Occupational Therapist

4 days ago Requisition

Salary: $79,989.00 Annually

Since 1973, The Alex has been a community-based, not-for-profit organization providing integrated primary health care, community support services, and housing-focused programs to individuals and families who experience barriers to accessing traditional health, housing, and social service systems. Services are grounded in principles of health equity, low-barrier access, trauma-informed practice, cultural safety, harm reduction, and person-centered care.

The Pathways Assertive Outreach (PAO) program is a non-housing support service that operates as an evidence-based Assertive Community Treatment team, practicing within the ACT Fidelity framework and guided by Recovery and Assertive Engagement principles. Services are delivered by a transdisciplinary team, and the program prioritizes continuity of care for individuals with a chronic primary diagnosis of a psychotic illness.

Reporting to the Clinical Team Lead, the Occupational Therapist is a key member of the Pathways Assertive Outreach Team (PAOT) and is responsible for supporting program participants to improve, regain and develop skills needed for daily life. The occupational therapist helps restore or increase the program participant's ability to care for themselves and engage in work, school or leisure in an outreach setting (within participants' homes) and is responsive to ACT Team duties, including on-call duties.

This is a full-time contract position for 13 months until September 3, 2027.

• Offer culturally sensitive services where indicated.
• Uphold the principles of the ACT Model, Harm Reduction and Trauma Informed Care.
• Understand the Mental Health Act and Community Treatment Orders.
• Understand and follow program policies and procedures.

• Complete monthly evidence-based assessment tools with program participants and required data entry.
• Create, implement and update participant-centred service plan goals, and safety planning.
• Complete required documentation with excellence, following agency policy and procedures and respective professional college requirements.

• Provide single-staff, assertive outreach services to individuals with significant mental health and addiction concerns.
• Support program participants who experience acute, severe and persistent mental health and substance use disorders.
• Analyze program participants' capabilities and expectations related to life activities through observation, interviews and formal assessments.
• Consult and complete program intakes.
• Develop intervention programs to address program participants' needs related to self-care, work and leisure activities.
• Establish personalized care plans while working as a member of an interdisciplinary team.
• Consult and advise on health promotion programs to prevent disabilities and maximise independent function in all activities of life.
• May supervise support personnel and students and provide training.
• Advising on adaptive equipment to help program participants with daily activities.
• Preparing program participants for a return to work, when applicable.
• Educating caregivers and family members of program participants on program participant care, when applicable.
• Evaluating results and progress of occupational therapy on program participants.
• Maintaining professional knowledge and technical progress to provide program participants with the best treatment program available.
• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of crisis management and the impact of trauma on mental health and addiction issues.
• Willingness to teach and support participants in their suites and community settings with daily living skills (e.g. cooking, cleaning, financial literacy, grocery shopping, budgeting, laundry, etc.).
• Help identify risk factors that could lead to eviction and work alongside program participants to reduce the likelihood of eviction, including supporting regular unit inspections.
• Accompany and/or provide transportation support to external appointments and assist with activities of daily living as required.
• Advocate for the rights of program participants.
• Aid participants with systems…