Occupational therapist – mental health & substance use – all hospitals and tertiary sites (fraser north communities)

Salary

The salary range for this position is CAD $45.15 - $56.17 / hour
Job Summary

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Are you passionate about working in Mental Health & Substance Use Services? We're thrilled to announce that we have a Casual position available based in New Westminster, BC.

A successful candidate will be added to the casual pool for the regional Rehabilitation & Recovery team, which provides OT services at the acute and tertiary mental health facilities throughout Fraser Health. As a casual, you will receive offers for blocks of shifts in advance; we do not ask casuals to fill in for therapists who call in sick on a single day. However, intermittent urgent needs may come up that you may be offered shifts for. You will also be able to set parameters of which communities you are willing to work in, and when you would be open to shift offers. Please feel free to apply to any of our casual postings; we will reach out to you and discuss which communities and facilities you are interested in working in.

If you are looking for more steady work (e.g. two days per week), you may be able to provide partial coverage for vacant positions while we are recruiting. If you are looking for intermittent work, that can also be accommodated in this role, so long as you work a sufficient amount of shifts over time.

In acute MHSU practice, the priority is to ensure the patient has the appropriate mental health status, supports, and skills for a safe discharge and smooth transition back to the community. This position will include a significant role in assessing the patient's function and making recommendations to match their support needs. You will have the opportunity to introduce patients to a variety of life skills and self-management skills, such as grocery shopping strategies, sensory interventions, wellness planning, routine building, and community leisure opportunities.

In tertiary MHSU practice, you would work with residents of a bed-based program to meet their occupational needs, both psychosocial and physical. You will have an opportunity to get to know and build relationships with the residents throughout their stay, which range from several months to several years. Assist residents to engage in meaningful activity and move toward their next setting; this may include building up independent living skills, engaging in pre-employment, education, behavioural activation, or other routines. You would also assess residents' function to assist in determining appropriate services and discharge destinations.

What We're Looking For:

• Graduation from an approved school of Occupational Therapy
• Two (2) years recent related clinical experience working with mental health clients in an acute or community mental health setting

If you're ready to join a team dedicated to providing competent care and support, apply now! Together, we can make a significant difference in the lives of individuals and families, empowering them on their journey to recovery.

Watch this video to learn how Fraser Health supports mental health, hosted by our President, Dr. Victoria Lee:

To learn more about our MHSU programs and services, read employee insights, and current job vacancies, please visit this site: Fraser Health MHSU

Detailed Overview

Provides occupational therapy services in accordance with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC standards of practice, Fraser Health mission, values and occupational therapy care standard, and in collaboration and partnership with the interprofessional care team in the provision of patient and family centered care. Provides expertise based on current theories, concepts and principles of evidence-based practice and client-centered care; develops, implements, revises and evaluates treatment plans based on learning needs of patient /caregiver and/or staff, patient outcomes, theory and research; ensures clinical objectives are met through participation in the development of standards, procedures and protocols; participates in the development of quality improvement and risk management activities as well as research and special projects.

Responsibilities

Provides occupational therapy assessment, consultation and interventions for patients to maximize physical function and promote independence and safety; determines the appropriate use of recognized occupational therapy assessment tools (e.g. neurobehavioral cognitive exams, ADL/IADL assessment, swallowing/dysphasia assessment) and conducts appropriate assessments; prescribes and recommends specialized and adaptive aids and equipment to patients for activities of daily living.

Collaborates with colleagues, client and caregivers to develop individual treatment goals, utilizing the self-management model of living with chronic illness; provides treatment and/or teaching to clients and caregivers in order to restore, develop or maintain functional status; identifies the resources required for treatment, including tests, materials, equipment and funding and initiates requests for external funding as required; provides verbal and written reports to the interdisciplinary team regarding progress towards care plan goals.

Provides clinical expertise, consultation and leadership in evidence-based practice to staff and patients by consulting with experts, collaborating with members of interdisciplinary teams, evaluating clinical practice and recommending changes to existing standards; provides education on interventions and resources that assist the client to groups such as Community Health Workers for the purpose of promoting safety in the home (when applicable) and modification to environmental barriers.

Attends patient care conferences and family meetings and presents information related to occupational therapy assessments; recommends related interventions and participates in the development of the patient care plan.

Conducts clinical assessments of each patient's work, school, social and leisure, and activities of daily living abilities in collaboration with other members of the interdisciplinary team.

Assist patients to acquire, develop and enhance work, school, leisure and recreational skills, that will improve their quality of life.

Develops, implements and evaluates individual and/or group activity programs or other programs to meet patients' recovery goals.

Records, maintains and updates patient/resident/client records such as assessments, interventions and statistical data in accordance with departmental and hospital policies.

Demonstrates, patient occupational therapy interventions to designated staff and students in accordance with established guidelines.

Provides input to the Program Coordinator and Clinical Chief regarding the development, revision, implementation and evaluation of occupational therapy practices, policies and procedures, audits and continuous quality improvement activities.

Participates in orientation and in-service training of staff, students, and volunteers on such topics as mechanical lifts, positioning and back care.

Identifies and makes recommendations to the team and family supports, regarding procedures, purchase, general maintenance and repair of equipment.

Participates in product and equipment trials and reports observations under the direction of the Coordinator and Clinical chief in accordance with established procedures.

Observes, identifies, assesses, and assists with managing potential emergency situations involving patients and develops short term strategies to deal with such situations.

Identifies clinical research projects and under the direction of the Program Coordinator and Clinical Chief, participates in the development, implementation and evaluation of same.

Performs other related tasks as required.

Qualifications

Education and Experience

Graduation from an approved school of Occupational Therapy. Two (2) years recent related clinical experience working with mental health clients in an acute or community mental health setting. Current full registration with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC. Eligible for membership in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) or the British Columbia Society of Occupational Therapists (BCSOT).

Skills and Abilities

• Ability to provide comprehensive assessment for clients who are living with a mental illness.
• Demonstrated knowledge of current developments and trends in occupational therapy.
• Knowledge of Psychiatric disorders, medications and side effects.
• Working knowledge of psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery principles
• Ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.
• Ability to operate related equipment.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships as required in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Ability to organize work.
• Ability to work independently with minimal supervision.

About Fraser Health

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 50,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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