Occupational Therapist

Edmonton Catholic School Division; Edmonton; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 99,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Employer-paid benefits

Defined-benefit pension

Paid Time Off

Professional development

Job summary

The Occupational Therapist at Edmonton Catholic School Division collaborates with educational staff, families and professionals to support student success from pre-school to Grade 12, addressing self-care, sensory processing, motor skills and mental health to improve access and participation in school activities.

Responsibilities include assessment, intervention planning, supervision of therapeutic assistants, and collaboration with Alberta health and educational partners to coordinate adaptive

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in occupational therapy with current registration with the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists.
• At least 3 years’ experience working with pediatric clients is preferred.
• Experience with adaptive equipment and assistive devices, including selection, fitting, and maintenance.
• Knowledge of school-based OT assessment, intervention and documentation within a faith-based Division.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with teachers, families and professionals to develop therapy intervention plans tailored to students’ strengths and needs.
• Provide assessments and environmental/task analyses to identify barriers to participation.
• Supervise therapeutic assistants for occupational therapy in the classroom.
• Develop professional development for staff on therapy goals and safe practices.
• Maintain records and collaborate with external organizations for equipment funding.

Skills

Pediatric OT

Assessment skills

Intervention planning

Collaboration

Documentation

Communication

Staff training

Education

Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy

Registered with Alberta College of Occupational Therapists

Tools

AAC devices

Adaptive equipment

Job description

The Occupational Therapist collaborates with educational staff, families, and other professionals to support student success. This role provides assessment and intervention services to students from pre-school to Grade 12 with multiple complex needs. The occupational therapist focuses on identifying and addressing needs related to the school environment, self-care, emotional regulation, sensory processing, gross motor, fine motor, executive functioning skills as well as mental health to enhance students' access, participation, independence, and engagement in school activities. The occupational therapist supervises therapeutic assistants for occupational therapy (TAOTs) who implement programming directly with students.

This posting will remain open until filled.

Responsibilities and Activities

1. Assessment and Reporting (40%)

• Conduct screening/assessment of students’ strengths, abilities, and areas of need related to self-care, emotional regulation, sensory processing, gross motor, fine motor, executive functioning, mental health, assistive technology and/or alternative and augmentative communication (AAC) device access.
• Conduct environmental and task analysis assessments to address environmental barriers to participation (built environment, social environment, activity materials), or barriers related to activity demands.
• Assess, trial and recommend equipment (sensory and regulation tools, adaptive equipment, assistive technology, mounting equipment, other) related to student needs.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of assessments, interventions, and student progress to meet College and Division standards of practice, support team communication, and track student outcomes of intervention.
• Prepare and submit paperwork to external organizations (health specialists, Alberta Aids to Daily Living) that support students’ families with funding for adaptive equipment required at school.

2. Intervention Services (35%)

• Provide clinical supervision, therapeutic goals, modeling and coaching to therapeutic assistants for occupational therapy, who act as an extension of the occupational therapist in the classroom
• Create intervention plans that encompass strategies, equipment, and staff coaching required to maximize student access, participation, independence, and engagement in all school environments.
• Monitor and adjust interventions based on student progress and team feedback through regular visits to promote success of student interventions.
• Apply the principles of universal design for learning, inclusion, neurodiversity-affirming practices and trauma-sensitive practices in all aspects of services, including assessment, intervention and documentation.
• Advocate for students and support staff in creating safe, caring school environments that promote inclusion, belonging and participation for students at higher risk of marginalization (physical differences, neurodivergence or other needs).

3. Collaboration and Consultation (15%)

• Collaborate with teachers, parents, multi-disciplinary team, and other professionals to develop and implement therapy intervention plans tailored to students’ individual strengths, needs and context to support success.
• Provide families with student assessment reports or letters to initiate referrals for health assessment or services (neuro-developmental clinics, feeding and swallowing clinics, Family Services of Children with Disabilities, other).
• Collaborate with outside partners such as Alberta Health Services, Alberta Aids to Daily Living, equipment vendors, and other services to support student assessment for adaptive equipment or other needs.
• Work with Inclusive Consultants to problem-solve issues related to providing students with access to the school.

