Occupational Therapist, Rheumatology

Company: IWK Health 

Req ID: 190212 
Department/Program: OT Rheumatology, Children's Medical Care 
Location: Halifax   
Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly PT long-assignment (40% FTE) for 12 months x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $33.9688 - $44.3956 /hour
Closing Date: 26 November 2024 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

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 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

Reporting to the Manager of the Ambulatory Medical Care team, the Occupational Therapist will work as part of multi-disciplinary teams to provide occupational therapy services to children and adolescents with rheumatology conditions where occupational performance is affected. This involves both inpatient and ambulatory populations.  The Occupational Therapist works with children and adolescents with rheumatic conditions, and their families, to help identify the client’s goals and daily activities that are important to them to do but have become difficult to perform. These activities may be related to self-care, play, schoolwork, paid work, or leisure activities. In addition to coaching clients to set goals, the Occupational Therapist's duties include assessment and evaluation, and the development and implementation of intervention plans for children on an inpatient and ambulatory basis. Duties also include educating to clients, families, and primary health providers as necessary. 
This position requires recording daily treatment statistics, and the documentation of assessment, treatment, and progress notes. The Occupational Therapist will attend appropriate patient care rounds, meetings, conferences, and lectures where applicable. As well, they will establish and maintain contact with parents, schools, community agencies, and other health providers to arrange home programs and follow-up care as needed. The Occupational Therapist shares responsibilities with all Occupational Therapists in Children’s Health to provide caseload coverage throughout the Health Centre, as required.
The Occupational Therapist holds accountability to the Professional Practice Leader for issues pertaining to professional Standards of Practice and Ethics.

Hours of Work

TBD

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, or eligible for membership in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) required.
• A minimum of two (2) years of clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist is required (experience with children and adolescents is preferred).
• Experience working with children and adolescents with rheumatology conditions preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in assessment and intervention for children and youth with rheumatology conditions required.
• Experience in splinting preferred.
• Experience with pain management and chronic disease management preferred.
• Successful completion of a Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada Basic Life Support Program within the last 12 months required or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate required.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a team member.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills required.
• Demonstrated critical thinking, within the scope of practice, including clinical judgment, problem-solving skills, and strong decision-making ability required.
• Demonstrated professional behavior and strong interpersonal and communication (verbal & written) skills required.
• Demonstrated initiative, excellent time management, and organizational skills required.
• Advanced working knowledge of Windows, MS Office programs, Outlook, Meditech, and Internet searches preferred.
• Competency in other languages is considered an asset.

Where there are no qualified candidates who meet the minimum requirements, consideration may be given to those with relevant 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.