Recent or Potential Grads: Occupational Therapist 1(A)-(B)

About Us

At the Department of Community Services (DCS), we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child Youth and Family Support (CYFS), Employment Support (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and Disability Support (DSP).

Through our services, we advocate and help vulnerable Nova Scotians be independent, self-reliant, and secure.  We work collaboratively across the province with a strong dedicated network of supports and staff, to achieve desired and shared outcomes for all.

Are you an occupational therapist, or recent occupational therapist graduate, who is interested in working with children, youth, and their caregivers? Wood Street Campus (WSC) provides treatment services for children in the care of the Minister of Community Services. We are passionate about supporting children and enhancing their development into successful young people in the community. The experience of fostering positive outcomes for children is very rewarding and requires a highly motivated and energetic individual!

We’re hiring an Occupational Therapist to join our interdisciplinary team where we all work together to provide diagnostic, assessment and treatment services for children with complex emotional and/or behavioral concerns.

As the Occupational Therapist, you are responsible for providing services and consultation to children in care. The average age of children who access our programs is between 12 and 18. Daily, we count on your expertise to enhance the successful completion of assessment and treatment services for children admitted to the campus. You will utilize a child-centered approach, delivering services through a continuum of care consisting of clinical assessment, development, and delivery of programs, and facilitating community and family reintegration. Your primary focus will involve assisting children in acquiring and/or maintaining skills, knowledge, and behaviors that will enable children to optimally function independently upon their return to their community.

Additionally, you will also provide consultative and supportive services for children who reside in provincial child-caring facilities, helping to ensure continuity of care to further encourage successful outcomes for our children.

You have a master’s degree in occupational therapy or an equivalent. You must be eligible for membership in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and, on appointment, be registered by the College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia.
The following would be an asset to this position:

• Experience conducting and writing clinical occupational therapy assessments.
• Experience developing and delivering occupational therapy programs.
• Knowledge of human behavior, growth, and development.
• Considerable insight into the motivation of young people to implement change in their lives.
• Knowledge of trauma, attachment, mental health, and substance use; and
• An understanding of child-caring facilities and treatment programs including the dynamics of long-term treatment and group care.

This position may require travel within the province to the provincial child-caring facilities. Therefore, a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable motor vehicle is required.
While we take precautions, children may demonstrate harmful/aggressive behaviours. You must be physically able to implement Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) techniques to manage these behaviours and ensure a safe environment.

Working Conditions

You will work in a secure treatment and/or long-term treatment program that operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. This environment requires maintaining both dynamic and static security to ensure the safety of children, visitors, staff, and the public. You will be subjected to a high degree of stress and must be capable of handling pressure and crisis situations. Personal resilience and active self-awareness are crucial to manage the physical and emotional demands of this position.

Your normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day. To meet the unique needs of the children, you may need to work beyond these regular hours. Due to the position’s requirements, you are expected to work onsite. Modified work schedules can be discussed at the offer negotiation stage.

What We Offer

• Reimbursement for registration fees.
• Career possibilities and progression, career guidance and coaching, and ongoing training for every stage of your journey.
• Rewarding and versatile work where you will see the impacts you make, in and around your communities.
• Department specific modified working schedules.

In addition, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as Health, Dental, Life Insurance, Pension, General Illness (Short and Long Term), Vacation, and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. Click here to learn more about our various benefits offerings and eligibility criteria.