Recreation Therapy Associate, Rehabilitation Services
Job Location:
Hourly Salary:
Posted:
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
Job Summary
Req ID: 228066
Department/Program: Recreation Rehab Childrens Medical Care
Location:Halifax
Type of Employment: TemporaryHourly PT long-assignment (80% FTE) until August 2027x 1position(s)
Start Date:ASAP
Union Status:NSGEU Hlthcare Healthcare Bargaining Unit
Compensation: $25.8361 - $31.9256/hour
Closing Date: 29 October 2026 (Applications are accepted until 23:59 Atlantic Time)
IWK Health is a respected academic health sciences centre located in Halifax Nova Scotia providing tertiary and primary care for two million children youth adults and families each year across the Atlantic region. We have a team of approximately 4000 employees physicians volunteers and learners at sites across Nova Scotia. People build careers with IWK Health with our focus on training and mentorship opportunities. We recognize each others talent and celebrate our successes. We collaborate in modern facilities or virtually from home align our work to our values and enjoy access to enhanced benefits and wellness programs. We are proud to support our patients families and communities and are grateful for the generous donor support we receive.
Promoting an anti-racist environment and calling out discrimination as we work and provide care is important to us. We are located in Mikmaki the unceded and ancestral territory of the Mikmaq people. Working in Mikmaki and providing care to those across Atlantic Canada is a shared privilege with the original inhabitants who have lived here for many thousands of years prior to colonization. There are 13 First Nation communities across Nova Scotia and more than 50 historic African Nova Scotian communities who also have a long deep and complex history dating back over 400 years. We have the highest percentage of people with disabilities in the country. Nova Scotia has the highest proportion of transgender and non-binary people of any other province or territory in the country. We are active in our work to eliminate discrimination but have more work to do to build that trust acknowledge our biases and reduce the barriers our diverse communities face. We want IWK Health to be a safe and supportive space of equity and belonging in the care we provide and the employment we offer. We welcome all interested persons who self-identify as Indigenous Black/African Nova Scotians Persons of Colour Immigrants/Newcomers Persons with Disabilities and 2SLGBTQIA to apply to support our goal for our workforce to be representative of the patients families and communities that we care for at all job levels.
Reporting to the Manager Rehabilitation Services the Recreation Therapy Associate works under the guidance and supervision of the Recreation Therapist as an active member of the interdisciplinary care team providing client and family-centered ambulatory service to enable children and youth to acquire skills knowledge and behavior that will allow them to enjoy their leisure and participate as independently as collaboration with the Recreation Therapist and care teams the Recreation Therapy Associate is responsible for providing assigned intervention recreation and leisure education programs with the goal of enhancing the development of lifelong leisure skills and attitudes eliminating barriers to leisure and optimizing the leisure involvement of children and youth with disabilities in partnership with families therapists and community groups. Other key responsibilities of this position include management of the adapted sport and recreation equipment loan program planning and development of program content maintaining safety during on-site and community interventions and volunteer management. Under the direction of the Recreation Therapist the Recreation Therapy Associate is responsible for implementing appropriate interventions and plans including appropriate documentation and attending meetings as required. The care/service is provided to the child and family within an interdisciplinary team approach.
8:30-4:30 Monday to Friday with some evening and weekend work.
Completion of a two (2) year Diploma in Human Services Therapeutic Recreation or equivalent program required
Minimum of two (2) years experience as a Recreation Therapy Associate required
Experience working with clients of various ages and various disabilities required; experience with children and youth preferred
Demonstrated knowledge of best practices in leisure/recreation program planning required
Demonstrated knowledge of various health conditions and their impact on health well-being and quality of life required
Demonstrated effective communication (verbal & written) and presentation skills required
Demonstrated initiative and ability to set priorities and work independently required
Demonstrated ability to work as part of a collaborative interdisciplinary team required
Demonstrated excellent time management organization and problem-solving skills required.
Demonstrated understanding and commitment to family-centered care required.
Demonstrated ability to establish and promote interpersonal & community relationships required
Current successful completion of CPR Level C Health Care Provider within the last 12 months required
Certification in First Aid required
Ability to work evenings and weekends required
Valid minimum Class 5 Nova Scotia drivers license and reliable transportation required
Demonstrated experience implementing behavior management strategies preferred
Knowledge of program-based care is an asset
Competencies in other languages considered an asset
Where there are no qualified candidates who meet the minimum requirement of two (2) years of experience as a Recreation Therapy Associate consideration may be given to candidates without this required experience.
Thank you for your interest in IWK Health.
Please note that we only contact applicants selected for interview/testing. If we invite you to participate in an assessment process (such as an interview or testing) you have the right to request accommodation. Please discuss your needs when invited to the assessment process.
This is a Healthcare bargaining unit position. Preference is given to bargaining unit employees for unionized positions. Successful applicants changing unions bargaining units or employment status are advised to seek clarification regarding their seniority benefits and vacation entitlement and/or usage prior to accepting the position.
An offer of employment is conditional upon the completion and satisfactory results of all applicable background checks and confirmation of credentials.
If you are an employee ofIWK Health please apply through the internal careers page to ensure you are flagged as an internal applicant.
Required Experience:
IC
