Occupational Therapist

Alliance for Healthier Communities; Toronto; On-site; CAD 30,000 - 60,000; Part time

Job summary

A community health organization in Toronto is seeking Part-Time Occupational Therapists for their Homeless Health Program and HART Hub. The role includes delivering client-centred care to individuals facing complex health and social challenges. You will conduct assessments, develop care plans, and provide evidence-informed interventions, focusing on marginalized populations. Ideal candidates should have relevant qualifications and a strong commitment to equity and inclusion, supporting clients in navigating healthcare systems.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years’ clinical/community-based experience with priority populations.
• Understanding of determinants of health and trauma-informed care.
• Demonstrated experience in a multidisciplinary team.

Responsibilities

• Conduct occupational therapy assessments addressing diverse needs.
• Develop and evaluate individualized care plans.
• Facilitate skill-building and community integration programs.

Skills

Client-Centred care

Trauma-informed care

Cultural competence

Interpersonal communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy

Current registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario

Tools

EMRs

Job description

Our Vision:A healthier community where everyone belongs.Our Mission:High quality, accessible care for all.Our Values:Client-Centred, Collaboration, Accountability, Respect, Diversity, Equity

WellFort Community Health Services is a values-based, non-profit, multi-service organization committed to reducing barriers to care and improving the health of our communities. We work from an equity-focused, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive approach to serve individuals and families, many of whom have experienced systemic barriers and health inequities.

We prioritize people who face barriers to health and accessing services, including those who are:

• Experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness
• Living with low income
• Newcomers to Canada with language barriers
• Living with moderate to severe mental health and/or substance use issues
• Living with disabilities
• Black, mixed race, or racialized
• Experiencing intersectional oppression
• 2SLGBTQIA+
• Vulnerable children, youth, and families experiencing conflict, isolation, or attachment struggles

We are looking for Part-Time Occupational Therapists to join our HHP and HART HUB Programs.

Locations:

Program Description

HOMELESS HEALTH PROGRAM (HHP)

The Homeless Health Program is a Nurse Practitioner-led initiative that provides essential healthcare services to individuals who are homeless, precariously housed, or transitioning out of homelessness in the Peel Region. We understand the unique challenges faced by those without stable housing, and our goal is to make healthcare accessible, integrated, and responsive.

Our dedicated team includes Nurse Practitioners, Registered Nurses, Registered Practical Nurses, and Personal Support Workers, all working together to ensure our patients receive the care they need, where and when they need it. We remove barriers to care for those facing housing instability and poor health.

The program manages 45 medical beds at the Dundas Street Shelter, providing 24/7 care, as well as daytime mobile primary care services at other shelters and drop-ins across the region.

By providing these services, we help hospitals make the best use of their emergency and acute care resources. Patients who no longer need to stay in the hospital but still require medical support can continue their recovery in a shelter bed with healthcare services. We also offer additional support for people in shelters who may need extra medical attention, helping to prevent unnecessary hospital visits.

This program ensures that structurally vulnerable populations in our community have access to the care they deserve, improving overall health and wellbeing.

HART HUB

Canadian Mental Health Association Peel Dufferin (CMHA Peel Dufferin) is pleased to partner with various agencies in the Peel Region, including WellFort Community Health Services, to offer services to the local community at the new Brampton based Homelessness and Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub.

HART Hubs are community-based care hubs designed to address mental health, addiction and housing needs for people experiencing homelessness. They provide integrated care, offering a wide range of services such as primary care, mental health services, addiction care and employment supports. With targeted community outreach and rapid referral pathways, HART

Hubs aim to support individuals with complex needs, helping them recover, achieve housing stability, and inclusion.

Achieving our vision means we’re recruiting people who are passionate about driving change and delivering evidence-based, responsive and affirming care that meet people where they are.

