Recreation Therapy Associate, Rehabilitation Services

Nova Scotia Health and IWK Health; Halifax; On-site; CAD 36,000 - 44,000; Part time

Job summary

IWK Health in Halifax, Nova Scotia, seeks a Recreation Therapy Associate to deliver client- and family-centered ambulatory recreation services for children and youth with disabilities. You will implement interventions, manage equipment loans, and collaborate with a care team to promote lifelong leisure skills.

Requirements include a 2-year diploma in Therapeutic Recreation, 2+ years of experience, CPR Level C within 12 months, and First Aid certification.

Qualifications

• Completion of a two (2) year Diploma in Human Services Therapeutic Recreation or equivalent program required
• Minimum of two (2) years' experience as a Recreation Therapy Associate required
• Experience with clients of various ages and disabilities; children/youth preferred
• Knowledge of best practices in leisure/recreation program planning
• Knowledge of health conditions and their impact on health and quality of life
• Effective communication (verbal & written) and presentation skills
• Ability to work independently and set priorities
• Ability to work as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Excellent time management, organization, and problem-solving skills
• Commitment to family-centered care and community relationships
• CPR Level C Health Care Provider within last 12 months required
• First Aid certification required
• Ability to work evenings and weekends
• Valid Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Experience with behavior management is a plus
• Knowledge of program-based care is an asset
• Language skills in other languages are an asset

Responsibilities

• Provide client and family-centered ambulatory services to help children and youth acquire skills and participate in leisure
• Deliver assigned intervention, recreation, and leisure education programs
• Manage adapted sport and recreation equipment loan program
• Plan and develop program content and ensure safety during on-site and community interventions
• Document care and attend required meetings
• Collaborate within an interdisciplinary team for care provision

Skills

Verbal & written communication

Time management

Independent work

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Family-centered care

Education

Diploma in Therapeutic Recreation

Job description

Company : IWK Health

Req ID: 228066
Department/Program: Recreation Rehab , Children's Medical Care
Location: Halifax
Type of Employment: Temporary Hourly PT long-assignment ( 80% FTE) until August 2027 x 1 position(s)
Start Date: ASAP
Union Status: NSGEU Hlthcare , Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $ 25.8361 - $ 31.9256 /hour
Closing Date : 20 October 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)

IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax, Nova Scotia, 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 proportion of transgender and non-binary people of 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, and 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 Opportunity

Reporting to the Manager, Rehabilitation Services, the Recreation Therapy Associate works under the guidance and supervision of the Recreation Therapist as an active member of the interdisciplinary care team providing client and family-centered ambulatory service to enable children and youth to acquire skills, knowledge, and behavior that will allow them to enjoy their leisure and participate as independently as possible. In collaboration with the Recreation Therapist and care teams, the Recreation Therapy Associate is responsible for providing assigned intervention, recreation, and leisure education programs with the goal of enhancing the development of lifelong leisure skills and attitudes, eliminating barriers to leisure, and optimizing the leisure involvement of children and youth with disabilities in partnership with families, therapists, and community groups. Other key responsibilities of this position include management of the adapted sport and recreation equipment loan program, planning and development of program content, maintaining safety during on-site and community interventions, and volunteer management. Under the direction of the Recreation Therapist, the Recreation Therapy Associate is responsible for implementing appropriate interventions and plans, including appropriate documentation and attending meetings as required. The care/service is provided to the child and family within an interdisciplinary team approach.

Hours of Work

8:30-4:30 Monday to Friday, with some evening and weekend work.

Your Qualifications

• Completion of a two (2) year Diploma in Human Services Therapeutic Recreation or equivalent program required
• Minimum of two (2) years' experience as a Recreation Therapy Associate required
• Experience working with clients of various ages and various disabilities required; experience with children and youth preferred
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in leisure/recreation program planning required
• Demonstrated knowledge of various health conditions and their impact on health, well-being, and quality of life required
• Demonstrated effective communication (verbal & written) and presentation skills required
• Demonstrated initiative and ability to set priorities and work independently required
• Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative interdisciplinary team required
• Demonstrated excellent time management, organization, and problem-solving skills required.
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to family-centered care required.
• Demonstrated ability to establish and promote interpersonal & community relationships required
• Current successful completion of CPR Level C Health Care Provider within the last 12 months required
• Certification in First Aid required
• Ability to work evenings and weekends required
• Valid minimum Class 5 Nova Scotia driver’s license and reliable transportation required
• Demonstrated experience implementing behavior management strategies preferred
• Knowledge of program-based care is an asset
• Competencies in other languages considered an asset

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.