Part-time Occupational Therapist - Hospital to Home Program

Job Description

We are seeking experienced home care OTs who are interested in participating in an innovative Hospital to Home Program that will consider both the patient and service provider experience.  As an independent contractor and ADP authorizer with knowledge of your local area in the Toronto Central region, you are committed to working with vulnerable populations with social and health inequities transitioning from hospital to home.   We offer an attractive compensation package, flexibility, peer support and barrier free referrals with 7 – 10 days advance notice for most of our patients.   We know how valuable OTs are in improving people’s quality of life and we want you to be part of the Sinai Health to Home Program making a difference at Circle of Care.

The Occupational Therapist, working as an independent contractor, is an integral member of the Sinai Health to Home (SHtoH) point of care team at Circle of Care. With a focus on population health and the social determinants of health, each member of the team works within the program guidelines to support patients recently discharged from Sinai Health. The program is intended to provide wrap-around services to support the transition from hospital to home and optimize functional recovery through self-efficacy and chronic disease management. In order to touch as many lives as possible and positively impact patient and family outcomes while on the program, team members will provide evidence informed professional practice, continually assess needs, progress and suitability of services; provide community referrals and resources and make recommendations that align with the program goals for financially sustainable home care.

We are looking for: 3 part-time Occupational Therapists (Independent Contractors)
Hours of Work: Minimum 5 visits per week.  This is a community-based position that requires travel to client homes in Toronto.
Reports to: Program Manager, Sinai Hospital to Home

Responsibilities

Clinical Practice – Excellence and Quality Improvement

• Conduct in home comprehensive assessments to identify functional limitations, cognitive challenges, environmental barriers, and patient’s goals.
• Incorporate a strong psychosocial perspective when engaging with patients and caregivers as enablers for effective coping and engagement with recommendations.
• Apply knowledge and skill in safe moving and handling in the home setting and use specific knowledge of unregulated care provider limitations, including publicly funded PSWs.
• Able to develop a personalized treatment plan, including goals for improving independence in activities of daily living (ADLs) such as bathing, dressing, eating and mobility.
• Recommend and fit assistive devices like grab bars, raised toilet seats, shower chairs, walking aids and specialized utensils to promote safety and independence.
• Set SMART goals with the patient/family to be achieved within program stay.
• Provide guidance and training to family and caregivers on how to assist the patient safely and effectively with daily activities, including lifting techniques and fall prevention strategies.
• Implement strategies to manage pain related to activities of daily living, including body biomechanics, positioning techniques, and pain management education.
• Address cognitive impairments by recommending memory aids, task sequencing strategies, and environmental adaptations for individuals with cognitive decline.
• Conduct fall risk assessments and implement interventions to reduce the risk of falls, such as exercise programs, environmental modifications, and gait training.
• Support patients and caregivers to manage stress and prevent burnout and apply strategies to support people living with mental health issues or those with palliative goals.
• Address interpersonal conflict when patient’s goals for equipment or safe moving and handling are inconsistent with legislative requirements (ADP) and workplace safety.
• Collaborate with health care professionals, community organizations, and family members to advocate for the patient’s needs and promote access to necessary services and support.
• Use therapeutic communication and motivational interviewing to engage patients and families in partnership and use empathy to manage frustration and escalation.
• Complete applications and funding letters and adhere to college and funder requirements.

Clinical excellence and Quality Improvement

• Complete patient comprehensive assessments and clinical documentation in alignment with college documentation standards.
• Submit Professional Service Reports three days after initial visit, when requested due to a change of status and when goals are met/almost met to support transition planning.
• Submit visit schedule and billings for payment and First Visit Capacity weekly.
• Adhere to verbal reporting requirements for NSNF, Missed Care, Service Refusals or inability to contact patients, adverse effects (witnessed falls), complaints or compliments.
• Report all safety events impacting clients, caregivers, and families in a timely and honest disclosure.

Information Management and Reporting

• Complete and maintain patient health record and adhere to the clinical documentation standards for privacy, safety and return.
• Adhere to COTO standard, organizational and funder policies for record keeping, consent, disclosure requests, privacy and confidentiality.
• Ensure funding letters or copies, including ADP applications, are part of the health record.
• Follow organization’s policy on privacy, confidentiality, and cybersecurity when using own devices for managing PHI.

Integrated Team and Clinical Leadership

• Strive to promote the values of the blended care model to promote an optimal patient experience, continuity of care, and reduce duplication of assessments.
• Collaborate by communicating with the Program Supervisor, participating in huddles for patient updates or warm hand-offs.
• Work with Rehabilitation Assistants to develop and implement a treatment plan with follow-up through joint visits or phone communication.

Risk, Health and Work Place Safety

• Identifying and reporting health and safety incidents and concerns in a timely manner to the appropriate supervisors and/or funders, documenting incidents in EasyCare and escalating appropriately to the designated supervisors as outlined in the Client Safety Reporting policy (C.01.38).
• Participating in health and safety processes and procedures
• Participating in maintaining a safe workplace environment by cultivating a positive safety culture and encouraging best practices to promote both staff and client safety and well-being
• Participating in all health and safety training initiatives on a regular basis.
• Taking proactive action against client incidents within your scope of practice.
• Developing a plan to identify, manage and/or minimize client safety risks or situations in adherence with risk management operations policies.
• Assessing the severity of an adverse client safety/risk event and determining the best follow-up and developing an action plan following the event. Collaborating with funder and following any additional processes as required.
• Calling emergency services (911) when the client is an immediate risk of harming themselves or others, or if there is a serious injury and/or imminent harm.
• Evaluating any potential hazards and identifying clients at risk for adverse health and safety events, taking preventative measures when necessary to minimize reoccurrence.
• Reporting all safety events impacting clients, caregivers and families in a timely and honest disclosure.

Qualifications

• RN with a graduate degree in nursing practice. Additional advanced degree or certificates in interprofessional education an asset.
• Experience working in home care at point of care or in educational/leadership roles required.
• Past clinical experience working in medical-surgical or rehabilitation units and working closely with social work, OT, PT, SLP and Dietitians desirable
• Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) Certification in Community Health Nursing, Gerontology or Mental Health; International Integrated Wound Care Certification (IIWCC), Canadian Venous Access Certification (CVAA).
• Project Planning certification or certificates helpful
• Experience providing interprofessional education or working in integrated, interprofessional teams across health sectors (hospitals/LTC/Home and Community Care)
• Knowledge of interprofessional practice and integrated models including leadership competencies
• Experience leading RNAO Best Practice Spotlight Organization (BPSO) initiatives and/or Best Practice Guideline Implementation
• History of implementing best practice initiatives based on research and evidence- informed practice
• Contribution to thought leadership through published research or presentations
• Active participant in organizational readiness for Accreditation Canada surveys
• Actively participates in the program on-call rotation with relevant team members