Occupational Therapist - NICU

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 45,000 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.

We currently have an exciting Casual opportunity for an Occupational Therapist to join our NICU unit in our Rehabilitation Department at Abbotsford Regional Hospital and Cancer Centre in Abbotsford, BC.

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.

Fraser Health values diversity in the work force and strives to maintain an environment of Respect, Caring and Trust. Fraser Health’s hiring practices aspire to ensure all individuals are treated in an inclusive, equitable, and culturally safe manner.

Provides occupational therapy services in accordance with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC) standards of practice, Fraser Health mission, values and occupational therapy acute care standard, and in collaboration and partnership with the interprofessional care team in the provision of patient and family centered care. Provides assessment, occupational therapy diagnosis and prognosis, treatment plan and intervention development, implementation and evaluation, and patient consultation and education to enable the patient to achieve and maintain optimal health outcomes. Participates in approved occupational therapy and interprofessional research, special projects, and program quality and safety activities.

1. Provides occupational therapy assessment of the patient's physical and cognitive status, functional abilities, needs, and goals by methods such as reviewing records, gathering information, interviewing the patient, identifying patient and therapist expectations, selecting and applying evidence-based assessment methods, consulting with members of the health care team, performing hands-on patient examinations, and monitoring the patient's health to improve, maintain or support occupational health and performance.
2. Analyzes the patient's needs, establishes occupational therapy diagnosis and prognosis and develops an evidence-based, outcome-focused intervention strategy; utilizes assessment and reassessment findings, discusses the analysis with the patient and caregivers, develops short and long term goals and selects a practice model/intervention consistent with patient needs and goals to achieve optimal health outcomes.
3. Implements interventions in accordance with established treatment guidelines and educates patients and caregivers regarding self-management, health promotion and injury/disability prevention.
4. Participates in the interprofessional care planning process for patients as appropriate by ensuring the plan is established and implemented effectively, updating care plan and intervening as appropriate, and collaborating and communicating on issues that will affect the care/transfer/discharge plan.
5. Evaluates and documents the effectiveness of interventions by methods such as conducting ongoing assessment and monitoring of patient responses, evaluating changes in health status, function and occupational performance against pre-determined goals and expected outcomes, and modifying the intervention strategy to achieve and maintain optimal functional independence and occupational performance.
6. Participates in maintaining seamless quality patient care by identifying appropriate referrals for occupational therapy services, screening for priority of intervention, and identifying and facilitating referrals to appropriate health care/community programs.
7. Collaborates with patients and their families/care givers in developing the care plan and encourages family participation in the development, implementation and ongoing modification of the care plan. Establishes a therapeutic relationship by demonstrating empathy, trust and respect, advocating for the patient's rights to privacy, dignity and access to information, and by ensuring the patient's choice and autonomy in decision-making and care planning.
8. Maintains a variety of records including patient files by gathering information, entering data into computerized databases and/or documenting information into approved formats.  Notes patient progress, changes to treatment plan, and records test/treatment results to provide evidence and rationale that support assessment findings and intervention plan.  Compiles statistics on workload activities and summarizes information into written reports as requested.
9. Delegates components of treatment to rehabilitation assistants by providing work direction and verbal and/or written instruction, ensuring and documenting the appropriate transfer of function and ensuring quality patient care.
10. Acts as an occupational therapy resource to other occupational therapists, rehabilitation assistants, and students by assisting with orientation and demonstrating procedures. Provides occupational therapy information and in-services to other members of the health care team and attends meetings as a representative of occupational therapy.
11. Participates in team/program activities required to enhance and optimize the delivery of care and to facilitate evidence-based practice.  Promotes quality and safety principles, identifies processes/procedures that require improvement and provides recommendations for review.
12. Participates in approved occupational therapy and interprofessional research, special projects, and committees including professional practice councils and clinical decision support tool development.
13. Performs other related duties as assigned.

Education and Experience

Current full registration with the College of Occupational Therapists of British Columbia (COTBC).

Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of occupational therapy theory and practice within a patient and family-centered model of care.
• Knowledge of the COTBC standards of practice and practice guidelines for clinical practitioners.
• Knowledge of occupational therapy standardized tests, measures, use of equipment and related techniques.
• Broad knowledge of other health care professions and their role in patient care.
• Ability to communicate effectively and respectfully with patients, caregivers, rehabilitation assistants, members of the interprofessional care team, both verbally (one-on-one and in groups) and in writing.
• Ability to teach and provide effective consultation to patients, caregivers, rehabilitation assistants and other health care professionals.
• Ability to work independently and in collaboration with others.
• Ability to establish workload priorities and adjust to unexpected events.
• Basic knowledge of research process and methodology.
• Ability to operate related equipment including relevant software applications.
• Physical ability to perform the duties of the position.