Clinical Interventionist, Occupational Therapist - Eastern Zone (Sydney, Incentives Available)

Provincial Preschool Autism Services

The Provincial Preschool Autism Service (PPAS) is a partnership between IWK Health (IWK), Nova Scotia Health (NSH), Hearing and Speech Nova Scotia (HSNS) and Autism Nova Scotia (Autism NS). It provides person and family-centred services to preschoolers across Nova Scotia who are suspected of or have a diagnosis of autism. The goal of the service is to provide an efficient, sustainable, and integrated continuum of health services that follows a needs-based model responsive to the individual needs of children and their families.

Services include a range of interventions and supports available for children and families. Service streams include:

• Clinical intake and care coordination
• Family and health professional education
• QuickStart NS parent coaching toddler program
• Autism diagnostic assessment
• Interprofessional autism interventions
• Intensive intervention for children with the greatest social communication and behaviour needs
• Transition to school supports

The Opportunity

Reporting to the Clinical Manager, Provincial Preschool Autism Services, the PPAS Clinical Interventionist is part of an interprofessional team with a provincial service delivery mandate. The role provides services to preschool age children (ages 0-6) with autism and is responsible to facilitate a goal setting process with families related to their identified needs for their child; to provide assessment related to the goal(s); and to develop, implement and coordinate the resulting intervention programs. The Clinical Interventionist will contribute to and participate in family education; will work within a variety of intervention frameworks that include but may not be limited to an intensive intervention model; a manualize caregiver mediated program; and focused interventions guided by care pathways. Clinical Interventionists will provide direct supervision to Program Implementers who will be part of the implementation teams for the intensive intervention model, the manualized caregiver mediated program and part of the implementation for focused interventions as appropriate. Clinical practice will be guided by Clinical Leaders and an Autism Advanced Practice Leader.

Hours of Work

Monday – Friday, 37.5 hours/week.
Flexibility in hours available to work (including some evenings, weekends) required.

Your Qualifications

• Master's degree in Occupational Therapy.
• Registration or eligible for registration with the appropriate professional body in Nova Scotia is required.
• CPR certification within the last 12 months and certification in First Aid.
• Two years recent experience working with children with autism (ages 0-6 years old) and their families.
• Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in intervention for children with autism.
• Demonstrated excellence in clinical care; ability to provide assessment and development, implementation, monitoring and coordination of intervention plans to address parent goals.
• Demonstrated ability to work within an interprofessional collaborative practice framework; and ability to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Demonstrated excellent presentation, facilitation, and communication skills; both verbal and written.
• Demonstrated excellent interpersonal skills; ability to develop and maintain internal/external partnerships.
• Demonstrated excellent time management, organization, and solution focused skills.
• Demonstrated excellence in supervision of intervention by other levels of healthcare provider.
• Demonstrated understanding and commitment to family centered care.
• Committed to promoting a culture that supports safety, ethical practices, and organizational health.
• Education, training and/or experience in evidence-based autism interventions (E.g., Pivotal Response Treatment (PRT), Positive Behavior Support (PBS), Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to participate in quality improvement and innovation initiatives related to processes and practice.
• Certification in Non-Violent Crisis Intervention an asset.
• Competencies in other languages an asset
  
  Where there are no qualified candidates who meet the minimum requirements for (2) two years' experience working with young children (0-6 years old) with ASD, consideration may be given to Registered Professionals without the required experience.