Occupational Therapist, AIS

Click here to apply as an internal applicant.

*Company*
: IWK Health
Req ID:
213126

Department/Program:
AIS Trauma Day Stream , Mental Health And Addictions

Location:
Halifax

Type of Employment:
Permanent Hourly FT ( 100% FTE) x 1 position(s)

Start Date:
December 2025

Union Status:
NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit

Compensation:
$38.4318
-
$ /hour

Closing Date
: December 05, 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 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*
Reporting to the Clinical Manager of Adolescent Intensive Services (AIS), and under the direction of the Team Leader, the Occupational Therapist is a member of the inter-disciplinary team and provides clinical intervention within an OT scope of practice to youth who are experiencing mental health and addiction challenges. Adolescent Intensive Services provides evidenced-based treatment services to adolescents (13 up to 19 years old) and their families who present with mental health and/or addictions disorders. Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to: conducting, interpreting and utilizing standardized assessments of occupational function; using functional assessments to establish occupational identities and roles; assisting clients with occupational choices; contributing with remediating the impairments associated with illness; assessing for and recommending assistive technology as appropriate to enhance occupational performance; providing individual and/or group intervention on a direct, consultative, or monitoring basis; providing input into discharge, case management and transition/after care planning. As necessary, appropriately supervises the implementation of recommended interventions for occupational performance by other members of the interdisciplinary team. The Occupational Therapist provides leadership and support around the client's treatment plan, participates in clinical rounds, team meetings, and client conferences, carries out home and school visits, and supports program operations. The OT demonstrates professionalism, adheres to standards of their professional practice and maintains the principles of client and family-centered care.

This position may involve travel outside Halifax Regional Municipality.

*Hours of Work*
Monday-Friday; 7.5 hour shifts, some evening hours may be required.

Your Qualifications

• Graduate of a World Federation of Occupational Therapy (WFOT) approved Occupational Therapy Program required.
• Licensed member, or eligible for licensure, of the College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia (COTNS) required.
• Registered member of the Nova Scotia Society of Occupational Therapists (NSSOT) required.
• Registered, or eligible for membership, in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) required.
• 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.
• Nonviolent Crisis intervention (NCI) Certification required.
• Minimum two (2) years clinical experience as an Occupational Therapist with child and adolescent populations required, five years preferred.
• Minimum two (2) years experience working in a mental health and addictions setting strongly preferred. Experience working in an adolescent residential setting an asset.
• Demonstrated knowledge of adolescent substance use/misuse required.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of mental health and addiction disorders and evidenced treatment modalities preferred.
• Working knowledge of a Harm Reduction, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma Informed Care and Family/Client Centred Care.
• Experience in assessment in functional goal setting treatment planning required.
• Experience in creating and delivering evidence-based individual, family, and group interventions preferred.
• Ability to assess risk of harm to self and others, and triage appropriately preferred.
• Demonstrated excellent communication, problem solving, conflict resolution, leadership and administrative skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to prioritize workload, maintain flexibility to respond to competing demands, and ensure effective organization and time management required.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, as a member of an inter-disciplinary team and collaboratively with community partners and families required.
• Knowledge of the mental health and addictions services offered within the IWK Health Centre, the community, and the Nova Scotia Health Authority preferred.
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience of clinical case management.
• Valid Driver's license and access to reliable transportation for travel.
• Competency in other languages 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.

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