Occupational Therapist, School Therapy Service

Company: IWK Health

Req ID: 212908 
Department/Program: Occupational Therapy, Children's Medical Care 
Location: Halifax  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE) x 1 position(s)
Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $38.4318 - $52.7714 /hour
Closing Date: 1 December 2025 (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 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, 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 of Rehabilitation Services, the Occupational Therapist provides assessment, intervention, and follow-up/evaluation (as appropriate) for children with occupational performance challenges related to neurodevelopmental concerns. The Occupational Therapist works as part of an interdisciplinary team providing Occupational Therapy 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 Center for Education (AVRCE), and private schools. The Occupational Therapist provides assessment, intervention, and follow-up/evaluation (as appropriate). This may be on a direct, consultative, or monitoring basis. The OT provides supervision to Rehabilitation Assistants as appropriate. The successful OT will be responsible for staying current on best practices.

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 School Therapy Service. The Occupational Therapist 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 Occupational Therapist works in collaboration with the Community and School Therapy team leader and the Occupational Therapy 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 as appropriate. The Occupational Therapist shares responsibility with all Occupational Therapists to provide coverage throughout IWK Health, as required.

Hours of Work

8:30 am to 4:30 pm, in accordance with the MOA, some flexibility is required.

Your Qualifications

• Graduate of the World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) Approved Occupational Therapy Program 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.
• Two years of clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist and delivering occupational therapy services with child and adolescent populations with developmental disabilities preferred (pediatric rehab preferred). 
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in assessment and intervention for school-age children and youth with developmental disabilities is required.
• Community clinical experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team, as well as the ability to work independently, is required.
• Demonstrated excellent 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-centered care and the Life Needs Model of Pediatric Service Delivery required.
Demonstrated understanding of the Response to Intervention Model and the Partnering for Change Model is required. 
• Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia Driver’s License and reliable daily transportation 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. 
• Knowledge of Program-Based Care is an asset.
• Competency in other languages is an asset.

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.