Status: Temporary, Full-time (Contract ending January 28, 2028)
Location: St. Catharines, Ontario
Open Date: June 19, 2026
Closing Date: July 3, 2026
Who We Are
Niagara Children’s Centre is recognized throughout the Niagara Region as the provider of rehabilitation and support services to children and youth with physical, developmental and communicative delays and disabilities. Core services include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language services, augmentative and alternative communication, family services and therapeutic recreation. Our family-centred programs aim at helping each child achieve their own unique potential within their home, school and in the community.
As an employee of the Centre, you will be part of a community dedicated to creating a welcoming and supportive environment for the children and youth we serve. We are a place where families are at the heart of all we do. We continue to provide innovative ways of delivering high quality services and strengthening our family-centred care philosophy. We want to see “Niagara’s Children and Youth at Their Best!” Join a team that makes a real difference in the lives of children and youth every day.
The Role
The Occupational Therapist works to improve participation and quality of life through a child’s ability to perform role-appropriate, day-to-day tasks necessary for self-care (such as feeding, dressing, toileting); productivity (such as school, work); and leisure and play within their environment. This process involves assessment, identification of strengths and needs, goal-setting, treatment planning, and implementation of treatment in a direct, indirect or consultative manner, as indicated, then discharge.
As an employee of Niagara Children's Centre, the Occupational Therapist may be assigned to one or more services. These include single or interdisciplinary services, and specialized programs provided by the Centre such as Augmentative and Alternative Communication, Upper Extremity Casting and Splinting, Seating and Mobility and Home and Vehicle Modification Clinics.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assessment: The Occupational Therapist assesses the development of a child’s functional abilities in activities of daily living, school/work and play/leisure within the child’s natural environment. This may include standardized and non-standardized assessment of the child’s neuromuscular, sensorimotor, cognitive, and psychosocial skills as well as the physical and sociocultural characteristics of the child’s environments. Assessment may take place at a variety of locations, such as the Centre, the Centre school, the child’s home, community school or preschool, or other community setting as well as online through virtual telepractice.
- Treatment Planning: On the basis of the assessment, the Occupational Therapist collaborates with the child/family, educator, school or preschool, other therapists, and others who may be involved, to identify goals and to establish an appropriate treatment plan to achieve the goals.
- Intervention: The Occupational Therapist provides intervention to achieve the treatment plan and to maintain, develop or restore the child’s highest potential for performing self-care, school/work, and play/leisure activities. Intervention may also include the prevention of conditions that may limit potential; and the assessment for, selection of, and training in, the use of assistive technology and/or devices to facilitate active participation or independence in day-to-day tasks.
- Intervention may be provided in various environments; through a variety of service delivery options (e.g., individual, group, parent education, home programming), on a direct or indirect or consultative basis, and either in a uni-disciplinary setting or as part of an inter or multi-disciplinary team.
- Service coordination with family and other members of the child’s team.
- Supervision: The Occupational Therapist may be requested to supervise OTAs as part of their regular workload and in doing so, must adhere to the policies established in the COTO Standards for the Supervision of Occupational Therapist Assistants (2018). OTs may also be requested to supervise students or volunteers.
- Documentation: The Occupational Therapist is responsible for report writing in accordance with the Ontario College of Occupational Therapists guidelines (such as assessments, progress reports, transition reports, and discharge summaries). In addition there may be documentation requirements such as internal and external referrals; funding application forms on behalf of families or parent correspondence. The Occupational Therapist is also responsible for the daily and accurate recording in the Centre’s data collection system of daily activities and clients seen.
- Education: The Occupational Therapist is responsible for providing education to parents and the community; promotional activities on behalf of the Centre. Through conferences, lectures and other training, the Occupational Therapist will keep current in new approaches and research, particularly if assigned to a specialized clinic with emerging and changing knowledge and technology.
Health and Safety
The Occupational Therapist will comply with the duties assigned to Workers as per Section 28 of the Ontario Occupational Health and Safety Act.
Accountability and Freedom to Act:
The incumbent has latitude for discretion within practices and procedures covered by precedents, Centre policy and procedure manuals, standards of the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, and supervisory review.
Key Relationships:
The Occupational Therapist is concerned with the effectiveness of all relationships that affect the Centre. The following are particularly significant to the position:
External:
- Children, and their families and other caregivers.
- Regulated professionals involved in the care of the child/family such as physicians, public health personnel, nurse practitioners.
- Teachers and Educational Assistants in all school and child care systems.
- Staff of Community partner agencies and programs
- Vendors and suppliers of equipment and services being considered for use by clients.
- Staff at relevant government offices/branches that are responsible for approval and/or provision of client specific funding, services or equipment
- Case managers at HNHB LHIN (if assigned to Acute Home Care).
Internal:
- Staff at all levels in the organization.
Performance Factors:
In assessing the performance of an incumbent in this position, the following factors will be utilized as appropriate:
- Workload and productivity relative to established standards.
- Clinical outcomes: the degree to which care plans are well-designed and goals are achieved.
- Documentation: the accuracy, relevance and timeliness
- Relationships and communication with: clients and families, colleagues, staff from other agencies.
Position Specifications:
Education:
The minimum specifications for an incumbent will include:
- Registration and membership in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario.
Knowledge/Skills:
An incumbent will be expected to have the following knowledge and skills:
- A sound understanding and skill in the practice of occupational therapy
- The ability to work effectively with children and their families.
- Sufficient computer literacy in Microsoft Office to complete work requirements
- The ability to assess children in a telepractice setting.
Other:
- Access to reliable transportation and possession of a driver’s license valid for the province of Ontario is required
- A current criminal reference check for vulnerable populations
- CPR certification.
- Evidence of non-violent crisis intervention training.
Why Join Us?
- We provide a total rewards package that supports your well-being and supports and encourages continuous professional development and growth.
- Provide a competitive hiring range of $83,050.5 -$97,812 commensurate with experience.
- Participation in a Defined Benefit Pension Plan (HOOPP) from day one of employment with us, we offer healthcare and dental benefits, and access to the Employee and Family Assistance program.
Application Process
If you are inspired by the work of Niagara Children’s Centre and would like to join our team, we want to hear from you! To review the job description and pursue this career opportunity, please visit our website at www.niagarachildrenscentre.com
This posting is for an existing, immediate vacancy within our Clinical team. We will be reviewing candidate submissions as they are received and move forward with interviews. Early submission is encouraged.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are not used to evaluate applications for this role. Your application will be reviewed directly by our hiring team.
Niagara Children’s Centre is committed to fair and accessible employment practices. Upon request, suitable accommodation is available under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) to applicants invited to an interview.
We thank all those who apply but only those selected for further consideration will be contacted. The selected candidate will be required to participate in a Criminal Background Check.
Pay: $42.59-$50.16 per hour
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Employee assistance program
- On-site parking
Licence/Certification:
- Registration and good standing with COTO (required)
Work Location: In person
