Company: IWK Health
Req ID: 224405
Department/Program: Physiotherapy, 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: 9 August 2026 (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 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.
The Opportunity
Reporting to the Manager of Rehabilitation Services, the physiotherapist works as part of an interdisciplinary team and provides assessment, intervention, and follow-up/evaluation (as appropriate) for children with goals related to neurodevelopmental concerns. This may be on a direct, consultative, or monitoring basis. The PT provides supervision to Rehabilitation Assistants as appropriate. The successful PT will be responsible for staying current on best practices.
The Physiotherapist works as part of an interdisciplinary team providing physiotherapy 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 Centre for Education (AVRCE), and private schools.
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 Community and School Therapy Services. The physiotherapist 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 Physiotherapist works in collaboration with the Community and School Therapy team leader and the Physiotherapy 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 and colleagues as appropriate. The Physiotherapist shares responsibility with their discipline to provide caseload coverage throughout the IWK Health as well as call back and weekend coverage as required.
Hours of Work
Monday to Friday 830 to 430. Flexibility required for centre-wide weekend and evening coverage.
Your Qualifications
• Graduate of a Canadian-accredited Physiotherapy Program or recognized equivalent required.
• Licensed, or eligible to be licensed to practice by the Nova Scotia Regulator of Physiotherapy required.
• Minimum two (2) years of clinical experience in rehabilitation would be an asset. Two (2) years of working with children and youth with disabilities preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in assessment and intervention for school-age children and youth with developmental disabilities required.
• Community clinical experience 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.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team in a variety of settings, as well as the ability to work independently required.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal, presentation, and communication (verbal & written) skills required.
• Demonstrated excellent time management, organizational, and problem-solving skills required.
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to Family Centred Care required.
• Clinical experience in cardio-respiratory physiotherapy practice preferred.
• Knowledge of Program-based Care is an asset.
• Competencies in other languages are an asset.
• Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia Driver’s License and reliable transportation required. Travel is required for this position.
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.