Make a difference in a growing, innovative mental health organization and centre of excellence in people-centered care. Work with supportive colleagues who are passionate about improving lives and champions for quality and continuous learning.

As an Occupational Therapy Student Extern, you will be an integral part of a collaborative, interdisciplinary team focused on delivering high-quality, recovery-oriented care. This position offers a unique opportunity to apply and enhance your occupational therapy knowledge and skills within specialized mental health and addictions programs while receiving mentorship from experienced Occupational Therapists.

What you'll be doing:

• Support the implementation of occupational therapy interventions, therapeutic programs, and meaningful activities for individuals and groups under the supervision of an Occupational Therapist
• Establish and maintain professional, therapeutic relationships with patients through respectful, compassionate, and recovery-oriented interactions
• Assist patients with activities of daily living, including personal care, feeding, mobility, and community living tasks, based on demonstrated competencies and patient needs
• Support patient participation in therapeutic, recreational, educational, and recovery-focused programming
• Observe and communicate relevant information regarding patients' physical, cognitive, emotional, behavioural, and functional status to the Occupational Therapist and interdisciplinary team
• Contribute to assessment, intervention planning, goal setting, safety planning, and evaluation processes under Occupational Therapist direction
• Assist with mobility, transfers, ambulation, positioning, and transportation of patients while following safe patient handling practices
• Document patient observations, delegated activities, and care-related information in accordance with organizational policies and professional standards
• Promote patient safety, comfort, dignity, autonomy, and well-being through person-centred care practices
• Support unit operations by maintaining a safe, clean, organized, and therapeutic environment
• Participate in orientation, mandatory education, quality improvement initiatives, and professional development activities
• Maintain privacy, confidentiality, infection prevention and control practices, and compliance with organizational policies, including vaccination and PPE requirements

What we're looking for:

• Currently enrolled in an accredited Occupational Therapy Master's program in Ontario
• Current student status must be maintained throughout the externship
• Current BCLS certification
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Outstanding interpersonal and relationship-building skills with a strong ability to collaborate as part of an interdisciplinary team
• Strong observational, assessment, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational and time-management abilities
• Ability to work effectively both independently and within a collaborative healthcare team.
• Demonstrated commitment to patient- and family-centred care
• Understanding of the healthcare system and services available to support individuals experiencing mental health and addiction challenges.
• Commitment to professionalism, accountability, workplace safety, and continuous learning
• Ability to participate in scheduling requirements, mandatory education, training, and performance check-ins as outlined by the Student Extern Program

The pay for this position is $20.60 hourly

Employment in this externship role is contingent upon maintaining active student status in an eligible Occupational Therapy program. The appointment will terminate upon graduation, withdrawal from the program, or loss of eligibility for the externship.

As part of our commitment to the health and safety of our patients, staff and community from COVID-19, subject to any accommodation required by applicable human rights legislation, Homewood Health Centre requires that all staff have received all required doses of a COVID-19 vaccine approved by Health Canada.

Why work for us

Homewood Health is Canada's largest and leading service provider for medically focused, evidence-based treatment of mental health and addiction disorders. Our organizational culture values service excellence, integrity, collaboration, and innovation. Our people make a difference.

As an equal opportunity employer, Homewood Health is committed to employment accessibility, diversity, equity, and inclusion. We encourage applications from members of equity-seeking groups, including women, Indigenous peoples, racialized communities, persons with disabilities, and individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions.

Join us at Homewood Health and be part of a diverse team helping Canadians live healthier, more productive, and more fulfilling lives.

This job posting is for an existing vacant position within the organization.