Occupational Therapist- Permanent

Occupational Therapist

Full-Time Permanent Position – 10 Month

Salary- $71,885 -$93,227 (Under Review)

Start Date: September 3rd, 2024

About the Board

The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to learning, equity, engagement and innovation. We are guided by our vision, Growing Together, the mission that every student experiences a sense of belonging and engages in dynamic learning to reach their potential and build their own future, and our values of Compassion, Dignity, Trust, and Joy to guide our daily work and ensure that we honour the unique identities and needs of all. Proudly serving a community of approximately 50,000 students in the City of Hamilton and surrounding area, HWDSB operates across 84 elementary schools, 13 secondary schools and 1 Adult Learning Centre, in addition to providing support and service to approximately 8,800 staff members.

Staff Wellness

At HWDSB, staff wellness is a priority. We are committed to co-creating and fostering an environment where staff feel safe, valued, and supported. We are continuously striving to support the needs of our diverse community and actively work to foster and maintain a culture of human rights.

Our holistic Staff Wellness program has been designed to support employee’s well-being in all dimensions of health. As one part of this comprehensive program, all staff as well as their dependents have access to free and confidential supports through our Employee and Family Assistance Provider (EFAP), in addition to many other program components.

Reporting to the Manager of Specialized Services, in conjunction with the Principal of Special Education, the Occupational Therapist will provide a tiered consultative support for K-12 classrooms to help to improve performance of students with disabilities. The Occupational Therapist will also be responsible for contributions to HWDSB policies and procedures and Board-wide initiatives. This position is designated for a registered member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.

Qualifications

• Master of Science in Occupational Therapy obtained in Ontario or an academic qualification considered equivalent by the College of Occupational Therapist of Ontario's Registration Committee.
• A member of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario
• Minimum of 3 years work experience
• Awareness of the HWDSB Multi Year Strategic Plan
• Must have experience in pediatrics and school-based practice
• Training in Equity and Inclusive Education
• Valid driver’s license

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Collaborate to develop broad based strategies that focus on integration occupational therapy within daily functioning of classroom/school environments
• Provide individualized assessments and detailed professional reports
• Assess and recommend assistive devices and equipment for students
• Provide detailed information that supports the acquisition of specialized equipment through Special Equipment Amount or other funding sources
• Provide professional development opportunities, independently or in collaboration with other staff
• Provide professional development and demonstrate effective practices to support a sensory diet and sensory integration
• Participate in the creation of policies and guidelines around the use of calming and sensory rooms in schools
• Contribute to Behaviour and Safety Plans that include the systematic use of sensory rooms
• Collaborate with members of a multi-disciplinary system team as well as school staffs
• Continued professional learning to better support the goals in the annual plan of the board
• Liaise with community agencies
• Respond to referrals from both the Behaviour Analytic Services team as well as school administrators and other system staff
• Respond to referrals and prioritization in the management of their own caseload
• Assume responsibility for maintaining a current professional knowledge base.

Experience:

• Successful and relevant experience in supporting educators and families in understanding and addressing concerns associated with disabilities and complex neurodevelopmental conditions
• Knowledge of evidence-based practices; including best practice guidelines for Occupational Therapists, principles of applied behaviour analysis (ABA), and elements of social and emotional learning
• Thorough understanding and a demonstrated commitment to the HWDSB tiered approach to intervention
• Demonstration of experience in coaching, training, and mentoring staff
• Development of sensory spaces for students and monitoring systems as per best practice

Employment Equity Statement

Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board (HWDSB) is committed to building inclusive learning and working environments where students see themselves reflected in the curriculum, staff population, physical surroundings and the broader community.

HWDSBs mission is to empower students to learn and grow to their full potential in a diverse world. Guided by this mission, HWDSB strives to build a workforce that embodies the values of human rights, equity, diversity and inclusion, while reflecting and welcoming the diverse and distinct identities, experiences and needs of our students and our communities.

HWDSB seeks qualified candidates who share our commitment to equity and inclusion, and who will contribute to the vision of creating inclusive and equitable outcomes. HWDSB especially invites and welcomes applications from:

• Indigenous Peoples (e.g. First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples;)
• Members of groups that commonly experience discrimination due to race, ancestry, colour, religion and/or spiritual beliefs, or place of origin; (e.g. Black and racialized communities, immigrant communities, etc.)
• Persons with visible and/or invisible (physical and/or mental) disabilities;
• Persons who identify as women; and
• Persons of marginalized sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. (i.e. Two-spirit and LGBTQIA+)

HWDSB is committed to providing accommodation throughout the recruitment and selection process, based on any human rights protected grounds. If you require accommodation, please notify us in advance and we will work with you to meet your needs.

Land Acknowledgement

HWDSB is located on ancestral Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee Confederacy land as determined by the Dish with One Spoon treaty. The Dish with One Spoon wampum belt represents the treaty relationship between the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and Anishinaabe with respect to sharing the land and resources thereon. The intent of this agreement is for all nations sharing this territory to do so responsibly, respectfully and sustainably in perpetuity. We respect the longstanding relationships with the local Indigenous communities, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and the Six Nations of the Grand River.

Applicant Self-Identification Form

The information collected on this form is used to monitor HWDSBs progress toward our equity goals including our commitment to diversity in HWDSB recruitment and hiring practices.

We are committed to the security and confidentiality of information under our control, and to the protection of privacy with respect to personal and confidential information that is collected, used, disclosed and retained in the system (Policy 1.6 - Privacy). Information on this form is collected pursuant to Ontarios Education Equity Action Plan (Ministry of Education) and in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA). Access to this form is restricted to specific individuals in Human Resources. The Research and Analytics Department will use aggregate data from all the forms (not individual data) for internal reporting. Their access and use of the data is governed by MFIPPA and ethical research practices. Applicant Self-Identification Forms will be maintained in the Human Resources job competition file and securely destroyed 1 year after the job posting for candidates not selected for an interview and 6 years after the job posting for candidates interviewed, in accordance with general records retention principles.

If you prefer not to answer any of the questions, you can select prefer not to answer. This in no way affects your application or the applicant selection process. If you have questions or concerns about this form please contact humanresources@hwdsb.on.ca.