Occupational Therapist - Health Outreach & Community Support Team

Position Overview

The Occupational Therapist will work as a member of the Health Outreach and Community Support (HOCS) team to assist with the health and social needs, including daily occupational needs of individuals who are homeless or vulnerably housed and to support the agencies that serve them. The HOCS service is population focused and a regional resource to all areas where population needs surface. This includes working with and within emergency homeless shelters, Housing First programs, other partner agencies, regional health and social service sites as well as acute care sites.

Reporting to the Initiatives Leader, Housing, Supports and Service Integration, the Occupational Therapist provides outreach consultation, coordinated service planning assistance, capacity building/education support, counseling, assessment and interventions directed towards client-centered goals of occupational performance areas. The Occupational Therapist works towards increasing individual capacity, independence and safety in home and community environments as well as enhancing family, peer and community networks. Clinical practice is focused on meeting immediate needs, supporting engagement and establishing person-centered plans while connections to longer term services are coordinated.

The Occupational Therapist supports increased organizational capacity of the sector agencies by providing consultation on interventions, occupational performance, life skills development, goal setting, engagement, rehabilitation, eviction prevention, housing options and social integration. The Occupational Therapist works in partnership with agencies, primary care, hospitals, crisis services and other health services to bridge service gaps and coordinate continuity of care in the community. The inter-professional HOCS team structure facilitates low-barrier access to multiple disciplines for integrated service delivery for individuals with complex challenges as well as for inter-professional development, participating in service evaluation and further role planning and development and promotion of occupational therapy. The Occupational Therapist will additionally receive profession specific support from established partnerships within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority.

Experience

• Minimum three years related community practice experience working with marginalized populations, including individuals experiencing homelessness as well as addictions and/or severe and persistent psychiatric disabilities.
• Experience with developing person-centered service/care/action plans.
• Experience with health and social service systems including knowledge of available resources for referral.
• Experience with providing capacity building support
• Experience and compliance with protocols for consent, practice, documentation, and privacy.

Education (Degree/Diploma/Certificate)

• Entry-to-practice academic credential in Occupational Therapy from an accredited Canadian university program or the approved equivalent if internationally educated as determined by the College of Occupational Therapists of Manitoba (COTM).
• Successful completion of relevant continuing professional education in designated clinical area preferred.

Certification/Licensure/Registration

• Registration is required with the College of Occupational Therapists of Manitoba (COTM) with the incumbent’s name entered in the practicing register or in the provisional register as an examination candidate. Where the incumbent is provisionally registered as an examination candidate, to maintain employment, he/she must pass the examination required by COTM during the next available exam offering to maintain employment with the Centre.
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) Training requirements for this position shall be in accordance with the Employer policy.
• Membership in the Manitoba Society of Occupational Therapists (MSOT) and the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT) preferred.
• Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training Certificate (ASIST).

Qualifications and Skills

• Ability to establish and maintain good interpersonal relationships.
• Must have effective written and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to work cooperatively with other disciplines.
• Demonstrated professional judgment and initiative.
• Demonstrated effective organizational, interpersonal, critical thinking, clinical reasoning, conflict resolution and decision-making skills.
• Knowledge and understanding of evidence-based practice.
• Ability to perform both independently and as a team member.
• Knowledge of the physiological, social, cultural and economic aspects of patient care.
• Ability to organize and complete assignments with a minimum of supervision.
• Willingness to adapt to new concepts, techniques and best practice in the academic and clinical fields of healthcare knowledge.
• Computer literacy as appropriate to the setting.
• Effective networking and agency relations skills.
• Knowledge of Aboriginal Cultural History and Population Impacts.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the principles of Primary Health Care.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the principles of Population Public Health.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the principles of Harm Reduction.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the principles of Housing First.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the principles of Trauma-Informed Recovery.
• Knowledge of and commitment to the principles of Person-centered Planning.

Physical Requirements

• Must demonstrate adequate strength, agility, motor coordination and dexterity for implementation of therapeutic techniques and manipulation of therapeutic activities as necessary.
• May be exposed to infectious diseases, blood and body fluids, toxic materials, noise, allergens, physical and emotional stress.
• May encounter aggressive and/or agitated clients/visitors/staff.
• May be required to occasionally work extended hours.
• May be required to work a variety of shifts including weekends.