Program Implementer, Provincial Preschool Autism Services

Req ID: 181960 
Department/Program: WZ Provincial Preschool Autism Services, Provincial Preschool Autism Services 
Location: Kentville   
Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly FT long-assignment (100% FTE) approximate twelve (12) month long assignment x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $30.2292 - $36.5122 /hour
Closing Date: June 7, 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 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 Provincial Preschool Autism Service
The Provincial Preschool Autism Service (PPAS) is a partnership between IWK Health (IWK), Nova Scotia Health (NSH), Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) and Autism Nova Scotia (Autism NS). Based upon an extensive review and engagement, autism services in Nova Scotia are in the process of transitioning to a needs-based model responsive to the individual needs of children and their families.  It will provide person and family-centred services to preschoolers across Nova Scotia who are suspected of or have a diagnosis of autism. The new and enhanced services will include a greater number and range of interventions and supports available for children and families. Examples include: autism clinical intake and care coordination, family and health professional education, diagnostic assessments, QuickStart NS parent coaching toddler program, a 12-month intensive intervention for children with the greatest social communication and behavior needs, autism interventions by interprofessional teams, and transition to school. The intent is to create an efficient, sustainable, and integrated continuum of health services for preschool-age children with autism where services and supports are matched to the needs of children and their families.

Nova Scotia EIBI Program
The Nova Scotia EIBI Program provides intervention for preschool age children with Autism and coaching for their families. The program is offered through IWK Health Centre in partnership with Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia. The main form of treatment, Pivotal Response Treatment, uses motivational strategies and the principles of applied behavior analysis (ABA) to facilitate development of children’s communication, play and other functional skills. The EIBI Program has a strong commitment to ongoing learning for the EIBI teams, so that children and their families receive similar services across the province. There is a strong leadership framework for the provincial program. Treatment is provided by a coordinated team consisting of parents, one-to-one interventionists, Clinical Interventionists, and consultant Speech-Language Pathologists. 

The EIBI Program Implementer provides:

• Direct early intensive behavioral intervention services to preschool-age children with autism and their families based on a service plan developed by a Clinical Interventionist (CI)
• Evidence-based interventions (Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and Positive Behavior Support (PBS)
• Intervention for children and their family in their natural environments including homes, childcare centers and pre-primary classrooms
   

Program Implementers work in groups of four and are under the direct clinical supervision of a CI and a consultant Speech Language Pathologist (SLP). Each grouping is called a “pod”. The pods and staff work with clinical oversight from Provincial Trainers (PT) and the Provincial Clinical Leader.

Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours/week

Flexibility in hours available to work (including some evenings, weekends) required

• Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology or Child and Youth Studies;
• Bachelor’s Degree in Education plus two years’ experience working with young children with developmental disabilities; specifically, children with autism will also be considered
• Recent experience (within the past 5 years) working with young children (0-7 years old) with developmental disabilities; specifically with autism required
• Post-Secondary Behavioral Interventions Certificate or Diploma 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
• Certification in First Aid required
• Certification in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention an asset
• Demonstrated understanding of and commitment to family-centered care, and limits of competency required
• Demonstrated excellent communication, interpersonal and time management skills required.
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team in a variety of settings required
• Demonstrated ability to take direction and to work independently with initiative required
• Demonstrated time management and organizational skills required
• Demonstrated ability to be an effective change agent with good team building skills required
• Demonstrated ability to accept and use constructive feedback for personal and professional growth required. Demonstrated observation and problem-solving skills required
• Demonstrated value and application of principles of equity, diversity, inclusivity, anti-racism, and Reconciliation in work with children and families required
• Proficiency in use of office technology required
• Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license and access to reliable transportation on a daily basis required
• Competencies 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.

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