Occupational Therapist, Residential Services

1. Provides occupational therapy assessments, consultations and interventions for residents to maximize physical function and to promote independence and safety; determines the appropriate use of recognized occupational therapy assessment tools (e.g. neurobehavioral cognitive exams, ADL/IADL assessments, feeding assessments) and conducts appropriate assessments; prescribes and recommends specialized and adaptive aids and equipment to residents for activities of daily living (ADL).
2. Collaborates with interdisciplinary team members, residents and caregivers to develop individual treatment goals; provides treatment and/or teaching to residents and caregivers in order to restore, develop or maintain functional status; identifies resources required for treatment, including tests, materials, equipment and funding and initiates requests for external funding as required; provides verbal and written reports to the interdisciplinary team regarding progress towards care plan goals.
3. Role models and demonstrates direct resident care skills to staff and students, provides information based on application of theories, concepts and principles, ensures compliance with standards of practice and supports staff to provide excellence in quality resident care based on specialized theory and best practice.
4. Provides clinical expertise, consultation and leadership in evidence-based practice to staff and/or residents by reviewing literature, consulting with experts, collaborating with members of interdisciplinary teams, evaluating clinical practice and recommending changes to existing standards.
5. Supervises assigned support staff; coordinates therapeutic activities and participates in staff evaluation. Provides orientation, direction, supervision and evaluation to assigned students and volunteers as required.
6. Evaluates the effectiveness of direct clinical care and education provided to the resident and caregivers; provides input to the interdisciplinary team regarding changes required to improve efficiency and/or effectiveness of service.
7. Provides education and training for residents/caregivers and staff through individual and/or group sessions on independent living skills and occupational performance, use of environmental and equipment adaptations, body mechanics, lifts and transfers; develops resource materials as required.
8. Provides geriatric clinical expertise, consultation and leadership in evidence-based practice to staff and residents by consulting with experts, collaborating with members of interdisciplinary teams, evaluating clinical practice and recommending changes to existing standards; provides education on interventions and resources that assist the resident and others for the purpose of promoting safety; acts as a resident advocate by providing information and liaising with funding agencies and community resources.
9. Maintains knowledge of current developments in evidence-based Occupational Therapy and geriatric practice by methods such as reviewing relevant literature, consulting with other health care professionals and attending relevant education programs to enhance the delivery of client care; sets measurable performance goals and objectives in collaboration with the Manager, Health Services.
10. Assists with research and special projects related to Occupational Therapy and Geriatrics by collaborating with members of the interdisciplinary team, collecting data and providing input for further analysis as required.
11. Completes required reports, records and workload statistics; maintains files and records in accordance with program standards and procedures.
12. In collaboration with the Manager or designate, assists with the development and monitoring of policies and procedures and standards related to Occupational Therapy; identifies staff learning needs and develops and provides orientation and education related to Occupational Therapy and Geriatrics; assists with the facilitation of student placements, as assigned.
13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Graduation from an approved school of Occupational Therapy. Two (2) years' recent acute or community experience with a geriatric population or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience. Current full registration with the College of Health and Care Professionals of BC. Eligible for membership in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists - BC (CAOT-BC).

Skills and Abilities

• Demonstrated knowledge of current developments in Occupational Therapy relevant to working with a geriatric population..
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of philosophy of Residential Care.
• Demonstrated understanding of the scope of practice of other health care disciplines.
• Demonstrated knowledge of community resources.
• Demonstrated ability to develop, implement and revise educational programs.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a role model exemplifying evidence-based gerontological practices.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
• Demonstrated ability to plan, problem solve, organize and prioritize work in a continually changing environment.
• Demonstrated supervisory and leadership skills.
• Ability to teach and facilitate the learning of others.
• Ability to work independently and as a member of the interdisciplinary team.
• Ability to develop and maintain rapport with residents, interdisciplinary team members and other stakeholders.
• Ability to operate related equipment including a personal computer and relevant software applications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.

Fraser Health is the heart of health care for over two million people in Metro Vancouver and the Fraser Valley in British Columbia, Canada, on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.

People - those we care for and those who care for them - are at the heart of everything we do. Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers.

We are committed to planetary health and value diversity in the work force. We strive to maintain an environment of respect, caring and trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable and culturally safe manner.

Together, we are the heart of health care.

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