Status: Temporary, Full- time (contract ending October
1, 2027)
Location: St. Catharines,
Ontario
Open Date: June 10, 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 Physiotherapist
works to evaluate, restore and maintain physical functions of clients with a
goal towards increased participation and quality of life. This process includes
assessment, goal setting, treatment planning, and implementation of treatment
in a direct, indirect or consultative manner, as indicated, until
discharge/transition to school.
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. Join a team that makes a real difference in the lives of
children and youth every day.
Key Responsibilities:
- Assessment: The Physiotherapist assesses a
child’s motor development, range of motion, muscle tone, muscle strength,
mobility, community accessibility, and equipment need. This may include
standardized and non-standardized assessment of the child’s motor skills as
well as the physical characteristics of the child’s environments. Assessment may take place at a variety of
locations, such as the Centre, the child’s home, school, pre-school and other
community settings.
- Treatment
Planning: On the basis of
the assessment, the Physiotherapist collaborates with the child/family,
teacher, school, other therapists, and others who may be involved, to identify
goals and to establish an appropriate treatment plan to achieve the goals.
- Intervention: The Physiotherapist provides
intervention to achieve the treatment plan and to increase or maintain range of
motion and prevent deformities; increase or maintain strength; motor
development, mobility and functional independence; and to decrease pain. Treatment may include pool therapy, the
design and development of exercise programs, and the prescription and
fabrication of equipment or orthotics. 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 single disciplinary
setting or as part of an interdisciplinary team.
- Supervision:
The Physiotherapist may be requested to supervise PTA’s as part
of his/her regular workload and in doing so, must adhere to the policies
established in the College’s Standard for Physiotherapists Working with
Physiotherapist Support Personnel (June 2005/Updated March 2010). The PT may
also be requested to supervise students or volunteers.
- Documentation: The Physiotherapist is responsible
for report writing in accordance with the College of Physiotherapists of Ontario 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
Physiotherapist is also responsible for the daily and accurate recording in the
Centre’s data collection system of daily activities and clients seen and to
comply with all established clinical standards for documentation.
- Education: The Physiotherapist is responsible
for providing education to parents and the community; promotional activities on
behalf of the Centre. Through
conferences, lectures and other training the Physiotherapist 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 Physiotherapist 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 Physiotherapist 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 childcare 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 Community
Care Access Centre (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
- Demonstration of specified
clinical competencies or advanced competencies as appropriate
- 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 Physiotherapists of Ontario
Knowledge/Skills:
- A sound understanding and skill in the
practice of physiotherapy
- Demonstrated ability to consistently
maintain professional and respectful communication and collaboration with
clients and families, colleagues, managers, and community partners
- Knowledge and demonstrated ability to uphold
principles of family-centred care, provide exceptional customer service, and
utilize a strength-based, anti-racist, anti-ableism, and anti-oppressive
approach to service delivery and interactions with stakeholders
- Ability to identify goals and establish appropriate treatment
plans to achieve said goals with children, youth, families and other care
providers both in-person and virtual
- Demonstrated initiative and self-management
- Computer literacy utilizing MS Office software
applications
- Ability to
effectively support families
in complex situations
- Ability to work with families
from a variety of cultures that is inclusive and culturally
appropriate
- Bilingual at
a superior or advanced
level of French is an asset
- A
current criminal reference
check for vulnerable populations
Other:
- Access to a vehicle 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 and access to the Employee and Family Assistance
program.
- Employee wellbeing initiatives and programs
- Inclusive environment that allows everyone to feel welcomed and
part of a dedicated team
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) for 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.