Occupational Therapist-permanent Full Time

TORONTO GRACE HEALTH CENTRE

The Toronto Grace Health Centre (TGHC) provides medically complex, and specialized care and services to those individuals who require Complex Continuing Care (CCC), Post Acute Care Rehabilitation (PACR), and Palliative Care. The care and services provided at TGHC help facilitate the patient flow through the health care system and ensures recovery to those individuals who may return to their homes or to other facilities in their communities.

As a compassionate, caring, and influential team member, you will make a personal difference in the quality of life of our CCC, PACR, and Palliative Care patients. If you want to work in an environment where every face is familiar and where care and commitment flow to patients and staff equally, join our team and become part of the Toronto Grace family.

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST WITH A FOCUS ON MENTAL HEALTH – FULL TIME

Position Summary:

The Occupational Therapist is responsible for the provision of holistic client-centred care in accordance with the standards of practice of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (COTO). The Occupational Therapist will be referred to patients throughout the hospital that would benefit from mental health support. The Occupational Therapist will then create a therapy program individualized to the patient, based on the patient’s needs, abilities, limitations, and goals, specifically related to their mental health and wellness. Through individualized counselling, group therapy, psychoeducation and/or cognitive screens, the aim of this specific Occupational Therapy service is to assist the patient to achieve the optimum level of functioning to participate in their goals of care, provide coping strategies to improve quality of life and assist with re-integration into the community. The Occupational Therapist will also act as the primary rehab staff on the Palliative Care Unit to contribute to the maintenance of functional mobility and activities of daily living by optimizing safe handling, transfers, ambulation, comfort, and quality of life. The Occupational Therapist will attend family and patient meetings with MD, nursing, and allied health to communicate updates, provide equipment recommendations, and assist with discharge planning to alternate locations (e.g., hospices, home), based on patient and family goals and wishes. The Occupational Therapist demonstrates in-depth knowledge and skills in specific areas of mental health, and demonstrates evidence based clinical judgement, critical thinking, and clinical reasoning. Within the vision, mission, and values of the TGHC, they assume a leadership role in developing partnerships with patients, families, and health care professionals to ensure optimal care delivery.

Responsibility:

•Counsel individual patients with supportive therapy and mindfulness programs according to established patient goals and treatment plan

•Prepare, organize, and facilitate group therapy programs using different approaches such as: cognitive- behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), CBT/DBT informed techniques, and mindfulness therapy

•Develop care plans to minimize responsive behaviors

•Provide psycho-educational sessions for patients to manage behavioural symptoms

•Act as active member of an interdisciplinary team and a resource between interdisciplinary team, patients, and caregivers to provide strategies to manage behavioural symptoms

•Liaise and manage referrals for visiting psychiatrist

•Provide comprehensive cognitive assessments and disseminate results to patient and team

•Participate in patient rounds, case conferences, and team meeting as required

•Transition patients to community programs and liaise with other community services

•Good knowledge of pain assessments, management modalities, crisis intervention, addiction, medicine, concurrent disorders, and trauma-informed care

•Participate in program development and evaluation, continuous quality improvement

•Supervise Occupational Therapy students and volunteers in accordance with the Standards of the COTO and colleges and universities

•Maintain accurate and current clinical records in accordance with the COTO and TGHC guidelines

•Participate in the development, implementation and evaluation of services/ programs ensuring that services/ programs are evidence-based and integrated in a coordinated manner.

•Apply critical thinking, knowledge of evidence-based practice, excellent organizational skills, superb written and oral communication skills, and leadership skills to enhance problem solving and decision making. Provide cross unit/program coverage as appropriate