Competition # : 44248
Department: Community Services
Location: DARTMOUTH
Type of Employment: Term
Union Status: NSGEU - NSPG
Closing Date: 05-Nov-24 (Applications are accepted until 11:59 PM Atlantic Time)
At the Department of Community Services (DCS), we are a large and diverse department providing a broad portfolio of programs and services including Child and Family Wellbeing (CFW), Employment Support Services (ESS), Income Assistance (IA), Homelessness and Supportive Housing, and the Disability Support Program (DSP).
We’re hiring a dedicated Occupational Therapist to join our Long-Term Treatment Program in Dartmouth. This role is ideal for both experienced professionals and recent graduates who are passionate about working with children and youth facing complex emotional and behavioural challenges.
In this role, you’ll work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, providing assessment, diagnostic, and treatment services to children and youth in care. Your contributions will be essential in helping young individuals develop the skills and behaviours they need for successful community reintegration.
This role offers the opportunity to do meaningful work every day that has a direct and long-lasting impact on the lives of youth. If you are compassionate, motivated, and driven by a desire to make a difference, we welcome you to apply for this rewarding role!
As the Occupational Therapist, your responsibilities will include:
You have a master’s degree in occupational therapy or an equivalent. You must be eligible for membership in the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists and, on appointment, be registered by the College of Occupational Therapists of Nova Scotia.
The following would be an asset to this position:
This position requires travel within the province to provincial child-caring facilities. Therefore, a valid driver’s license and access to a reliable motor vehicle is required.
While we take precautions, children may demonstrate harmful/aggressive behaviours. You must be physically able to implement Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) techniques to manage these behaviours and ensure a safe environment.
Based on the employment status and union agreement, the Government of Nova Scotia offers its employees a wide range of benefits such as a Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Health, Dental, Life Insurance, General illness, Short and Long Term Disability, Vacation and Employee and Family Assistance Programs. For information on all our Benefit program offerings, click here: Benefits for government employees.
You will be based in Dartmouth and provide long-term treatment supports for youth. Periodic travel to the Wood Street Campus in Truro, a 24/7 secure and long-term treatment facility, is required, with travel expenses reimbursed. The nature of this role involves maintaining both dynamic and static security to ensure the safety of children, visitors, staff, and the public. This work environment is high stress, requiring the ability to manage pressure and crisis situations effectively. Personal resilience and strong self-awareness are essential to meet the physical and emotional demands of the role.
Your normal work week is 35 hours/week, 7 hours/day. To meet the unique needs of the children, you may need to work beyond these regular hours. Modified work schedules can be discussed at the offer negotiation stage.
This is a one-year term opportunity with an anticipated end date of November 1, 2025. The appointment status (‘term’, ‘temporary’ or ‘casual’) is dependent on the start date of the successful candidate.
Pay Grade: HSB 18 - HSB 25
Salary Range: $2,386.45 - $3,301.89 Bi-Weekly
Employment Equity Statement:
Our goal is to be a diverse workforce that is representative, at all job levels, of the citizens we serve. The Government of Nova Scotia has an Employment Equity Policy, and we welcome applications from Indigenous People, African Nova Scotians and Other Racially Visible Persons, Persons with Disabilities and Women in occupations or positions where they are under-represented. If you are a member of one of these equity groups, you are encouraged to self-identify on your electronic application.
This is a bargaining unit position initially restricted to current civil service employees represented by the Nova Scotia Government Employees Union (NSGEU). If applying from outside a government office, employees must apply correctly via this link:
Failure to apply correctly means that your application will not be given first consideration as a bargaining unit applicant, and will only be included if external applications are pursued.
External applicants and current casual employees will only be considered if there are no qualified civil service bargaining unit candidates. PLEASE NOTE: Candidates will not be considered for an interview if applications are incomplete or are missing information.
Offer of employment is conditional upon the completion of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials, the results of which must be satisfactory to the employer. We thank all applicants for the interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. All questions and concerns may be directed to Competitions@novascotia.ca.