Occupational Therapist I

As a member of the Allied Health & Patient Experience team, the successful candidate will provide Occupational Therapy services within the Forensic Acute Psychiatry unit at Alberta Hospital Edmonton. This specialized setting serves individuals who are involved with the legal system and are experiencing acute mental health challenges. Patients may be admitted under court orders for assessment, treatment, or stabilization. As an Occupational Therapist in this environment, your role will be vital in supporting patients’ recovery and reintegration by: Conducting functional assessments to determine patients’ strengths, limitations, and readiness for participation in daily life activities; Designing and implementing individualized interventions that promote self-care, emotional regulation, social interaction, and cognitive functioning; Supporting patients in developing skills necessary for safe and meaningful participation in community life, including vocational readiness, leisure engagement, and interpersonal relationships; Collaborating with interdisciplinary teams, including psychiatry, nursing, social work, and recreation therapy, to inform treatment planning and risk management; Contributing to discharge planning by identifying community supports and advocating for appropriate resources to facilitate successful transitions. This role requires a strong understanding of trauma-informed care, risk assessment, and the intersection of mental health and the justice system. It offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact in a complex and rewarding clinical environment.

As an Occupational Therapist (OT), you will provide evidence-informed services, with a focus on occupational performance designed to meet the needs of individuals, groups, or a community. You may act as a direct service provider, consultant, educator, or advocate and function as an integral health care team member. You will engage individuals, groups, and communities to enable meaningful and chosen occupations, including self-care, productivity and leisure. You will support clients to achieve optimum functional abilities and independence related to their cognitive, affective, spiritual, and physical strengths and limitations. As an OT, you will provide comprehensive services, including triage, screening, consultation, assessment, diagnosis, collaborative goal setting, treatment, prevention, self-management, education, case management, referral, transition support, and collaboration with relevant and chosen stakeholders and supports within the client¿s physical, institutional, cultural, and social environments. You will include clients and families as integral members of the health care team, encouraging their active participation in all aspects of care. You will collaborate with clients and families in determining, implementing, and evaluating rehabilitation. You will participate in a variety of interprofessional teams to build awareness, enrich support and engage in quality improvement by partnering with healthcare providers, patients, families, and other stakeholders to advance services for the clients. You will contribute to quality improvement and their professional community and participate in peer mentoring and supervising students. You may also provide clinical supervision to Therapy Assistants and Therapy Aides.

Completion of bachelor's degree in Occupational Therapy from an accredited university program. Registered with the Alberta College of Occupational Therapists (ACOT).

ACOT registration eligibility; Current Heart & Stroke Foundation Basic Life Skills (BLS). Knowledge and experience working within a forensic and/or psychiatric setting.

Certification and experience in therapeutic interventions, including but not limited to, effective de-escalation techniques, CBT, DBT, solution-focused therapy, motivational interviewing, mindfulness; Demonstrated knowledge and skill in the assessment and treatment of individuals with mental health concerns/diagnoses.