Clinical Interventionist, Occupational Therapist

Req ID: 190796 
Department/Program: EZ Provincial Preschool Autism Services, Provincial Preschool Autism Services 
Location: Sydney  
Type of Employment: Permanent Hourly FT (100% FTE)  x 1 position(s)
 Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare, Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $37.3118 - $49.0499 /hour
Closing Date: December 10, 2024 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

Successful candidates may be eligible for a signing bonus incentive of up to $7,000 with a recommended return of service period of two (2) years.

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences 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 (PPAS) is a partnership between IWK Health (IWK), Nova Scotia Health (NSH), Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) and Autism Nova Scotia (Autism NS). It provides person and family-centred services to preschoolers across Nova Scotia who are suspected of or have a diagnosis of autism. The goal of the service is to provide an efficient, sustainable, and integrated continuum of health services that follows a needs-based model responsive to the individual needs of children and their families.

Services include a range of interventions and supports available for children and families. Service streams include:
 

• Clinical intake and care coordination
• Family and health professional education
• QuickStart NS parent coaching toddler program
• Autism diagnostic assessment
• Interprofessional autism interventions (focused interventions based on care pathways and manualized comprehensive programs),
• A 12-month intensive intervention for children with the greatest social communication and behaviour needs (formerly EIBI)
• Transition to school supports
   

Services and programs are flexible and able to be scaled up and down based on the needs and progress of each child and their family. There is a comprehensive scope of services that can be matched to best meet the needs of preschool-age children. The goal of all interventions is to empower caregivers to teach and support their child’s development.

Reporting to the Clinical Manager, Provincial Preschool Autism Services, the PPAS Clinical Interventionist is part of an interprofessional team with a provincial service delivery mandate. The role provides services to preschool age children (ages 0-6) with autism and is responsible to facilitate a goal setting process with families related to their identified needs for their child; to provide assessment related to the goal(s); and to develop, implement and coordinate the resulting intervention programs. The Clinical Interventionist will contribute to and participate in family education; will work within a variety of intervention frameworks that include but may not be limited to a 12-month intensive intervention model (EIBI); a manualize caregiver mediated program; and focused interventions guided by care pathways. Clinical Interventionists will provide direct supervision to Program Implementers who will be part of the implementation teams for the 12-month intensive intervention model, the manualized caregiver mediated program and part of the implementation for focused interventions as appropriate. Clinical practice will be guided by Clinical Leaders and an Autism Advanced Practice Leader.

Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours/week.
Flexibility in hours available to work (including some evenings, weekends) required.

• Master's degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Registration or eligible for registration with the appropriate professional body in Nova Scotia is required. 
• Valid minimal Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license and reliable vehicle.
• CPR certification within the last 12 months and certification in First Aid.
• Two years recent experience working with children with autism (ages 0-6 years old) and their families.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in intervention for children with autism.
• Demonstrated excellence in clinical care; ability to provide assessment and development, implementation, monitoring and coordination of intervention plans to address parent goals.
• Demonstrated ability to work within an interprofessional collaborative practice framework; and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated excellent presentation, facilitation, and communication skills; both verbal and written. 
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills; ability to develop and maintain internal/external partnerships. 
• Demonstrated excellent time management, organization, and solution focused skills. 
• Demonstrated excellence in supervision of intervention by other levels of healthcare provider. 
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to family centered care. 
• Committed to promoting a culture that supports safety, ethical practices, and organizational health.
• Education, training and/or experience in evidence-based autism interventions (E.g., Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), Positive Behavior Support (PBS), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in quality improvement and innovation initiatives related to processes and practice.  
• Certification in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention an asset.
• Competencies in other languages an asset; French and/or Arabic preferred.

Where there are no qualified candidates who meet the minimum requirements for (2) two years' experience working with young children (0-6 years old) with ASD, consideration may be given to Registered Professionals without the required 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.