Occupational Therapist (Independent Contractor)

Job Title: Occupational Therapist

Status: Independent Contractor

Schedule: Anytime during Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

Location: The Newly Institute Halifax, Nova Scotia (#3001, 7071 Bayers Road, Halifax, NS)

ABOUT THE NEWLY INSTITUTE

The Newly Institute was founded to provide long-lasting change within the mental health industry, our community, and with our clients. We are leading a paradigm shift in the Canadian healthcare system by building a network of purpose-built mental health clinics across Canada. By fusing a bio-psycho-social-spiritual treatment model with medically managed therapies, our intensive outpatient programs provide rapid access, rapid resolution, and rapid return to work and healthy lifestyle programs for anxiety, depression, addiction, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), trauma, and chronic pain.

We have an exciting opportunity for an Occupational Therapist to join our multi-disciplinary clinical team in our Halifax clinic as an Independent Contractor.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

Reporting to the Manager of Clinical Services, the Occupational Therapist will perform assessments, in vivo exposure, group facilitation, return to work (RTW) planning, and 1-1 occupational therapy treatment for a range of mental health conditions, while collaborating with members of the clinic’s multi-disciplinary team to achieve positive client outcomes. This role is a key part of our dynamic clinical team and reflects our core values of communication, community, excellence, health, and innovation.

Client-centered Care Accountabilities

• Provide individual occupational therapy sessions.
• Conduct efficient and effective clinical client assessments (mental health history, risk assessment, trauma, and activities of daily living).
• Facilitate psychoeducation groups (based on ACT, In-Vivo Exposure, sleep education, DBT skills, mindfulness, and other psychoeducation topics).
• Provide resource-based interventions, case management and coordination, transition, or discharge planning occasionally.
• Assist in grounding and reflection post-psychopharmacological treatment occasionally.
• Support clients in building functional independence and quality of life through interventions focused on daily living skills, energy conservation and pacing, pain management and education, and establishing sustainable routines and daily structure.
• Demonstrate expertise and skills to support clients presenting with:
  • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Major Depressive Disorder
  • Personality disorders
  • Psychological injury
  • Chronic pain management
  • Return to work barriers

Team Collaboration Accountabilities

• Participate in weekly case consultations and complex case discussions with an interdisciplinary team.
• Work in an interdisciplinary model with other therapists by sharing a client caseload.
• Communicate with other clinicians on a regular basis about any successes and any concerns related to client care.
• Attend relevant clinical meetings.
• Engagement in professional consults and supervision.

Administrative Accountabilities

• Ensure same-day completion of session notes.
• Complete reports in a timely manner.
• Provide reporting to third-parties and community referral sources.
• Communicate with employers and/or case managers effectively.

Community Advocacy

• Participate in mental health promotion activities and contribute to establishing and maintaining mental health and addictions community resources.

Other responsibilities related to the role and scope of work may be assigned.

WHAT YOU BRING

Experience

• A minimum of two years of experience supporting clients with mental health conditions, including assessment/triage and treatment, is required.
  
• Experience supporting first responders is an asset.
• Experience working with third-party funders is an asset.

Equivalencies of education may be considered.

Education

• A Master’s degree in Occupational Therapy is required.
• Training certificates in trauma therapy, specifically Prolonged Exposure Therapy is an asset.

Professional Registration/Designation

• An active registration with the Nova Scotia Occupational Therapy Regulator (NSOTR) is required.
• Approval from NSOTR to provide psychotherapy is required, with authorization to provide CBT including exposure therapy.
• Professional liability insurance is required.
  

Technical Competences

Proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams is required. Proficiency with Electronic Medical Records (EMR) systems is also required.

This role may require occasional travel. A valid driver's license and sufficient insurance coverage is required.

Background Check

Offers are conditional, subject to employment reference checks and a clear police background check inclusive of vulnerable sectors.

DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

We actively protect our diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where we are empowered to show up as their authentic selves. We welcome applicants of all races, colours, places of origin, ancestries, religious beliefs, genders/gender identities/gender expressions, sexual orientations, ages, sources of income, family/marital statuses, and physical and mental disabilities. Our hiring practices ensure that all qualified candidates are considered, and decisions are merit-based.

ACCESSIBILITY

The Newly Institute welcomes and encourages applications from persons with disabilities or those seeking accommodation based on any other protected ground. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To request accommodation, please email careers@thenewly.ca. 

APPLICATION CLOSING

The posting will remain open until the role is filled. We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.