Pediatric Occupational Therapist

Job title: Pediatric Occupational Therapist

Job description: Do you want to work for a health care organization that changes people’s lives? One that not only cares deeply about clients, but also values that its employees are its greatest asset?

Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada is a unique health services organization that serves people who are blind or partially sighted across the country. Our certified specialists provide training that empowers clients to develop or to restore activities of daily living skills, to promote their independence, to enhance safety and mobility. We work closely with ophthalmologists, optometrists and other health care professionals, by providing essential care on a referral basis in homes, workplaces and communities across the country.

We offer competitive salaries and benefits, flexible schedules, and opportunities to grow.

For more information about Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada, please visit or call 1-844-887-8572.

Position Title: Pediatric Occupational Therapist (Part-time)

Location: New West Minister or Abbotsford

Reports To: Manager, Vision Rehabilitation

Date: July 21, 2021

I. Scope & Summary of Primary Responsibilities

Our Pediatric Occupational Therapist will provide support and therapy to children with disabilities. As an Occupational Therapist at VLRC BC, the successful candidate will be responsible for administering clinical assessments and implementing treatment plans for infants, children and adolescents (ages 0-18) with a variety of diagnoses. The successful candidate will take a team approach with client’s and families and liaise with other therapy partners. In covering a broad range of duties responsibilities include creating an assessment of their needs and creating a plan that aids in their development. You will apply clinical expertise and professional competence in the assessment, intervention, consultation, case management, discharge planning, education and follow up. This position also facilitates a child’s transition into community and school programs.

II. Essential Functions

Accountabilities

This position provides functional expertise for the comprehensive multi-faceted service and operations program within a matrix reporting structure.

The position entails, but is not limited to the following general responsibilities:

• Conducts initial and ongoing assessments for children of various age groups with vision loss. Assists client and their family in developing habilitation goals. Areas that can be evaluated include: Fine Motor difficulties, gross motor difficulties, difficulties with eye-hand coordination and motor planning, difficulties with self-care routine.
• The development and coordination of treatment programs, which are integrated between services and disciplines, taking into consideration the families’ needs and goals.
• Adapting and revising treatment plans, as required, while maintaining appropriate documentation.
• Ongoing monitoring of outcome measures.
• Maintaining service quality control standards.
• Participating and leading program evaluation as appropriate
• Completing, maintaining and advancing own skill sets.
• Assesses environmental conditions, accessibility and safety in settings that the child encounters (home, preschool, playgrounds, etc.)
• Provides support and information to parents and caregivers on methods and techniques for helping to overcome barriers to inclusion. Provides support and information to parents/caregiver to enhance advocacy skills.
• Acts as a consultant/resource to the professional and service community regarding issues pertaining to children with vision loss including children with additional disabling conditions.
• Keeps abreast of current materials, technology, standards of practice related to providing service to children with vision loss by review of professional literature, attending conferences/workshops and accessing other current sources of information.

Relationships

• Interacts with clients, their family and caregivers to develop and identify vision related goals and develop early intervention and therapy programs, and support families to follow through on recommendations.
• Builds and maintains good working relationships with professionals in other agencies and community groups, particularly others on the child’s therapy team.
• Educates community partners about Vision Loss Rehabilitation Canada and its specialized services offered to children and their families and the importance of early intervention.
• Participates in multi-disciplinary team meetings.
• Advocates on client’s behalf in medical clinics, schools, etc. when possible.
• Instructs and supervises students (and Occupational Therapy Assistants where applicable) to work with clients.

Problem Solving / Time Frame of Impact

• Position utilizes problem solving abilities related to implementing and developing intervention and therapy services for children with vision loss.
• Problem solving involved in adapting services, materials and equipment to address the needs of children with complex health conditions.
• In case of critical incidents such as indications of child abuse or medical emergencies the Occupational Therapist must immediately report concerns and ensure children are receiving appropriate care. Procedure varies by province.
• You must be able to work with a child’s family recognizing their complex needs including: cultural, religious, mental health needs and/or emotional support.
• Delay in responding to referrals may result in a child not meeting their developmental potential and client/parent dissatisfaction.

Decision Autonomy

• Decision making based on training and experience working with children with visual impairments, and individual assessment and reassessment, to develop an appropriate service plan.
• Judgment is utilized for making decisions about method, schedule, and type of assessment and treatment and the manner in which parents are taught to follow through on recommendations.
• This position is itinerant, requiring frequent visits to family homes.
• Reports to Manager, Vision Rehabilitation.

Leadership

• Provides leadership and guidance when training and supervising rehab assistants, parents, students and community.
• Takes initiative to develop/implement the most appropriate intervention for client and in maintaining current knowledge associated with children with vision loss.

Requirements

III. Qualifications

Knowledge and Skill Requirements (minimum required)

• Knowledge of childhood normal and abnormal development including extensive understanding of childhood disabilities.
• Demonstrated understanding of vision loss in children is an asset.
• Experience working with children with additional impairments.
• Training related to specialized seating and positioning, feeding, adaptive technology and sensory integration is an asset.
• Excellent communications and interpersonal skills
• Ability to build trusting relationships with children and families.
• Experience supervising support personnel an asset.
• Ability to utilize computer and software programs.
• Excellent facilitation skills both in groups and individual situations
• Good organization and time management skills.

Experience and Education (minimum required)

• Master of Occupational Therapy Degree
• Current practicing member of the designated provincial Occupational Therapy regulatory body.
• Knowledge of normal and abnormal early childhood development.
• Registration or eligibility for registration on the Registry of Autism Serves Providers (RASP)
• 3 or more years’ experience working with children with vision loss as well as children with additional disabling conditions is an asset.
• Current clean child abuse registry and criminal records check

Certifications or Designations (minimum required)

• Master of Occupational Therapy Degree
• Current practicing member of the designated provincial Occupational Therapy regulatory body.

Work Environment (indicate working conditions)

• Willingness to work flexible hours.
• Willingness to work in a variety of settings (in client home, outdoors, daycare, etc.)
• Travel is required.

Benefits

If this sounds like the role for you, apply now to cami.vanunen@vlrehab.ca.

Be sure to include a resume, cover letter, and mention how you heard about this opportunity

VLRC is committed to creating and fostering an inclusive culture and welcomes applications from diverse candidates, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, women, candidates with disabilities, and candidates of colour. We strongly encourage applications from applicants with sight loss. Direct lived experience would be a definite asset. We’re excited to review your application

Please note that the successful candidate will be required to pass a standard Criminal Record Check.

We thank all applicants for their interest in VLRC, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted

Closing Date for Applications: August 15, 2021

Click Here to Apply

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