Occupational Therapy Clinical Extern - Nursing Innovation & Transition Program (NITP)

Overview

Requisition Number: 3094

Date Posted: 6/27/2025

End Date: 7/26/2025

Location: Queen Street Site

Address: 1001 Queen Street West

City: Toronto

Province: ON

Country: Canada

Category: OPSEU

Salary Range: $20.60

Job Description 

Through its core values of Courage, Respect and Excellence, CAMH is implementing its Strategic Plan: Connected CAMH, to transform lives, ignite innovation and discovery, revolutionize education and drive social change. CAMH is more than a hospital, it is a cause. CAMH is on a mission to change the way society thinks about and responds to mental illness. They aim to eliminate prejudice and discrimination and shape a world where mental illness is central to our healthcare system – a world where Mental Health is Health.

To learn more about CAMH, please visit their website at: www.camh.ca.

To view our Land Acknowledgment, please click here.

CAMH is seeking interested occupational therapy students to join the Clinical Extern Program. This opportunity is an exciting way for students in occupational therapy to contribute their knowledge and skills in a psychiatric care environment. Clinical externs will gain valuable patient care experience and build connections with a team of passionate interprofessional care providers in a hospital setting. Clinical Externs may be considered for occupational therapy opportunities upon graduation and licensure. Reporting to the manager of the Nursing Innovation & Transition Program, the Clinical Extern is an unregulated health care provider working within a changing environment and interprofessional team to advocate for and promote wellness while ensuring the delivery of safe, effective and ethical care. The Clinical Extern works in collaboration with the team under the supervision of a Regulated Nurse (Registered Nurse or Registered Practical Nurse) and Extern Mentor Coordinator while contributing to the advancement of practice excellence. The Clinical Extern will develop their competencies through learning, education, experience and reflective practice.

Clinical Externs are expected to attend all orientation and onboarding activities in a full-time capacity from August 5-19, 2025 and attend unit specific orientation. Post-orientation, Clinical Externs are expected to work a minimum of one 12hr shift per week to meet their 0.25 FTE.

Duties include (but are not limited to)

• Practices under the direct and/or indirect supervision of a nurse (RN or RPN) , or regulated health professional (RHP) to ensure that they have the knowledge, skills and judgment needed to perform all actions/duties;
• Follows organizational policies and professional standards while taking into account the College of Nurses of Ontario (CNO) guidance for unregulated care providers;
• Assisting with activities of daily living (e.g., toileting, bathing, feeding), and other care activities necessary in meeting the patient’s needs;
• Engages patients in one on one or group-based meaningful recreational activities and  programming;
• Requests assistance with assigned duties when necessary;
• Contributes to care planning, safety planning and evaluation;
• Provides assistance with lifting, turning, transferring, transporting and ambulating as needed;
• Assists with comfort measures and patient safety by rounding and ensuring the environment is clean, tidy, and free of hazards;
• Engages in additional activities/duties as approved;
• Requests assistance with assigned duties whenever in need;
• Contributes to transfer of accountability at shift report and when going on break;
• Contributes to and supports positive team functioning;
• Documents observations and care

Minimum Requirements 

• Occupational therapy students in any year of study in a training program accredited by the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists (CAOT)
• Excellent academic standing
• Current certificate in Basic Cardiac Life Support required
• Demonstrated infection prevention and control practices is an asset
• Demonstrated excellent problem-solving, decision-making and critical thinking skills
• Demonstrated excellent organizational and time-management skills
• Demonstrated effective interpersonal and communication skills
• Psychiatric/mental health experience (e.g., clinical practicums/volunteerism) working with individuals with mental illness and/or addictions is an asset
• The ability to work with clients of diverse cultural and social backgrounds is necessary
• Computer literacy is required
• Bilingualism (French/English) and/or proficiency in a second language would be an asset