Psychologist: SickKids Healthy Living Clinic (HLC)

Position Description

The SickKids Healthy Living Clinic (formerly known as the SickKids Team Obesity Management Program, STOMP) provides outpatient interdisciplinary assessment and treatment to children, youth and their caregivers for complex concerns related to weight, eating, activity and related medical and psychological comorbidities. The team is comprised of enthusiastic specialists from Psychology, Social Work, Nursing, Endocrinology, Adolescent Medicine, Pediatrics, Nutrition, Exercise, and Physiotherapy.

Mental health providers on the team are integral in the assessment and treatment of complex and often severe health psychology presentations that include emotional eating, hyperphagia (secondary to hypothalamic obesity), binge eating, and adherence issues, as well as related co-morbid psychological issues such as social anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, bullying, school refusal and body image concerns. Additional socioeconomic, genetic, and familial/interpersonal relationship factors have a particularly strong impact on treatment and prognosis. Currently, treatment is primarily cognitive behavioural (CBT), with other approaches (e.g., MI, DBT skills, EFT, and parent management training) integrated as appropriate.

Providing services in one of the most diverse cities in the country, SickKids psychologists are committed to enhancing health equity, respectful service and inclusion of all populations served by the hospital. Psychologists are important partners in delivering on the mental health strategy of SickKids. Increasingly their work reflects the important integration of mental health in the context of managing complex pediatric life-span conditions ¿ an important priority of the patients and families whom we serve.

Funding for this role is supported by the Department of Psychology and the Paediatric Obesity Management Clinical Training Program (supported by a restricted educational grant from Novo Nordisk Canada.). There will be opportunities to further your expertise in paediatric obesity management through several modalities, such as collaboration with a range of departments that consult with paediatric obesity (e.g. endocrinology, eating disorders, adolescent medicine), scholarly or quality improvement activities, and other educational opportunities (e.g. academic rounds, Paediatric Project ECHO Obesity Management rounds).

Here's What You'll Get To Do:

• Provide psychological assessment, diagnosis and treatment to children & adolescents with eating disorders and related mental health difficulties
• Apply specialized psychological expertise in multiple treatment approaches and drive practice-based evidence to improve child and family health outcomes
• Provide the treatment team with clinical formulations that help address and prioritize the psychological complexities requiring intervention
• Work collaboratively with a large interdisciplinary health care team, participating in consultation, team meetings and discharge/transition planning processes
• Educate, support and prepare patients and parents for discharge/transition planning
• Provide clinical teaching and supervision to PhD-level Psychology trainees, Adolescent Medicine Residents & Fellows, other health professional colleagues
• Participate in departmental initiatives and program-specific committees
• Participate in the program planning & implementation initiatives and evaluation of the SickKids Healthy Living Clinic, as appropriate
• The role requires services to be delivered in-person and through virtual platforms such as ZOOM and Teams; both working from home and on site at the hospital are required

Here's What You'll Need:

Essential Requirements

• Completion of a CPA/APA recognized Ph.D. degree program in Clinical or Health Psychology is required with a pediatric/developmental focus
• Registered and in good standing with the College of Psychologists of Ontario
• Candidates in supervised practice are encouraged to apply
• Demonstrated skills in patient and family engagement, customizing treatment to the needs of patients and families inclusive of trauma-informed, culturally competent care and supporting families in all phases of treatment including preparing for transition and discharge
• Knowledge and experience with crisis prevention and intervention models
• Experience with all aspects of measurement-based care
• Excellent assessment, diagnostic and formulation skills for general mental health and health psychology issues
• Demonstrated experience and knowledge in culturally competent practice, and extensive understanding of the importance of health equity, diversity, and inclusion in the delivery of healthcare services
• Ability to work in a dynamic, highly accountable inter-professional environment where the needs of patients and families are at the center of program design, decision-making, and continuous quality improvement
• Excellent interpersonal, collaboration, problem-solving, and organizational skills.
• Strong written and oral communication skills
• Proficiency in the use of electronic platforms such as Microsoft Office, hospital documentation systems and other relevant technology
• To accommodate the needs of patients and families, flexible hours are required; while working from home may be possible, the job is primarily on-site at the Elizabeth St location.
• Demonstrated commitment and actions in advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion objectives

Assets

• Minimum two (2) years related experience in paediatric clinical-health psychology setting
• Experience working in a health science hospital environment
• Experience in treating patients with weight and /or eating issues
• Experience in the delivery of outpatient-based evidence-informed therapies such as Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Emotion-Focused (EFT) therapies
• Experience providing clinical supervision for PhD-level psychology trainees
• Knowledge of research methodology, data collection and analysis

Here's What You'll Love

Benefits

• This position is eligible for employee benefits coverage; including but not limited to health, dental, and insurance. The full benefits offered will be discussed at the time of position offer.
• A focus on employee wellness with our new Staff Health and Well-being Strategy. Self-care helps us support others.

Impact

• A hospital that welcomes and focuses on Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.
• The opportunity to make an impact. Regardless of your role or professional interest, you will be making a difference at SickKids and contributing to our vision of Healthier Children. A Better World.

Employment Type:

• 0.6 to 1.0 FTE (3-5 days per week)
• 1 year contract

Hybrid (Onsite and Remote) Work Model - necessary technology provided for remote work

Applications will be reviewed as they are received, and the position will remain open until filled