Therapy Assistant

The Therapy Assistant works under the direction of Occupational Therapists within pediatric, adult, and older adult inpatient and ambulatory programs. The Therapy Assistant prepares treatment media as directed, assists with/or provides group and individual intervention, and works collaboratively with the interdisciplinary team. The Therapy Assistant also prepares and cleans treatment activities/materials and helps to maintain spaces and order supplies. Provides periodic supervision of children for special activities. Maintains cleanliness, safety and orderliness of treatment and storage areas, and performs other support/clerical duties as required. May assist therapists across a variety of clinical areas across the department including pediatric, adult and older adult programs. Reports to the Manager, Occupational Therapy Service.

As a Therapy Assistant, you will work both individually and as part of an interprofessional team under the assignment, monitoring and evaluation of an audiologist, occupational therapist, physiotherapist, recreation therapist or speech-language pathologist. You will contribute to effective and efficient rehabilitation services including direct and indirect client care across the health care continuum (healthy living, getting better, living with illness and disability, end of life care) for all ages as well as non-client service provision. This role will require you to work effectively with internal and external partners, and display professionalism and strong ethics in both client centered care and participation in care teams. You will demonstrate evidence of reflective thinking and lifelong learning that enhances individual and team competency. You will have opportunities to use your interpersonal and clinical skills in contributing to quality improvement, program planning and student supervision.

Completion of diploma from an accredited post-secondary rehabilitation Therapy Assistant program or equivalent training may be considered.

Demonstrated experience working in a rehabilitation setting required. Previous experience providing group and individual treatment (e.g., UE training/strengthening, functional task training) required. Effective interpersonal and communication skills, and an ability to prioritize and organize work assignments with minimal direction are required. Must be able to perform physically demanding activities while applying appropriate body mechanics, including but not limited to, getting up/down and remaining on the ground for prolonged periods of time (e.g., mat work), kneeling and crawling, patient handling for lifts and transfers, holding/handling babies and toddlers, and performing range of motion exercises.

Preference given to applicants with a post-secondary diploma or certificate in rehabilitation or Occupational Therapy Assistant training. Preference also given for clinical experience across the lifespan including adults/older adults/pediatrics and with both group treatment, individual treatment, and exercise/home programming.