Occupational Therapist, Provincial Preschool Autism Services - Western Zone

Click here to apply as an internal applicant.

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 178206
Department/Program: WZ Provincial Preschool Autism Services
Location: Variable within the zone
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $33.9688 - $44.3956 /hour
Closing Date: April 30, 2024 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

Successful candidates may be eligible for a signing bonus incentive of up to $7,000 with a recommended return of service period of two (2) years.

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in 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 proportions of transgender and non-binary people than 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, 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

Provincial Preschool Autism Services
The Provincial Preschool Autism Service (PPAS) is a partnership between IWK Health (IWK), Nova Scotia Health (NSH), Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) and Autism Nova Scotia (Autism NS). Based upon an extensive review and engagement, autism services in Nova Scotia are in the process of transitioning to a needs-based model responsive to the individual needs of children and their families. It will provide person and family-centred services to preschoolers across Nova Scotia who are suspected of or have a diagnosis of autism. The new and enhanced services will include a greater number and range of interventions and supports available for children and families. Examples include: autism clinical intake and care coordination, family and health professional education, diagnostic assessments, QuickStart parent coaching toddler program, a 12-month intensive intervention for children with the greatest social communication and behaviour needs, autism interventions by interprofessional teams, and transition to school. The intent is to create an efficient, sustainable, and integrated continuum of health services for preschool-age children with autism where services and supports are matched to the needs of children and their families.

Reporting to the IWK Western Zone Manager of Provincial Preschool Autism Services (PPAS), the Occupational Therapist will work as part of the Provincial Preschool Autism Service providing Occupational Therapy services to young children with autism or suspected of having autism within an interprofessional collaborative framework. The occupational therapist will work as part of the provincial preschool autism service, supporting and collaborating within and across PPAS service streams, e.g., interprofessional autism intervention teams, diagnostic processes, care coordination and navigation, education for families and caregivers, intensive services and transition to school to ensure an integrated experience for children and families. The OT will collaborate with other service providers including but not limited to Nova Scotia Health, Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia, Autism Nova Scotia, Nova Scotia Early Childhood Developmental Intervention Services (NSECDIS) and other community partners. Working together, PPAS service providers and community partners provide a continuum of support and services for young children with autism and their families. The Occupational Therapist contributes to the clinical assessment of preschool children with autism, supports family-led goal setting, participates in team-based program planning to support family intervention priorities, and delivers community-based consultation/interventions. Assessment, intervention, and follow-up may be provided via a caregiver-mediated approach, in a direct intervention or consultative model depending upon the needs of the children and family. Service duration and intensity may vary according to the needs of the child and the priorities of the family. This position requires documentation of family goals and progress, documentation of program plans, and documentation of intervention plan changes. Local and zone travel is required. The Occupational Therapist participates in professional activities such as working groups and sub-committees at the community/interagency level and provincially.

Hours of Work

Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours/week.
Flexibility in hours available to work (including some evenings, weekends) required.

Your Qualifications

Graduate of a World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) Approved Occupational Therapy Program required.
Licensed member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia (COTNS) required.
Registered member of the Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists (NSSOT) preferred.
Registered, or eligible for membership, in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) required.
Minimum two (2) years clinical experience working with children with autism. Equivalent experience working with children with other developmental needs may be considered
Knowledge of pediatric rehabilitation philosophies and solution focus coaching preferred.
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.
Certificate in First Aid
Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in assessment and intervention for young children with developmental needs, specifically autism required.
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative, interprofessional team in a variety of settings as well as the ability to work independently required.
Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication (written & verbal) skills required.
Demonstrated excellent time management, organization and problem-solving skills required.
Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to child and family centred care required.
Clinical experience in administering pediatric standardized assessments preferred.
Community clinical experience preferred.
Competencies in other languages considered an asset

Where there are no qualified candidates who meet the minimum requirements for (2) two years' experience working with young children with ASD or other other developmental needs, consideration may be given to Occupational Therapists without the required experience.

Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.

Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.

This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions, bargaining units or employment status, are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority, benefits, and vacation entitlement and/or usage, prior to accepting the position.

An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.

If you are an employee of IWK Health, please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.

Job Segment: Pediatric, Rehabilitation, Occupational Therapy, Therapy, Healthcare

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