Occupational Therapist - Health Disciplines, PT (J1126-0169)

North York General is one of Canada’s leading community academic hospitals with a vision to deliver World-Class Care, 24/7. Affiliated with the University of Toronto, our multi-site campus supports our diverse community through every stage and life-defining moment by providing a wide range of acute care, ambulatory and long-term care services.

What defines North York General goes beyond exceptional quality care. Our superpower is how we deliver that care – the unparalleled compassion we bring to every encounter, during the moments that matter. Through partnerships, collaboration and academic endeavours, we seek to set new standards for People-Centred Care—a cornerstone of our culture and central to our Mission: People-Centred Care for a healthier community.

North York General is a member of the North York Toronto Health Partners, an Ontario Health Team that integrates local care with patients, primary care and community partners.

We are proud to be a place where the best people come to learn, grow and innovate. Join North York General to accelerate your career!

Position Summary

Occupational Therapist, Specialized Geriatric Services
Your goal in this position is to provide occupational therapy expertise to older adults across Specialized Geriatric Services (SGS). You work as part of an interprofessional team contributing to comprehensive geriatric assessment, and you carry an assignment that moves across the program: the specialized geriatric clinics (geriatric medicine, geriatric psychiatry and Parkinson's), the Geriatric Day Hospital, and the Geriatric Outreach Team; this will include conducting visits in the community. You are skilled in working with frail older adults living with dementia, delirium, depression and responsive behaviours, and you apply a behavioural supports approach alongside your clinical practice. You have the ability to recognize problems and take appropriate action.

You are computer proficient, have superior communication and interpersonal skills, effortlessly connecting with physicians, staff, patients, families and community partners, and display a high degree of professionalism, with the ability to work independently as well as collaboratively, in small groups and in a team environment.

You demonstrate strong leadership, organizational and problem-solving skills and the ability to work under pressure and maintain a high level of productivity and competence. You are self-directed,flexible and are able to prioritize the changing demands of SGS.

You reflect on your practice to maintain clinical competency and identify professional development needs and opportunities. You will provide excellent patient and family-driven care in a supportive and culturally sensitive manner.

This position supports the hospital's academic mandate by advancing care through teaching and learning and/or transforming care through research and innovation. This position contributes to the shared responsibility of ensuring health and safety policies are followed to provide for a healthy environment for patients, staff, physicians, volunteers and families.

On a practical level, you will

• Deliver patient care following current accepted standards of practice and principles of occupational therapy in the assessment, treatment and education of older adults, liaising with other members of the health care team in a collaborative and consultative role
• Work across Specialized Geriatric Services — the geriatric clinics, the Geriatric Day Hospital and the Geriatric Outreach Team — with the assignment adjusted to program need
• Contribute to the occupational therapy component of interprofessional comprehensive geriatric assessment: function in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living, functional cognition, safety and risk, caregiver burden and occupational performance
• Assess and analyze clinical findings in order to develop treatment plans appropriate for a patient's condition, and to change and terminate treatment when necessary
• Complete home safety and environmental assessments and recommend equipment, assistive devices, seating and home modifications, including authorization under the Assistive Devices Program
• Apply cognitive and functional assessment to questions of safety at home, driving and decision-making, and contribute to capacity and discharge discussions within scope
• Assess and manage responsive behaviours associated with dementia, delirium and mental health conditions using a behavioural supports approach; contribute to behavioural care plans, coach families and care partners on non-pharmacological strategies, and work with community service and care providers including Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO
• Carry out community visits with a geriatric lens — assessing the person in their own environment, including home safety, caregiver capacity, social supports and risk — and make referrals to community services as needed
• Maintain current documentation on patient health records and communicate with health care team members, primary care and community partners as required
• Provide educational programs for hospital staff, community partners and groups in the community, and supervise support personnel, students and interns
• Engage in patient, family and care partner education as appropriate
• Engage in ongoing professional development such as in-service education, post-graduate education and literature review
• Administer statistics of productivity, ensuring patient and staff safety, track involvement in program development and implementation, quality improvement initiatives and quality assurance activities
• Use evidence-based/best practice guidelines in developing appropriate care plans as well as in developing policies and procedures aligned with the organization's strategic direction
• Support the hospital's mandate by advancing care through teaching and learning and/or transforming care through research and innovation

Qualifications

• Bachelor or Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from a recognized educational institution
• Registration, in good standing, with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
• Membership with the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists, preferred
• Current Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification
• Minimum 1 year related experience working with a geriatric and/or acute medicine population; experience in a community or home-based program and with frail older adults preferred
• Assistive Devices Program Authorizer status preferred
• Experience with functional cognitive assessment and with fitness-to-drive screening, preferred
• Demonstrated skill in assessing and managing responsive behaviours in older adults living with dementia, delirium or mental illness
• Completion of, or willingness to complete within the first year: P.I.E.C.E.S., Gentle Persuasive Approach (GPA), U-First! and Montessori approaches for dementia care; familiarity with the Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) model
• Training or demonstrated experience in comprehensive geriatric assessment and the standardized tools used with this population — cognitive screening (MoCA, MMSE), delirium screening (CAM), frailty (Clinical Frailty Scale), depression screening (GDS) and falls risk assessment
• Experience with interRAI assessments and with Ontario Health atHome processes, preferred
• Working knowledge of the Mental Health Act, Substitute Decisions Act and Health Care Consent Act, capacity and consent, and recognition and reporting of elder abuse
• Experience providing care in the community, including home visits, and completion of lone-worker and community safety training or willingness to complete
• Valid Ontario driver's license and access to a vehicle for community visits
• Proficient with computers, MS Word, internet searches, data entry and patient information systems
• Bilingualism in French/English an asset

What We Offer

Working at NYGH means working with a dynamic team of fellow healthcare providers, staff, and volunteers in one of Canada’s leading hospitals. This is a Part Time Regular position with 8 hour shifts, day, evening shifts including weekends in Specialized Geriatric Services, working across the geriatric clinics, the Geriatric Day Hospital and the Geriatric Outreach Team. We offer a highly competitive total compensation package which includes pay in lieu of benefits, vacation pay and the opportunity to join the Hospital Pension Plan. #LI-BR1

How to Apply

Think you're the right person for the job? Here's your first chance to show us why:

• Ensure to meet the deadline - only applications received by the closing date will be considered.
• We will review all applications and will contact those selected for an interview.

At North York General, we are committed to fostering an inclusive and accessible environment. We are dedicated to building a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community in which we live, including those with disabilities. North York General is committed to providing accommodations in all parts of the hiring process. If you require an accommodation, we will work with you to meet your needs.