Occupational Therapist, Communication and Writing Aids Service (CWAS) (ON, Toronto)

Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital; Toronto; On-site; CAD 70,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Join Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital as an Occupational Therapist in the Communication and Writing Aids Service. This full-time temporary position requires a commitment to providing exceptional rehabilitation care to children and youth, employing evidence-informed practices and collaboration with families to enhance client outcomes.

Benefits

Competitive compensation package

Support for ongoing professional development

Inspiring and collaborative work environment

Qualifications

• Current registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario is required.
• Knowledge and experience in assessment and treatment of children with various conditions.
• Experience with augmentative communication devices and community-based settings.

Responsibilities

• Assess and manage clients requiring communication devices.
• Train clients and families on device usage and strategies.
• Partner with families to create individualized client-centered goals.

Skills

Communication

Team Collaboration

Critical Thinking

Education

Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy

Master's degree in Occupational Therapy

Job description

Join us in building a world of possibility! Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital is Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital, and a top 40 Canadian research hospital. Serving over 9,000 families annually in both inpatient and outpatient programs and services, Holland Bloorview is renowned for its expertise in partnering with clients and families to provide exceptional care and is the only organization to ever achieve 100 per cent in three successive quality surveys by Accreditation Canada.

Holland Bloorview’s vision is to support the most meaningful and healthy futures for all children, youth and families. We are an academic hospital, fully affiliated with the University of Toronto. All clinical staff are expected to contribute to the academic agenda through one or more of the following activities: supervising students, teaching, academic service, scholarship and research.

Holland Bloorview has won numerous awards including Greater Toronto's Top Employers, Canada's Top Employers for Young People and Canada's Most Admired Corporate Cultures. We offer an inspiring, inclusive, innovative, and collaborative work environment with competitive compensation and benefit packages and programs that support ongoing learning and professional growth.

The Position:

We are seeking an Occupational Therapistto join the dedicated interdisciplinary team within theCommunication and Writing Aids Service (CWAS) at Holland Bloorview. Learn more about this program here. This is a temporary full-time position, with a contract ending November 20, 2026.

Key Responsibilities:

• Assesses and manages clients who require augmentative and alternative communication devices and writing aids, specifically in the areas of positioning and accessing options as they pertain to communication
• As a member of an interdisciplinary team, assesses the client’s abilities and trains the client and family in the use of augmentative communication devices/writing aids and strategies
• Partner with clients and families to formulate and implement individualized client-centered goals with focused, targeted and measurable outcomes
• Provide client care in collaboration with the client/family to plan, implement and evaluate care, documenting the habilitative/rehabilitative process according to hospital policies
• Interface and problem solve with members of the interprofessional care team and community providers as appropriate to ensure an integrated approach to care
• Incorporate evaluative activities into professional practice to ensure the delivery of efficient and effective health care
• Demonstrate strong critical thinking/reasoning and utilize research to establish and support evidence-informed practice
• Utilize the teaching/learning process to provide education on various conditions, both formal and informal, to clients/families, colleagues, students, and other professionals within the organization and the community
• Provide direct service, consultation, and education to clients, families, and community providers with focus on maximizing the client’s function in the area communication in order to have impact on self-care, productivity (school and play skills) and leisure (community or sports participation)
• Address challenges identified in client occupational performance. Provide assessment and intervention directed at the person, occupation and environmental factors influencing occupational performance
• Practice according to organizational policies and standards of practice as set out by the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario and the policies, procedures and standards of care of Holland Bloorview
• Contribute to the hospital’s academic mission through student supervision and / or academic teaching and / or contribution to research
• Participates in quality improvement initiatives such as quality boards, supports the maintenance of a safe and healthy work environment and advances a culture of client/patient safety through work and daily practices.
• Documents workload statistics according to the Ministry of Health

Qualifications:

• Minimum of Bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy required; Master's degree in Occupational Therapy preferred
• Current registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
• Individual Authorizer certified or awaiting IA approval from the Assistive Devices Program
• Membership in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and/or the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists is an asset.
• Knowledge of and experience in occupational therapy assessment and treatment of children and youth with a variety of conditions
• Knowledge of and experience with occupational therapy assessment techniques, therapeutic skills, modalities and their applications
• Experience with current outcome measures (i.e. Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, Goal Attainment Scaling, manual muscle testing, etc.)
• Experience in assessing and working with a paediatric clientele that requires augmentative and alternative communication devices/writing aids
• Experience working with variety of paediatric diagnoses in a community based setting preferred
• Demonstrated ability to manage fluctuating clinical responsibilities effectively and efficiently
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively and in a solution focused manner with inpatient clients, families and members of the interprofessional care team
• Proven ability to work independently and collaboratively as a member of an inpatient interprofessional team is essential
• Demonstrated commitment to continued professional development
• Experience with being a positive change agent and quality improvement initiatives is an asset
• Status appointment in the Department of Occupational Science & Occupational Therapy at University of Toronto is an asset
• Experience with technology, seating and positioning would be an asset
• Valid driver’s license and access to a reliable vehicle for travel in the community
• Willingness to work in a variety of regions including Toronto, Durham, York and Simcoe as required