Position: Occupational Therapist (Bilingual)
Number of Position(s): One (1)
Position Type: Full Time Unionized position (35 Hours/Week: Monday to Friday)
Language: Bilingualism (English/French) Required
Reports to: Program Manager
JOB SUMMARY:
The Occupational Therapist is responsible for the ongoing development, implementation and evaluation of occupational therapy; holistic client-centered activities that aid in the acquisition of life skills and resources needed to be successful in community living. The Occupational Therapist will use evidence-based tools for functional assessments\interventions and work collaboratively with a multi-disciplinary team.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Occupational Therapy, or a related field.
- Two years experience working with clients recovering from mental illness.
- Experience working in a Residential setting is an asset.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Provide individualized client assessments and interventions
- Establish a supportive and respectful relationship with clients
- Participate in selection process of clients
- Using evidence-based tools, complete a baseline assessment of all new clients
- Provide individualized skill teaching, in collaboration with key worker
- Access needed resources (memory devices, equipment for ADL etc) for clients
- Advocacy at a system level for needed resources
- Assist in the transfer to skills to a new environment
- Offer follow-up services, as needed
Coordinate the teaching apartments
- Orient interested clients to this service, purpose, the physical set up, neighbourhood etc.
- Organize frequent check-ins with clients during their stay in the apt.
- Debrief with client and their workers on the success of the stay
- Complete a report summary of the stay
- Keep statistics as to frequency of use, etc.
- Keep an inventory of the apt. contents, replenish as needed
Provide group activities as part of the Program
- Offer activities based on client interest and needs
- Elicit client feedback on the effectiveness of the activities
- Co-facilitate groups both in-house at Fisher and as part of the community activities offered at Head office
Network with OT colleagues working in the mental health system
- Work closely with Salus’ Head Office based OT; provide back-up etc. as needed.
- Attend community network meetings.
- Attend workshops and conferences.
- Participate in meetings and training opportunities initiated and provided by universities.
- Supervise student placements.
Liaise with university occupational therapy program and provide student supervision
- Establish a link with the Occupational Therapy Placement Coordinators
- Participate in meetings and training opportunities initiated and provided by the universities
- Supervise student placements
Participating in ongoing evaluation and enhancement of the Program
- Use appropriate assessment tools to identify clients baseline at program entry.
- Participate in program reviews
- Assist in developing evaluation tools
- Provide input and recommendations into the development of policies and procedures
Fulfilling team and other responsibilities
- Work collaboratively and cooperatively with team members
- Attend regular rehabilitation and administrative meetings
- Take direction from the Manager on tasks to be accomplished
- Participate in agency planning days, in-services, and other educational opportunities
- Provide an annual outline of learning goals related to the position
Other related duties may be assigned by the manager, as needed.
SUITABILITY FACTORS:
- Displays values and attitudes in keeping with the social service professions.
- Demonstrates sound judgement and common sense in decision-making and in professional approaches to the work.
- Demonstrates an ability to work in a team as well as an ability to take independent action and initiative in the job.
- Shows a commitment to work.
- Demonstrates creativity and intelligence.
- Manages stress related to work environment.
KNOWLEDGE:
- Demonstrates specific knowledge of health issues and of social problems associated with psychiatric disabilities and the impact of mental illness on functional capacity and family dynamics.
- Demonstrates knowledge of Occupational Therapy assessment tools and their application in the field of Mental Health.
- Demonstrates knowledge of Psycho-social Rehabilitation Principles
- Has knowledge of Group Dynamics theory and practice;
- Has knowledge of principles of Client-Centred practices;
- Demonstrates understanding of:
- Crisis intervention and prevention;
- Suicide prevention and intervention;
SKILLS:
- Ability to evaluate learning capacity and identify behavioural problems.
- Ability to perform an occupational therapy assessment.
- Ability to develop therapeutic programs.
- Ability to establish supportive relationships.
- Ability to establish a balance between recovery-led work and risk management and monitoring requirements.
- Ability to develop together clients’ recovery-based plans based on needs and goals.
- Teaching and coaching skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively in a multi-disciplinary team.
LANGUAGE REQUIREMENT:
- Bilingualism (French/English) is required. The candidate must be able to speak and write proficiently in both languages.
- Fluency in additional languages is an asset.
PRE-HIRING REQUIREMENT:
- Academic certificates
- Criminal reference check (Vulnerable Sector Screening)
- Valid Driver’s license and use of own vehicle
- Eligible to work in Canada.
- Proof that the successful candidate has received both doses of a Health Canada approved COVID 19 vaccine at least 14 days before the first day of work, subject always to Ottawa Salus’ duty to accommodate under the Ontario Human Rights Code.
Why Work at Ottawa Salus?
Salus has a proven record of successfully supporting clients with serious and persistent mental health and substance use health issues to live their best possible life. Regardless of their role in the organization, our staff are passionate about their work and supporting clients on their journey to recovery. If you are someone that wants to make the world a better place and bring hope to others, you will love working here.
We offer all these benefits and many more including:
- generous Health benefits and pension plan (HOOPP)
- compressed work week
- paid vacation days
- a friendly team who create a great work environment
