Occupational Therapist, Mental Health

Compensation Pay Range

$44.19-$54.65

Please Note: If you are a current CHEO employee with access to Workday, please apply to this posting via the Workday application as an internal applicant using the Jobs Hub.

To successfully apply for this position, please submit your application by 11:59 pm the day before the advertised closing date in the posting to ensure your application is received.

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land.

CHEO is one of the few stand-alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system.

Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world-class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario.

Position Summary

CHEO, The Royal, Youth Services Bureau and Le CAP are partnering to develop a community Program based Step Up Step Down Program (up to 30 days) to address the needs of youth and their families who are experiencing complex and persistent mental health and psychosocial issues. The Step Up Step Down will offer interdisciplinary live-in care in a community setting with the goal of averting hospital admissions, facilitating shorter hospital inpatient stays or preventing placement breakdown. The goal of the program is to address the existing gap in recovery focused live-in treatment services for youth 12-17 years. The Occupational Therapist will be part of the interdisciplinary and interagency team at the Program.

Supervision : Manager, Mental Health, and works closely with Step Up Step Down Clinical Director and the Professional Practice Leader, Occupational Therapy

Job Description

• To provide an assessment of the child or youth’s daily functioning within the home, school and community environments
• To assess the patient’s abilities in the area of self-care, and explore both leisure and vocational strengths and needs to aid in the development of coping strategies
• To assess the youth’s attachment skills; social, emotional and behavioural self-regulation skills; sensory processing; and oral, fine and gross motor development, and provide programming to address the needs identified
• To liaise with school personnel for purpose of understanding school functioning and providing interventions that will facilitate successful reintegration into school
• To actively organize, plan and facilitate groups (e.g. self-care, Pet Therapy, sleep hygiene, emotional regulation, etc.)
• To collaborate with team members on developing safety plans for the child/youth.
• To work with the child/youth on an individual basis and/or within a therapeutic group.
• To participate in meetings with the Step Up Step Down Program interdisciplinary Team.
• To participate in monthly professional practice meetings.
• To actively participate in program development for the Step Up Step Down Program.
• To actively participate as a team member within the Step Up Step Down Program interdisciplinary team(s) in formulating individual recommendations post-discharge
• To participate in ongoing education and training to remain up-to-date on best practice.
• To participate in clinical research activities related to the Step Up Step Down Program.
• To participate in the supervision and teaching of students and support personnel.
• To participate in ongoing quality improvement intiatives.
• To represent Occupational Therapy and the Step Up Step Down Interdisciplinary Program on committees.

Qualifications

• Vulnerable Sector Check (Essential)
• Graduate from an accredited university program in Occupational Therapy (Essential)
• Registered with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario (C.O.T.O.) (Essential)
• Minimum of 2 years’ experience as an Occupational Therapist, preferably in pediatrics (Essential)
• Related experience within a mental health setting (Preferred)
• Knowledge of psychiatric disorders in children and youth (Preferred)
• Experience and/or interest in clinical research (Preferred)
• Communicate effectively, orally and in writing (Essential)
• Demonstrate excellence in interpersonal skills (Essential)
• Comfort level and skill in preparing and facilitating therapeutic groups (Essential)
• Bilingualism in English and French (Preferred)
• Please note you will be represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Please note that this position will be based out of Ottawa. Please note that location may be subject to change at any time at the discretion of the employer. All OPSEU members shall be granted an interview upon passing the pre-screening. Pre-screening might include testing.

Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre-screening and evaluation process. This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested.

Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at View email address on ca.workus.org . All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

Please note you will be represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at View email address on ca.workus.org. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.