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Program Manager, the Occupational Therapist (OT) will deliver client-centred, evidence-informed care to improve health, functional independence, and quality of life for clients experiencing complex health and social challenges. The OT will address physical, cognitive, emotional, and environmental factors that affect daily living and participation, working both independently and as part of an interprofessional team.

Principal Job Duties

• Conduct occupational therapy assessments addressing functional, cognitive, psychosocial, and environmental needs
• Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized care plans tailored to client goals, abilities, and contexts
• Provide rehabilitation interventions to support activities of daily living, emotional regulation, and social participation
• Recommend and provide adaptive equipment, assistive devices, and environmental modifications
• Apply a trauma-informed, harm reduction approach in all clinical interactions
• Facilitate skill-building and group programs to enhance daily living and community integration
• Support clients in navigating housing, healthcare, and social service systems
• Maintain accurate, timely documentation in the EMR and complete required reports
• Advocate with and for clients to reduce barriers to participation and promote equity
• Participate in program development, evaluation, and quality improvement initiatives
• Provide mentorship and clinical guidance to students and colleagues, as required
• Deliver services both on-site and in outreach locations in collaboration with community partners

Working Environment & Physical Demands

• Work is primarily on-site with flexibility for outreach and mobile care
• Potential exposure to individuals in crisis situations or experiencing escalated behaviours
• Combination of client-facing interactions and administrative duties

Additional Requirements

• Satisfactory Police Records Check and Vulnerable Sector Screening
• Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination, unless exempt under the Ontario Human Rights Code

Our Commitment to Equity

WellFort is an inclusive and equitable employer. We encourage applications from members of equity-deserving communities, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, racialized individuals, 2SLGBTQIA+ persons, persons with disabilities, and people with lived experience of poverty, homelessness, or systemic marginalization.

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy

• Current registration and good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
• Membership with the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (optional)
• 3–5 years’ clinical and/or community-based experience, preferably with priority populations
• Experience providing care to individuals facing barriers due to poverty, discrimination, mental health, and/or substance use issues
• Understanding of determinants of health, trauma-informed care, and Indigenous Cultural Safety principles
• Excellent written, oral, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to build trust with priority populations and adapt messaging to the literacy level of individuals and communities.
• Demonstrated experience working within a multidisciplinary team and evidence of an ability to collaborate and partner.
• Working knowledge and/or an understanding of various disciplines; including but not exclusive of mental health, substance use, harm reduction, newcomer challenges and barriers faced by those in marginalized populations.
• Demonstrated cultural competence, ability to work and apply practical understanding of different elements of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging as well as an understanding of social determinants of health and impact on vulnerable communities.
• Knowledge of a variety of evidence-informed treatment modalities including motivational interviewing and trauma informed practices.
• Experienced at engaging in matters that require sensitivity and empathy across a diverse community, excellent judgement, and discretion; ability to operate with various frameworks including culturally sensitive, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, 2SLGBTQ+ affirming and intersectional.
• Proficiency with EMRs and general computer applications
• Valid driver’s license and access to a vehicle
• Additional languages relevant to the community served are an asset

As a condition of employment, new WellFort staff must be fully vaccinated unless they have received an exemption from vaccination under the Human Rights Code. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination status will be required before the first day of work or, proof of religious or medical exemption, if or where applicable.

Fully vaccinated is defined as having received the completed series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine, as recommended by the Office of the Chief Medical Officer of Health and having received the final dose at least 14 days before your employment start date.

The candidate will be asked to provide WellFort with proof of full vaccination, prior to their employment start date. Acceptable proof is a Ministry of Health Dose Administration Receipt (or such other proof of vaccination that the Province of Ontario sanctions). This can be obtained through the Provincial portal https://covid-19.ontario.ca/get-proof/ .

The requirement to be fully vaccinated is subject to the Ontario Human Rights Code. If the candidate is unable to vaccinate for a reason protected by the Code, a request for accommodation can be requested and written proof satisfactory to the organization will be required.