Community Occupational Therapist - DEW Substance Use Program

Fraser Health is responsible for the delivery of hospital and community-based health services to over 1.9 million people in 20 diverse communities from Burnaby to Fraser Canyon on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations. Our team of nearly 40,000 staff, medical staff and volunteers is dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities to deliver on our vision: Better health, best in health care.

Are you someone who is passionate about helping others? Do you want to work for one of British Columbia's top employers? Do you have working knowledge of current psychiatric rehabilitation?

We currently have an exciting opportunity for a Full Time Community Occupational Therapist to join our Rehabilitation & Recovery Program providing regional outpatient substance use treatment services across Fraser Health. This position will be located in New Westminster. The work schedule is Week 1 ( 08:30-16:30 Monday – Friday and Week 2 ( 12:00-20:00 Mon; 11:00-19:00 Tues;10:00-18:00 Wed; 09:00-17:00 Thurs; 08:30-16:30 Fri).

Effective October 26, 2021, all new hires to Fraser Health will need to have full COVID 19 vaccination (have received a full series of a World Health Organization “WHO” approved vaccine against infection by SARS-COV-2, or a combination of approved WHO vaccines).  Please note this applies to all postings, and individual medical exemptions must be approved by the Provincial Health Officer.

If this sounds like the ideal role for you, here are more reasons why you should apply:

• A career that offers you the opportunity to work in a fast growing and exciting organization with professionals who are excellent in their respective fields.
• Fantastic opportunities for support and mentorship into supervisory and management roles are available as you advance within the organization.
• An opportunity to make a difference every single day in the world of health care.

Take the next step and apply so we can continue the conversation.

Come work with dedicated health care providers who are enthusiastic and committed to provide quality healthcare to our clients/patients/residents. We invite you to find out why more than 95% of new employees recommend Fraser Health as an excellent place to work. Work hard and have fun while you do it.

Curious to learn what it’s like to work here? Like us on Facebook (@fraserhealthcareers), follow us on Twitter & Instagram (@FHCareer), or connect with us on LinkedIn (fraserhealthcareers) for first-hand employee insights.

Abiding by Fraser Health Policies and Procedures impacting rehabilitation and recovery services, and as a member of the interdisciplinary team, provides direct and indirect specialized occupational therapy services to clients of their area of practice using recognized occupational therapy tools and techniques. Services include client assessment, planning, group and individual interventions, and transition planning; consultation with and education for other professionals, contracted agencies and natural supports; and support services for clients and natural supports. The Occupational Therapist engages with individual clients and support systems as full collaborators in service planning, delivery, and evaluation; develops partnerships with community agencies to encourage client participation; focuses on occupational performance (person-occupation-environment) from a psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) perspective for Mental Health & Substance Use program clients; provides input into the evaluation of process and outcomes to ensure quality of services; participates in joint planning with team members for overall service delivery to clients, and works collaboratively with MHSU staff, agencies, and community service providers. This position may be required to work in different settings such as at more than one location within an assigned geographical area, or within a virtual/remote service delivery environment.

1. Screens and assesses client's functional capacity, occupational performance, and environmental supports to make appropriate referrals by reporting client's occupational profile, skills, limitations, support needs, and goals.


2. Reviews relevant clinical information and discusses the referral with the team including the client, their most responsible clinician and agencies involved by interviewing the client, significant others and/or natural supports, and other professionals and services to determine the appropriate use of assessment tools. Conducts home assessments/community visits as required.


3. Analyses and reviews assessment results with the client to determine a course of action, and provides verbal and written assessment reports to the case manager and other relevant stakeholders such as housing support staff.


4. Assists client and agency to determine the best method of achieving the desired results; supports client orientation to the service, and provides ongoing support and advice to both client and agency. Where necessary, refers clients to other services.


5. Provides individual and group treatment with selected clients of the mental health and substance use program by collaborating with inter-professional team members to determine recovery priorities and goals, and providing group leadership/co-leadership to meet psycho-education, skill development, and other needs.


6. Identifies appropriate Frame of Reference for intervention/treatment and reviews assessment results;, develops treatment goals with the client and treatment team, identifies resources required for treatment, including tests, materials and equipment, initiates the required funding requests, and provides individual treatments as required to restore, develop, or maintain occupational performance/functional responsibilities.


7. Assists in the provision of education regarding rehabilitation and recovery to mental health & substance use program staff. Identifies education needs and/or provides education to service providers, and assists in the development of training workshops to meet their identified needs.


8. Applies psychosocial rehabilitation approach with mental health & substance use program clients/consumers to facilitate clients' effective entry and participation in psychosocial rehabilitation, education, employment, and leisure programs, and provides information to assist the most responsible clinician in facilitating the client's effective rehabilitation.


9. Supports overall service delivery of the program through joint planning, responding to team priorities, and providing verbal and written reports regarding the progress towards program goals to the team coordinator.


10. Reviews programs, identifies program strengths, and recommends improvements; plans, develops and coordinates the development of rehabilitation programs in consultation and collaboration with clients, team members, other professionals, service providers and families;. identifies current resources and service gaps, determines priorities for service needs, service goals, evaluation tools and procedures. Provides input regarding program budgets and/or purchases as requested.


11. Represents their program, service area, or profession on Fraser Health and local committees on the development of rehabilitation policy, program planning and standards. Identifies current best practice service delivery models.


12. Coordinates rehabilitation resources, including but not limited to, Peer Support, Therapeutic Volunteer and Rehabilitation Fund programs. 


13. In consultation with the Coordinator and Manager, reviews the services of contracted rehabilitation programs by identifying strengths and areas which need improvement, strengthening existing partnerships and if necessary recommends corrective action, and developing new partnerships to provide rehabilitative services.


14. Collaborates with community agencies and communicates to provide specialized information regarding roles and services, and to support capacity development of programs and services for the client group. Ensures a coordinated approach to service provision and effective use of resources.


15. Acts as a consultant/resource regarding psychosocial rehabilitation to community agencies and services funded by Mental Health & Substance Use Services to provide rehabilitation, and to those that provide education, training, employment services and recreation services to Mental Health consumers.


16. Supervises as preceptor to occupational therapy students as required.


17. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Current full registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC). Two (2) years'' recent related experience working in a community mental health and/or substance use setting, or an equivalent combination of education, training, and experience.

Valid B.C. Class V Driver's License and access to a personal vehicle for business purposes.

Skills and Abilities

• Working knowledge of current psychiatric rehabilitation, psychosocial approaches, and recovery practices.


• Demonstrated knowledge of the major categories of mental illness and substance use and their appropriate rehabilitation treatments.


• Knowledge of relevant legislation.


• Demonstrated ability to use activity analysis to assess occupational performance and modify the activity, environment, or supports to enable occupation.


• Ability to utilize outcome measurement tools.


• Demonstrated leadership and presentation skills.


• Demonstrated ability to operate related equipment such as computers including applicable software applications including within the context of remote/virtual delivery of care.


• Ability to collaborate and work effectively in a community team setting, as well as independently.


• Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing with clients, families and other members of the health care team and community agencies.


• Ability to plan, organize, and prioritize work.


• Ability to problem-solve and exercise sound clinical reasoning.




• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.