• Interdisciplinary Team Collaboration
• Basic Life Support (BLS)
• Solution Focus Coaching
• WFOT Approved Program