4. Professional Development and Staff Training (10%)

• Provide individual training to school staff on equipment, strategies, best practices, and staff/student safety techniques to support successful implementation of therapy goals.
• Create professional development training for groups of professionals (educators, support staff, others) on topics within scope to meet staff needs.
• Participate in ongoing professional development by attending workshops, training, and engaging in self-directed learning to enhance professional knowledge, skills and provision of high-quality services to students.

Knowledge, Skills, and Competencies

Knowledge:

• Master’s degree or equivalent in occupational therapy with current registration with the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists.
• At least 3 years’ experience working with pediatric clients is preferred.
• Registered equipment authorizer with Alberta Aids to Daily Living is preferred, with some positions requiring Speech Generating Communication Devices (SGCD) authorizer status.
• In-depth understanding of occupational therapy assessment, diagnosis, and intervention strategies for children with physical conditions, neuro-developmental differences and mental disorders.
• Comprehensive knowledge of child development, and considerations of disability on learning and participation in school.
• Experience with adaptive equipment and assistive devices, including selection, fitting, and maintenance.
• Knowledge of how to integrate occupational therapy strategies into students’ natural classroom/school environments and routines effectively.
• General knowledge of the Division’s operations and business, and a general understanding of the Division’s mission and vision in a faith-based environment.
• Knowledge of records management principles, the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA), and the Access to Information Act (ATIA).
• Knowledge of workplace safety and awareness of Occupational Health and Safety regulations.
• Knowledge and alignment with the Division's administrative procedures.

Skills:

• Proficiency in administering, scoring, and interpreting standardized and non-standardized pediatric occupational therapy assessments.
• Ability to develop and implement intervention plans tailored to each student's abilities, strengths, and needs.
• Ability to apply principles of inclusion, trauma-sensitive practices, and neurodiversity-affirming practices
• Strong collaboration skills to work effectively with administrators, teachers, support staff, parents, multi-disciplinary team members, and partners from external organizations.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills for interacting with students, parents, school staff, and external professionals.
• Capability to provide training, coaching and consultation to school staff on best practices to support school teams.

Competencies:

• Strong problem-solving skills to identify and address barriers to students' daily living activities and participation.
• Adaptability to work with a diverse range of students with varying abilities, needs, and conditions.
• Competence in maintaining accurate and up-to-date records of assessment, interventions, and student progress.
• Leadership skills to guide and support educators and therapeutic assistants in implementing occupational therapy strategies.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development to stay current with best practices in occupational therapy and practice in schools
• Strong student advocacy skills with team members as well as external partners, such as advocating for further health assessment or home services.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary
• 100% employer-paid benefits including extended health, dental, vision, life insurance, and disability benefits and a $700 Health/Wellness spending account (prorated based on FTE)
• Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP) – provides access to employees and dependents to confidential support services including mental-health counseling, health/wellness coaching, legal and financial advice, and other forms of support
• Defined-benefit pension plan
• Paid Time Off
• Vacation – Starting at 4 weeks (based on a 1.0 FTE, 12-month position)
• Personal Days – 5 days (based on a 1.0 FTE, 12-month position)
• Christmas Break – Division-directed leave with paid days
• Work-life balance – 35-hour workweeks, 7-hour workdays (based on a 1.0 FTE)
• Recreation Centre Discounts (City of Edmonton, YMCA, and GoodLife Fitness)
• Bell Mobility exclusive partner program offers (for personal phone plans)
• Inclusive & supportive work environment

* Please note, the current salary range for this position is $80,238 - $99,312. The salary range provided includes a market supplement that will be reviewed on an annual basis, as outlined in our OOS Terms and Conditions.