Compensation Pay Range:

Job Description:

If you are a current CHEO employee with access to Workday, please apply to this posting via the Workday application as an internal applicant using the Jobs Hub. 

To successfully apply for this position, please submit your application by 11:59 pm the day before the advertised closing date in the posting to ensure your application is received.   

Ottawa is built on un-ceded Algonquin Anishinaabe territory. The peoples of the Algonquin Anishinabek Nation have lived on this territory for millennia and we honour them and this land. Their culture and presence have nurtured and continue to nurture this land. CHEO also honours all First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples and their valuable past and present contributions to this land. 
 
CHEO is one of the few stand-alone, global leaders in pediatric health and is home to more than 6,500 staff, clinicians, scientists and researchers, as well as volunteers – all of whom work together to help children and youth achieve their best lives. Within its own walls and through partnerships with community providers, CHEO has transformed from a 20th century acute care hospital into a 21st century integrated child and youth health system. 
 
Ranked in the top 1% of Canadian hospitals for the digitization of its clinical infrastructure, CHEO combines excellence in clinical care, research, and education to advance seamless care that’s provided where, when, and how it is needed. CHEO’s Research Institute is dedicated to world-class clinical, translational, and basic science research covering a wide range of children’s health concerns. CHEO has been named Canada’s best health-care employer by Forbes in 2024, 2025 and 2026 and is ranked second among Canadian hospitals on its list of Canada’s Best Employers for multiple consecutive years. For the 14th consecutive year in a row, the editors of Canada's Top 100 Employers has recognized CHEO as a top employer in the National Capital Region. Every year CHEO helps more than 500,000 children and youth from Eastern Ontario, western Quebec, Nunavut and Northern Ontario. 

POSITION SUMMARY  

The Behaviour Therapist, (who works under the clinical supervision of the Registered Behaviour Analyst), provides Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) based services to individuals often presenting with neurodevelopmental conditions and/or mental health needs. Service is provided in both one-to-one and group settings in a variety of environments. The Behaviour Therapist is responsible for delivering frontline care (either working directly with clients or via caregiver mediated treatment), professional to professional consults, and multidisciplinary case conferencing. Under the clinical supervision of the Registered Behaviour Analyst, a Behaviour Therapist is involved in various ABA based services, including assessment, safety planning, treatment and therapeutic programming, behaviour management, skill acquisition, building capacity, mediator training, and clinical consultation activities across a variety of inpatient, outpatient, and community settings. The Behaviour Therapist promotes quality improvement in all endeavours and supports safety initiatives, to minimize risk and strive for optimal organizational performance and safety benefiting staff, clients, their families, volunteers, visitors, and the community. The Behaviour Therapist works in compliance with the law and with safe work practices and policies established by CHEO to maintain a safe work environment. 

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES 

• Plan and complete Functional Behaviour Assessments for a range of behaviours including, but not limited to, severe challenging behaviours such aggressive behaviour, minor and major property destruction, inappropriate social behaviour in the community, as well as life-threatening, and sexually inappropriate behaviour.  
• Research, develop, design, deliver, monitor, and evaluate therapeutic treatment programs.  
• Respond appropriately to situations requiring immediate problem-solving to provide effective, safe, and ethical treatments for a range of severity of challenging behaviours in virtual, in home, and community environments as well as individually or in a group setting. 
• Participate in interdisciplinary team meetings, committees (internal and external) and initiatives designed to support the clients, families, direct care staff, and community partners. 
• Prepare and maintain formal documentation including but not limited to assessment reports, collecting and graphing assessment and treatment data, treatment plans, safety plans, guidelines, program review summaries, discharge summaries, electronic records charting, session progress notes, strategy recommendations, consent forms, supervision review summaries, and email communication with the family and care team (including external providers). 
• Manage own schedule after given assignments by corresponding with families and other professionals to schedule client consultations/ appointments/groups/interpreters and meetings and then booking the appointments in the electronic booking system sending invites and maintaining outlook calendars on a daily basis. Travelling to clients as required. 
• Perform work in accordance with the provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act and Regulations and all CHEO corporate/departmental policies and procedures related to Occupational Health and Safety.  
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned. 

QUALIFICATIONS 

• A three (3) year (advanced) college diploma in Behaviour Science, Behavioural Psychology, or related Social Science field OR a Postgraduate certificate in Behaviour Science field, (e.g. Behavioural Science Technician, Autism and Behavioral Science) (Essential)  
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. Social Sciences, Psychology, etc.) (Preferred)  
• Minimum three (3) years’ recent experience developing and delivering therapeutic treatment programs based in Applied Behaviour Analysis, or equivalent experience (i.e., 5 years recent experience working with children/youth with developmental disabilities and/or complex mental health, behavioural and/or medical needs) (Essential)  
• Five (5) years of experience developing and delivering therapeutic treatment programs based in Applied Behaviour Analysis (Preferred)  
• Current First Aid/CPR Certification (Essential) 
• Computer, word processing skills, and advanced proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (including Excel, PowerPoint, Word) (Essential)  
• Basic office and clerical skills (Essential)  
• Highly level of accuracy and attention to detail (Essential)  
• Flexible approach to work demands (Essential)  
• Taking initiative and adjusting priorities (Essential)  
• Clinical skills that demonstrate competence in assessment with children & youth and their families/caregivers (Essential)  
• Advanced knowledge and application of behaviour analytic principles including behavioural measurement, data display and interpretation; conducting, describing, and interpreting functional behaviour assessments; selecting, designing, and implementing skill acquisition strategies; and, behaviour reduction procedures (Essential)  
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (Essential)  
• Knowledge of community resources for children, youth and adults with special needs (Preferred)  
• Working knowledge of applicable occupational health and safety legislation; general knowledge of corporate/departmental policies and procedures related to health and safety (Essential) 
• Valid Ontario’s driver’s license and access to a vehicle (Essential) 
• Vulnerable Sector Check (Level 3) (Essential) 
• Bilingualism (French/English) (Preferred) 

Timeline may be extended or shortened based on operational needs

*Please note you will be represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU). Please note that this position will be based out of Ottawa. Please note that location may be subject to change at any time at the discretion of the employer. All OPSEU members shall be granted an interview upon passing the pre-screening.  Pre-screening might include testing.

Effective March 29, 2021, CHEO will conduct a more comprehensive pre-screening and evaluation process.  This process may include more varied and multidimensional testing such as a written test, practical exam, or other assessment. All candidates who meet the essential and preferred qualifications may be tested.  Bilingualism (French/English) will be validated by a language proficiency assessment conducted by a third party provider. Candidates will be required to meet the minimum linguistic profile prior to the date of hire.    Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act. 

Please note you will be represented by the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU).

CHEO values diversity and is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing an inclusive and barrier-free work environment, starting with the hiring process and welcome interest from all qualified applicants.

Should you require accommodation during any phase in the recruitment process, please contact Human Resources at [email protected]. All information received in relation to accommodation will be kept confidential and will be handled in compliance with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.

We thank all those who apply, however, only those to be interviewed will be contacted.