Rehabilitation Assistant, Children's Health Program

Req ID: 191190 
Department/Program: Occupational Therapy, Children's Medical Care 
Location: Halifax   
Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly PT long-assignment (70% FTE) for 12 months x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $22.8359 - $26.8583 /hour
Closing Date: 6 November 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 proportion 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.

Reporting to the Managers of Rehabilitation Services, and under the supervision of registered Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists in Rehabilitation, the Rehabilitation Assistant (OTA and PTA) is an active member of the care team providing client and family-centered service to children, youth, and their families. The Rehabilitation Assistant participates in the overall plan of care for the patient and family in the provision of activities that address movement, function, occupation, and education components of rehabilitation care. The Rehabilitation Assistant is responsible for specific, assigned therapy services in keeping with their training, skill, knowledge, and ability. Working collaboratively with their team, the Rehabilitation Assistant participates in the provision of safe, competent, ethical care, focusing on the goals and needs of the patient. Training and skill development will be provided to support service delivery. The Rehabilitation Assistant also checks and cleans equipment, maintains treatment and storage areas, and orders necessary supplies, and may fabricate therapy items as requested by the supervising therapist. The Rehabilitation Assistant will be required to provide services primarily with the children’s rehabilitation clinic and specialty seating and mobility team and may also be required to support other ambulatory and community-based Rehabilitation Services. 

The Rehabilitation Assistant is required to monitor and document patient progress during therapy sessions following the documentation guidelines established by IWK Health. The Rehabilitation Assistant may participate in client and team meetings, IWK Health-related activities/committees, and Rehabilitation sub-committees; they also may precept student learners as appropriate. 

Monday - Friday days, flexibility required, occasional evenings and weekends.

• Graduate from a recognized OTA and PTA College Program (which includes a minimum of 500 clinical hours, and meets standards for future accreditation through the joint accreditation proof of the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapy Education Accreditation Canada), or, completion of a recognized Community College Rehabilitation Assistant Program which includes clinical placements for Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy components required
• Minimum one (1) year of experience as a Rehabilitation Assistant (OTA/PTA) required
• Experience working with children and youth with various disabilities preferred
• Knowledge of various health conditions and their impact on health, well-being, and quality of life required
• Successful completion of the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada (BLS) Program within the last 12 months, or successful completion of a BLS Renewal Challenge Certificate
• Demonstrated competence in electronic communication, and working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs required
• Basic knowledge of equipment and adaptive devices required
• Previous work attendance may be considered
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative interdisciplinary team required
• Excellent time management, organization, and problem-solving skills required
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to family-centered care required
• Demonstrated ability to establish and promote interpersonal & community relationships required
• Ability to work evenings and weekends when operationally required
• Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license and reliable transportation required
• Competencies in other languages are considered an asset

Where there are no qualified candidates who meet the minimum requirements, consideration may be given to those with relevant experience.

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.