Occupational Therapist
2 Vacancies
Community Based Full Time-Contract
Residential Full time permanent
35 hours/week
For forty years, we have maintained a steadfast dedication to our mission: supporting the vulnerable youth who come through our doors. To this day, we remain committed to this duty.
Covenant House helps youth ignite their potential and reclaim their lives. As Canada’s largest agency serving youth who are homeless, trafficked or at risk, we offer the widest range of 24-7 services to an average of 280 young people each day.
As a national leader, we educate and advocate for long-term change to improve the lives of vulnerable youth. This includes influencing public policy, leading awareness and prevention programs and continually building and sharing our knowledge. As a learning organization, we strive for excellence and programs with impact.
More than a place to stay, we provide life-changing care with unconditional love and respect. We meet youth’s immediate needs and then we work together to achieve their future goals. We offer housing options, health and well-being support, training and skill development, and ongoing care once youth move into the community.
Thanks to our donors, who contribute 75 per cent of our $40-million annual operating budget, we are able to deliver these comprehensive programs and services.
Since 1982, Covenant House has supported more than 100,000 young people.
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Position Overview:
The Occupational Therapist will be responsible for providing one on one and group occupational therapy services to support the wellness and progress of Covenant House youth impacted by experiences including homelessness, mental health struggles, substance use, and cognitive differences. This position will work in collaboration with team members across our continuum of services.
Responsibilities:
- Actively participate in the Case Management process to identify which youth would benefit from occupational therapy services.
- Work one on one with clients to provide occupational therapy assessments, evidence-based interventions, and psychoeducation as needed, utilizing a trauma informed, client-centred, strengths-based approach.
- Assist youth with enhancement of wellness practices, social/community engagement, Activities of Daily Living, and goal attainment towards sustainable exits from homelessness.
- Provide clinical input, collaborating with in-house service providers to refine how to best support youth effectively with attention to their individual goals, occupational functioning considerations, and continuum of support needs.
- Develop and facilitate group-based programming for youth in all program areas of Covenant House, addressing social and cognitive life skills, arts, recreation, and health and wellness using an Occupational Therapy lens.
- Promote youth leadership around the development of program content and facilitation of workshops.
- Documentation of relevant clinical data, progress reports, plans and outcomes.
- Contribute towards an evidence based, Quality Improvement model of practice.
- Support potential expansion of Occupational Therapy practices in youth shelter, such as support to student placements.
Qualifications:
- Hold an MScOT degree, and registration in the College of Occupational Therapist of Ontario in good standing.
- Strong skills in mental health and cognitive assessment and intervention, case management, decision making, and effective crisis intervention.
- Demonstrated facility with trauma informed care, with ability to provide skills-based programming based on a trauma informed care model.
- Minimum 1 year experience working with marginalized youth; community-based experience a definite asset.
- Demonstrated application of adolescent development theory and specific issues related to working with youth experiencing homelessness.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, clinical and group facilitation skills, and knowledge of relevant community resources.
- Flexible hours required.
Interested applicants should please submit a cover letter and resume directly to Corina Raileanu-Patel (crpatel@covenanthouse.ca) by December 8, 2022. Please include subject title “Occupational Therapist-CSS” for applicants intersted in the community setting and, “Occupational Therapist-Residential” for applicants interested in the shelter setting.
We thank all applicants however, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
At Covenant House Toronto we believe in a workplace culture of inclusion that is welcoming, respectful and safe for all staff. It is critical to Covenant House Toronto success to eliminate barriers and promote the inclusion of equity groups. Equity groups have been, and continue to be, underrepresented and marginalized in the workforce, leadership roles, and in some specific occupations. Equity groups include but may not be limited to Indigenous persons, racialized people, gender diverse people, 2SLGBTQIA+ people, and people with disabilities.
As an employer, Covenant House is committed to building an organization that reflects the diversity of our clients and the communities we serve. We encourage applications from qualified individuals who represent diverse communities. Covenant House is committed to providing accommodations for individuals with disabilities, upon request.
In accordance with the Ontario Human Rights Code, Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act and Covenant House Policy on Accommodation, a request for accommodation will be accepted as part of the Covenant House recruitment process.